The No. 21 ranked Oklahoma Sooners faced the Auburn Tigers with a true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. being named the starter after an impressive second half in a loss to Tennessee last week. This game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 28 with a live broadcast on ABC, and streaming live on ESPN Plus.
• WATCH: Auburn vs. Oklahoma football live for FREE with Fubo (free trial), or stream this game and more on the cheap with one month of ESPN+ (costs $10.99/month, cancel anytime).
The betting odds for this game have moved all over the place, originally opening with the Sooners as the favorites. However, most sportsbooks now have Auburn as slight favorites over Oklahoma in this matchup.
When: Kickoff takes place at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) on Saturday, September 28.
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, AL
TV Channel: ABC, and streaming on ESPN Plus
How to watch live stream online: If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial). If you are out of free trials, the cheapest and best way to watch this game and more football this month is by signing up for one month of ESPN+ (costs $10.99/month, cancel anytime).
If you already have a cable or satellite subscription already, you can watch the game on Watch ESPN or the ESPN app by signing in with your provider information.
You can find out more about which channel ABC is on in your area by using the channel finders here: Comcast Xfinity, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice.
Point Spread: OU: +1 | AUB: -1
Moneyline: OU: -105 | AUB: -115
Over/Under: 44.5
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Oklahoma and Auburn entered the 2024 college football season season optimistic about their quarterback situations. After just four weeks, hope has been abandoned and now they're just trying to find answers to spark arguably the most inconsistent offenses in the SEC.
The No. 21 Sooners made a quarterback change midway through its 25-15 loss to Tennessee last week and the decision will carry over to this week's matchup in Auburn, where freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. takes over for Jackson Arnold. Meanwhile, Auburn's players (especially the quarterbacks) have been criticized publicly by coach Hugh Freeze after both Payton Thorne and Hank Brown -- who made his first SEC start last week against Arkansas -- struggled in back-to-back games. Brown threw three interceptions in the first half last week and was benched, paving the way for Thorne (again).
Auburn and Oklahoma have never met in the regular season, and not many expected the first meeting between two storied programs to be framed by quarterback issues quite like this. Oklahoma has failed to eclipse 250 yards in its last three games. Auburn ranks second-to-last nationally in turnover margin at minus-2.5 per game.
Simply put, something has to give Saturday on the Plains, and the winner could get back on track for a successful season.
Date: Saturday, Sept. 27 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ETLocation: Jordan-Hare Stadium -- Auburn, AlabamaTV: ABC | Live stream: fubo (Try for free)
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Michael Hawkins Jr. sparked OU last week: Oklahoma's problems on offense are not limited to quarterback Jackson Arnold, but at least Michael Hawkins Jr. provided a boost in an otherwise demoralizing loss to Tennessee last week. He threw for 132 yards and led the Sooners on two touchdown drives. He also ran for 22 yards. Mind you, he did most of this after the Arnold-directed offense managed minus-20 yards in the second quarter in one of the worst 15 minutes in Sooners' history. He needs help, particularly from a makeshift offensive line that has underperformed all season, but at least the Sooners have something to be excited about as they face Auburn in their road debut in the SEC. Can Oklahoma get another receiver other than Deion Burks to step up? Hawkins needs all the help he can get on the road.
Auburn still working through QB battle: Brown supplanted Paton Thorne as Auburn's starter two weeks ago, but after throwing three picks in the first half in the loss to Arkansas, the quarterback competition restarted at practices this week. Both were splitting time with the first-team offense, but Thorne is expected to start vs. the Sooners. Whoever starts, coach Hugh Freeze needs to rebuild some confidence in the quarterback room. He has openly criticized both players, but this week says he trying to help them mentally.
"Thing thing we're preaching to them in that room is showing them all the good that they're doing," he said.
Thorne threw two second half touchdown passes last week, completing 13 of 22 passes for 213 yards after starting 1 of 7. There's work to be done, but at least the veteran picked up the pace and responded.
Oklahoma's defense is still great: Auburn has the worst turnover margin in the Power Four. Oklahoma is No. 1 in the country in takeaways with 12 through three games. That sets up terribly for Auburn at home. The Sooners don't just have an opportunistic defense, it also dictates the tempo, effectively slowing down a pair of explosive offenses this season. That includes Tennessee, which scored 25 after averaging 63.7 points per game. The Sooners rank in the top 30 in three major categories (scoring, total, and rushing) but struggle a bit against the pass (61st in pass efficiency defense). Can Auburn take advantage despite struggling at quarterback?
Oklahoma and Auburn have never faced off in the regular season, and both would probably like to avoid their first meeting Saturday just so they could skip the complementary storylines as the most inept offenses in the conference. Neither team is happy with their situations, particularly at quarterback, and the offensive lines have played a hand in their shared demise. The Sooners haven't eclipsed 250 yards in three weeks and Auburn can't settle on a quarterback while Freeze claims his Tigers could beat Arkansas nine straight times after losing 24-14 last week. If misery loves company, these two are right at home on the Plains. Michael Hawkins Jr. should spark Oklahoma's offense, but the difference here is the Sooners' incredible defense, which still plays at an elite level. Pick: Oklahoma SU (-130)
Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 5? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread -- all from a proven computer model that has returned well over $2,000 in profit since its inception -- and find out.
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AUBURN, Ala. (WSFA) - Auburn welcomed in the Oklahoma Sooners for the first time ever on Saturday afternoon for a matchup with the SEC newcomers at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
After the Tiger offense was unable to move the ball forward on the game’s opening drive, the Sooners offense took the field, and freshman quarterback Michale Hawkins Jr. showed why he got the starting job this weekend. Hawkins Jr. exploded for a 48-yard touchdown run, and the Sooners were up early.
The defenses took over the game after the Oklahoma touchdown. It wasn’t until late in the first quarter that either team was able to find the endzone, and it was Auburn this time. Payton Thorne found KeAndre Lambert-Smith open for a big 31-yard touchdown pass, and the game was all tied up.
The Tiger offense didn’t slow down next time out and cruised 81 yards downfield to take their first lead of the game. This time, Thorne connected with Malcolm Simmons on a 48-yard strike for the score.
Auburn led the defensive battle 14-7 at the half.
Late in the third, Oklahoma was finally able to move the ball into scoring range, but the Tiger defense was able to keep it to only a Sooner field goal, but the lead was now down to four points.
Thorne and company had an answer for the Sooner scoring drive, and it came in the form of a third touchdown pass of the day for Thorne. This time, it was Luke Deal he found in the back of the endzone from one yard out.
Oklahoma was not giving up, and with 8:32 remaining on the clock, Jovantae Barns punched it in from two yards out to cut the lead down. The Sooners two-point conversion attempt failed, so it was a five-point game.
Auburn looked to eat up the clock as they moved down the field after the Oklahoma touchdown. However, with just over four minutes remaining, Thorne, who had played an excellent game so far, made a crucial mistake and threw an interception to Kip Lewis. Lewis took it 61 yards into the endzone to give the Sooners their first lead since early in the game. Hawkins Jr. then went airborne to convert on the two-point conversion, and the Sooners led by three.
Auburn looked to right their wrong on the next drive, but the Sooner defense came up with two big sacks. R Mason Thomas got to Thorne on 3rd and 5 and then again on 4th and 11 to force the Tigers to turn the ball over on downs with 1:46 left to go in the game.
The Sooners capitalized on the turnover on downs and added a field goal to extend the lead by six points with 54 seconds remaining.
Auburn took the field, looking for some magic as time wound down; however, they were unable to get to the endzone, and the Sooners emerged victorious.
Next up to the Tigers is a tough road trip to Athens, which is the deep south’s oldest rivalry against the Georgia Bulldogs. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. in what should be another thrilling SEC football game.
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