Just a week ago, the Oklahoma Sooners looked like a football team dead in the water. However, now they have hope of a winning season after a dominant and surprising 24-3 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. Now, they’ll head to Death Valley for a huge game against the LSU Tigers as both teams seek positive momentum heading into the transfer portal season.
Neither of these teams has met expectations this season. Oklahoma looked lost from the start of the year, while LSU has collapsed down the stretch. Accordingly, while they’ll each be disappointed with the season, these teams desperately want some positive momentum to end the regular season.
It was a party at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
OU football dominated No. 7 Alabama 24-3, clinching a bowl game and giving head coach Brent Venables a signature SEC win. Home game spectacles like those are one reason the Sooners made the conference move. But with it comes tough road matchups; and there’s perhaps no place more daunting to play than Tiger Stadium – and at night no less.
Key player for the Tigers
It’s not often an offensive lineman is a team’s best player, but Will Campbell is different. Recently, Campbell was named a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy and a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy and is ranked as the No. 16 overall prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft by ESPN. Outside of Campbell, the Tigers’ offensive line has largely struggled, but at 6-feet 6-inches, 323 pounds, he’ll make life hard for OU’s pass rushers.
The case for LSU
The Tigers had a lead in the second half of three of their four losses. Mistakes late have cost head coach Brian Kelly’s team and if quarterback Garrett Nussmeier can take care of the ball, LSU should be in the game at the end. Perhaps the most significant case for the Tigers is that they boast one of, if not the best night home game environments in the country. That environment could play a significant factor in hindering the Oklahoma Sooners football team in this matchup.
The case for Oklahoma
If the Sooners play like they did in their upset win over Alabama, they should dominate LSU. Saturday night’s performance will be hard to replicate, however. But interim offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley might’ve found something in the ground game. OU ran the ball 50 times against the Crimson Tide, while only two receivers caught passes. If quarterback Jackson Arnold plays another clean game, the Sooners could win their seventh game.
Oklahoma Sooners vs. LSU Tigers game predictions
For the most part, the Oklahoma offense and the LSU defense have been just fine this season. Each team’s other unit has been a mess, though.
The Tigers appeared early on to have fixed some of last year’s defensive issues, but they’ve resurfaced lately, as LSU has allowed more than 25 points in four of its last six outings.
The offense hasn’t helped much, as that group has struggled after halftime in the last month. Starting with the Texas A&M Aggies, the Tigers have scored 10 or fewer points in the second half of four straight games.
That’s made it difficult to shield a struggling defense, especially against the run.
But the Sooners have had their own issues. The passing offense is non-existent right now. Even in a blowout Alabama win, the Sooners threw for just 68 yards. The rushing attack has been much better recently, bolstered by Jackson Arnold’s willingness to run from the quarterback position.
Ultimately, the issue here is that Oklahoma’s offense is still a poor unit. Even against LSU’s porous rushing defense, can the Sooners get enough to outscore the Tigers? Even against Alabama, the Sooners only scored 17 offensive points, the defense just couldn’t be stopped, especially off the edge.
Now, they’ll face one of the best tackle duos in college football.
That’s the matchup to watch. If Oklahoma’s defensive line can beat Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. off the edge and apply pressure to Garrett Nussmeier, the Sooners have a real chance to win outright. The Sooners can grind it out in a run-first game script in a low-scoring game.
Ultimately though, I think the LSU passing attack can do just enough to score a few touchdowns and put the Sooners’ offense in a game where it’s forced to pass. Arnold will be forced to push the ball down the field if the Tigers score early.
