Live Updates From No. 8 Oklahoma's Senior Day Contest with LSU

NORMAN — Sooners on SI offers real-time observations from Oklahoma Memorial Stadium throughout Saturday’s regular season finale between No. 8 Oklahoma and LSU. Just keep your browser open and refresh often.

FOURTH QUARTER

1:16 Fourth Quarter

OU escaped.

Peyton Bowen batted down Michael Van Buren Jr.'s fourth-down pass as Gracen Halton chased Van Buren in the back field, giving the Sooners a fourth-down stop. LSU has no timeouts.

LSU got a 47-yard kick return to give them the ball near midfield to start the drive, and then converted on third-and-6 to keep the drive alive.

4:16, Fourth Quarter

Oklahoma finally found some offensive life.

John Mateer hit Isaiah Sategna for a 57-yard touchdown to put the Sooners ahead 17-13 with 4:16 remaining.

Sategna was wide open as Mateer let the ball fly, camping under it and then easily turning the burners back on to make it to the end zone.

Sategna now has nine catches for 121 yards.

Before the touchdown, Mateer hit Jaren Kanak for completions of 9 and 17 yards.

— Aber

5:04 Fourth Quarter

OU's defense keeps giving the Sooners chances.

The Sooners forced yet another 3-and-out, and OU's offense will start at their own 16 with 5:04 remaining and OU down 13-10.

6:25 Fourth Quarter

A false start penalty on first down and then a Javonnie Gibson drop over the middle moments later stalled OU's drive, giving the Tigers the ball back at their own 30.

7:56, Fourth Quarter

Oklahoma's defense look like it had made a major stop, pushing LSU out of field goal range with a 17-yard loss on second down that pushed the ball all the way back to the OU 39 and then a delay of game penalty on the Tigers that pushed the ball back even further.

But Michael Van Buren Jr. hit Zavion Thomas for an 18-yard gain on third-and-32, moving the ball to the 26. Damian Ramos hit a 43-yard field goal to put LSU up 13-10.

12:34, Fourth Quarter

John Mateer continues to put the ball in dangerous places, but LSU couldn't come up with a second-down interception and Grayson Miller punted the ball away to get the Sooners out of danger territory.

The Tigers will start their drive at their own 32.

—Aber

14:05, Fourth Quarter

It was a bit dicy at times, with LSU's Trey'Dez Green dropping a pass on second down that would've gone for a long gain, and then Michael Van Buren Jr. scrambling for close to a first down, but OU forced a punt and get the ball back at their own 20.

— Aber

Third quarter stats:

THIRD QUARTER

1:47 Third Quarter

Deion Burks outran the LSU defense 45 yards to the house.

That was his first touchdown since Michigan.

The 45-yard completion was also the fourth-longest completion of the year, and the third-longest touchdown the Sooners have scored.

Tie ballgame. The crowd is back in this with it knotted at 10-10.

— Chapman

4:00 Third Quarter

Fans have wanted Mateer benched for a while now. But that third interception basically on the goal line was a flat-out terrible decision and a worse throw, and ended up his third INT of the day.

Oklahoma has a playoff berth on the line tonight, and the Sooners have gone nowhere with Mateer.

However, prior to this latest three-and-out, Michael Hawkins spent the entire timeout standing well outside the sideline huddle with his head down and his hands tucked into his hand-warmers.

Still 19 minutes to play, but Oklahoma is going to need much more out of Mateer than this.

— Hoover

5:40 Third Quarter

Brent Venables, Robert Spears-Jennings and Jaydan Hardy were all in the middle of the offense’s huddle during the timeout to fire up the OU o-line.

Couldn’t read any lips, but the message seemed clear: put points on the board and the defense will take it home.

Mateer is going to break the huddle. Hawkins is circling the group, but he’s not taking over quite yet.

— Chapman

8:56 Third Quarter

Mateer stroked that throw into Gibson for a 30-yard gain.

— Hoover

11:21 Third Quarter

Oklahoma hasn’t really tried to return a kickoff all season, but the Sooners might need to shift their strategy if those opportunities pop up in the rest of today’s game.

John Mateer has struggled mightily today, and OU needs any type of position momentum it can find.

That was a wasted opportunity after LSU’s touchdown, especially since this is the last quarter Tate Sandell will get to kick with the wind at his back instead of facing straight into today’s gusting winds.

— Chapman

11:21 Third Quarter

LSU just seized control of this thing.

After John Mateer’s second interception of the day set the Tigers up at the OU 33-yard line, Van Buren throws a quick pass to Zavion Thomas out of the backfield, and he scores easily for a 10-3 lead.

Van Buren’s 23-yard run on third-and-1 preceded the TD.

OU gonna have to manufacture some offense here.

— Hoover

13:24 Third Quarter

Sooner Nation loudly losing their minds after this sequence: another offensive penalty on the o-line, followed by what looked like a badly missed defensive pass interference on LSU, followed by an LSU timeout just before a 30-yard completion (maybe more) to Gibson. And on the first play after the timeout, Mateer throws 29 yards to Sategna. And on the next play, he forces one into coverage and it's LSU's second interception of the day with a 42-yard return.

— Hoover

13:53 Third Quarter

Brent Venables is still seeking an explanation from any official on how a flag wasn’t thrown when Deion Burks was tackled on the sideline … and can you blame him?

Venables has held it together for the most part in the face of questionable officiating over the past month, but today might be the day he truly snaps on one of these SEC officiating crews.

— Chapman

Halftime Stats

Halftime

After honoring departing Larry Naifeh, executive deputy athletics director, before the game, there was a short ceremony honoring departing athletic director Joe Castiglione at halftime.

Castiglione announced in July that he would step down once a permanent replacement is found.

A video with tributes that included ESPN's Holly Rowe and plenty of others was played, followed by the band spelliung out "Thank You Joe" on the field.

One of Castiglione's final significant achievements was the plan to renovate Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

— Ryan Aber

0:48 Second Quarter

And Brent Venables is back to playing midfield fourth-down chess with his opponent. Looks at the LSU defense, calls timeout. Grayson Miller in to punt it away, and he puts it at the LSU 6-yard line.

Halftime coming up next, tied 3-3.

— Hoover

0:48 Second Quarter

After two straight throws from Mateer to convert for first downs, Jaren Kanak comes up short of a first down on another short throw, and then Mateer is dropped hard for a 2-yard loss by Whit Weeks on third down.

Oklahoma lines up to go for fourth-and-3 from the LSU 46, and LSU calls timeout.

Pretty big play coming up for the OU offense.

— Hoover

9:37 Second Quarter

That 21-yard run by Tory Blaylock was Oklahoma’s longest run by a running back since Xavier Robinson’s 43-yard run at Tennessee.

— Hoover

10:04 Second Quarter

A 15-yard pass from Van Buren to Barion Brown is first ruled a completion, but video review has overturned it as the ball hit the ground.

LSU faces fourth-and-8 when we come back from break.

— Hoover

12:40 Second Quarter

Wow. After Mateer hits Javonnie Gibson wide open on a short rollout, Gibson falls down a foot short of the first down. Then on second down, a bubble screen to Sategna is blown up for a 1-yard loss when Deion Burks forgets to block Dashawn Sparks. And on third down, Mateer’s play-action dumpoff toss to Kaden Helms is behind him and in the sun and dropped.

This passing game has reached new levels of inept today.

And with both running backs banged up, things probably won’t get better any time soon — today, anyway.

— Hoover

13:35 Second Quarter

A really unfortunate possession for the Oklahoma defense (two personal fouls) ends on Damian Ramos’ 25-yard field goal, and this game is knotted at 3-3.

— Hoover

First quarter stats:

FIRST QUARTER

0:58 First Quarter

Bauer Sharp on the end of a trick play — not the first time on this field we’ve seen that.

This time he catches it, and it’s a 17-yard gain off a double pass.

Sooners are then hit with a second personal foul penalty on this drive (first one a facemask, this one a late hit on PJ Adebawore), and LSU has first and goal.

— Hoover

1:37 First Quarter

Big decision to go for it on fourth down at midfield, and big call.

Ben Arbuckle dials up a handoff to Xavier Robinson off left tackle and it’s stuffed for no gain.

LSU ball.

Interesting decision by Brent Venables. You know it’s gonna be a big field position game and your defense is dominating, so maybe you should punt it away.

But if you are able to keep it and go up two scores, your defense is dominating, so maybe you should go for it.

— Hoover

4:16 First Quarter

After three incomplete passes on that drive (none were even close), LU QB Michael Van Buren is 2/7 through the air for 5 yards with one INT.

— Hoover

4:31 First Quarter

Oklahoma was able to erase a pair of false start penalties on first down on that scoring drive, something that’s been missing the last couple of weeks.

Mateer looked as decisive as he’s been since the Texas loss on that drive, and Tory Blaylock looks as explosive as he’s been since Ole Miss. That’s a drive for OU to build on.

— Chapman

4:36 First Quarter

Good pressure by LSU on that third down throw, forcing Mateer to get rid of it a count early, and it was overthrown.

Tate Sandell comes on for a 38-yard field goal to put OU up 3-0, 4:31 on the clock.

The drive was 11 plays, 53 yards and took 5:01 off the clock.

— Hoover

6:51 First Quarter

Mateer’s next third down pass is nearly intercepted, but LSU is flagged for defensive offsides.

That’s another first down for the Sooners … followed by a false start penalty by Jaren Kanak — OU’s second false start of this drive.

— Hoover

8:10 First Quarter

And we have a first down: Mateer to Javonnie Gibson on third down over the middle. Nice protection, nice throw, nice catch for 27 yards.

— Hoover

9:32 First Quarter

First 5 1/2 minutes of this one, we’ve seen three three-and-outs, two interceptions, a fumbled punt and no first downs.

And no partridge in a pear tree.

— Hoover

11:57 First Quarter

And the first big break goes to LSU: John Mateer’s third-down slant throw is batted by Patrick Payton, intercepted by Harold Perkins and returned 44 yard to the OU 4-yard line …

11:50 First Quarter

… And Peyton Bowen makes the second big break by intercepting Michael Van Buren’s throw on the next play.

So yeah, John Mateer is the player of the game so far — for saving that touchdown.

For better or worse, this game is underway.

— Hoover

12:55 First Quarter

Not sure what Isaiah Sategna was doing there running into a crowd to pounce on a punt, but the Sooners nearly lost possession. Jaydan Hardy saves the day with a fumble recovery. Wow.

— Hoover

12:59 First Quarter

Oklahoma’s starters on offense:

Fasusi - Pierre-Louis - Nwaiwu - Fodje - Simmons

J. Gibson - Sategna - Kanak - Burks

Mateer - Robinson

— Chapman

15:00 First Quarter

Oklahoma’s starters on defense:

Wein - Halton - D. Williams - Jones Jr.

Daniels - Kip Lewis - Heinecke

E. Bowen - P. Bowen - Spears-Jennings - Guillory

— Chapman

Two minutes until kickoff

Oklahoma won the toss.

The Sooners will defer until the second half.

Brent Venables’ defense is up first.

— Chapman

46 minutes until kickoff

Oklahoma’s starting offensive line per pre-game warmups from left to right:

Fasusi - Pierre-Louis - Nwaiwu - Fodje - Simmons

It appears Gunnar Allen is working as the backup cetner.

— Chapman

52 minutes until kickoff

Running back Xavier Robinson still has a knee brace on his right knee under his uniform.

Tory Blaylock has a shoulder brace on his right shoulder.

Credit to DeMarco Murray’s underclassmen for battling through these late-season injuries to try and punch OU’s ticket back to the CFP.

— Chapman

90 minutes until kickoff

There were no real shocks on Oklahoma’s final availability report of the week.

The Sooners will be without a number of offensive linemen, including starting center Jake Maikkula (illness) and reserve guard Heath Ozaeta.

The expectation is for right guard Febechi Nwaiwu to slide over to center, opening up a spot for true freshman Ryan Fodje to play at guard and veteran Derek Simmons to hang tight at right tackle.

— Chapman