The Auburn Tigers didn't come away as the national story from their Week 4 clash with the Oklahoma Sooners. AU lost 24-17 to OU at Gaylord Memorial in Norman and was booted from the AP Top 25 on Sunday for its troubles.
As CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah notes, the true star of the Sooners' win was Oklahoma EDGE R Mason Thomas, who came in the second half after being ejected the week before for targeting during an OU win over the Temple Owls. Thomas was suspended for the first half, but the Sooners' defense had already had a handful of sacks by the time he entered the game.
"Oklahoma's defensive line entered the season highly touted, but its performance in a 24-17 win against Auburn exceeded even lofty expectations," Jeyarajah wrote.
"The Sooners racked up a school-record 10 sacks against former OU quarterback Jackson Arnold, including multiple in the final minutes to seal the win.
"Defensive end R. Mason Thomas is emerging as one of the nation's best. He and Jayden Jackson combined for 4.5 sacks, while seven different linemen logged at least one sack. That kind of depth and dominance makes OU a nightmare matchup moving forward."
Thomas had the game-sealing safety on Jackson Arnold in the end zone, providing a storybook ending to the matchup. Though OU's defensive front was dominant before he entered the game, there was tangibly increased anxiety for Arnold and the Tigers' offense after he returned to the field.
Making stars shouldn't be, and isn't, the Auburn offensive line's goal this season. Thomas and the rest of the Sooners' defenders should serve as a wake-up call to Hugh Freeze and Jake Thornton that protection needs to improve before facing more beefy and athletic SEC fronts over the next few weeks.
Arnold should be the breakout star. That won't happen behind the level of protection the Tigers displayed on Saturday afternoon.