The Auburn-Oklahoma is one of the marquee matches this week. The 3-0 Tigers take on the 3-0 Sooners at the OU Memorial Stadium this Saturday.
What makes it special is Jackson Arnold's return to Norman after transferring to Auburn earlier this year. His return will give him the cinematic chance to win at a place he got out of for losing too much.
But Oklahoma is a formidable team this season; the way they took down Michigan was proof enough. ESPN analysts Adam Rittenberg and Eli Lederman break down how each of these teams could have an edge over the other in what could be a challenging clash.
"The Tigers have to disrupt Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer and make him pay for running the ball, and they have the ingredients to do so," Ritterberg writes. "Auburn is tied for sixth nationally in sacks per game (3.67) and tied for 12th in tackles for loss per game (8.7). Although Keldric Faulk is the headliner, Arkansas State transfer Keyron Crawford has been the team's most disruptive pass rusher so far with three sacks and a forced fumble.
"The defense and run game, which ranks 16th nationally at 240 yards per game, ideally must reduce the pressure on quarterback Jackson Arnold in his highly anticipated return to Oklahoma. Arnold is completing nearly 70% of his passes, running the ball effectively and limiting mistakes, but the more Auburn's other playmakers can take off his plate, the better the chances for a key road win."
On the other hand, Oklahoma gets the slightly better edge in Lederman's prediction for two reasons: their familiarity with Arnold, and their defense being significantly stronger.
"Arnold started nine games for the Sooners last fall. If anyone knows his weak spots, it's Oklahoma coach Brent Venables," he writes. " As Adam points out, Arnold (eight turnovers in 2024) has played efficient, mistake-free football in his first three games at Auburn. A Sooners defense that's creating pressures on 44.6% of its snaps this season -- 10th nationally, per ESPN Research -- is built to change that and make Arnold uncomfortable, although Oklahoma will be without 2024 sack leader R Mason Thomas for the first half Saturday following a Week 3 targeting ejection.
"Mateer will have his own work cut out for him against the Tigers' defensive front, but he should be able to find holes in a secondary that ranks 85th in yards allowed per game (220.0). The difference, ultimately, could come on the ground where a still-figuring-out Oklahoma rushing attack meets Auburn's 10th-ranked run defense (67.0 yards per game) on Saturday. Freshman Tory Blaylock (5.4 yards per carry) has been the Sooners' most effective running back through three games."
Although Auburn is clearly the underdog, it is games like this that often end up being the turning point for the underdog's winning trajectory. We'll see on Saturday whether Auburn falls into that category.