What went wrong in Auburn's fourth-quarter collapse against Oklahoma

Jordan-Hare Stadium felt like it was going to explode.

After two plays in the fourth quarter, Auburn led Oklahoma 21-10. The crowd cheered collectively in the tone of a fan base that, after weeks of disappointment, felt like they were on their way to the big win their team was chasing.

Around 13 minutes into the game, many of these fans were looking for the exits. Auburn now lost 27-21 and it was a return to reality for a fan base that has largely forgotten what it feels like to win big games like this.

The score, 27-21 after Payton Thorne's Hail Mary attempt was 10 yards from the goal line, capped the most heartbreaking loss of Auburn's season so far.

But how did the Tigers get to this point after leading by two points and well on their way to a big win?

Although Auburn avoided many of the mistakes it made through three quarters in its first two losses, they came back late against Oklahoma.

Auburn's defense had an outstanding performance. Quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.'s running ability was limited and the secondary was good in coverage most of the game.

Oklahoma finally found a chance in the first quarter, hitting corner Kayin Lee for a deep ball that set up a touchdown two plays later.

Offensively, Auburn had a chance to tie the game after stopping Oklahoma on fourth down just after the 12-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

After a long run by Jarquez Hunter, Auburn had the ball at the Oklahoma 33-yard line, but suddenly everything seemed to go out of hand.

There was obvious confusion between the sidelines and the players on the field. Hugh Freeze attempted to call a timeout before Auburn's second-and-10 play, but was unable to alert the referee in time.

The play ended with an incomplete pass intended for KeAndre Lambert-Smith, with the pass well behind him due to an apparent miscommunication with Payton Thorne.

“That was bad,” Thorne said of the play after the game. “We talked about not making blind throws, and based on the rest of the defense, I figured out what that field safety should have done, and I was wrong.”

Thorne threw another incompletion on third down, forcing a 51-yard field goal attempt that Towns McGough missed.

The inexplicable part of this sequence was that Auburn decided to throw the ball three plays in a row after going on a long run to take a two-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“I need to make sure (Thorne) understands the situation better and we should have had runs there,” Freeze said. “I just have to tell him more clearly what we plan to do at this moment in the game.”

Auburn did a good job of avoiding turnovers in the first 55 minutes of the game. But at the most critical moment, it killed the Tigers.

Even after Oklahoma's first score of the quarter, Auburn still had a chance to pull away or run out the clock. Unfortunately for Auburn, it couldn't help but beat itself again.

Payton Thorne threw an interception on third-and-4 at the Oklahoma 43-yard line and linebacker Kip Lewis returned it for a touchdown. That gave Oklahoma the lead it never lost.

“I shouldn’t have put him in that position and given him that option,” Freeze said after the game. “It’s definitely something that hurts. I have to help our team get beyond the box when you have a chance to win a game like this.”

It was Auburn's only turnover of the game, a far cry from the five it had in its previous two losses. However, this one hurt more than any of the others.

Auburn did everything right against Oklahoma except win. There was a late turnover, but it's still hard to imagine how the Tigers could outrebound Oklahoma by 191 yards and still lose.

When so many things are going well, it's hard to point to one obvious adjustment. So as the Tigers head into a road game against Georgia, the message remains simple.

“We have to find a way to win,” said a frustrated Jalen McLeod when asked after the game what the message was to the team. “We played a damn good game. We just have to find a way to win.”

Peter Rauterkus reports on Auburn Sports AL.com. You can follow him on X below @peter_rauterkus or send him an email at [email protected]M