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OU-LSU quick-hit: Back to the norm, Sooners end with rough loss

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•11/30/24•

BPrzybylo

Jackson Arnold24
OU QB Jackson Arnold.

All OU fans were hoping the Sooners could simply build off the amazing all-around performance against Alabama. The question was whether that team is who OU is? Or if the Sooners returned to the inconsistent mess that they have been in 2024?

It was the latter. An exciting first half full of everything saw LSU absolutely dominate in the second half to send OU into its bowl game at 6-6 after a 37-17 defeat.

The Tigers only led 24-17 at the break. But as head coach Brent Venables has said before, OU can punch back, but it didn’t punch last.

Here are some quick-hit takeaways as OU has some big questions to answer for its future.

Nussmeier was too much

Give it up to LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. It looked like R Mason Thomas had perhaps broken Nussmeier’s collarbone on a sack in the first half.

Instead? He came back in later in the half and was lights out. Nussmeier torched the OU defense like no other quarterback has this season. Short, intermediate, deep, you name it. A very impressive and incredibly gutsy performance.

Mistakes galore

You go on the road in the SEC, and you need to be as close to perfect as you can be. OU was not that. It began in an area where OU has actually been pretty. But a 99-yard kickoff return for touchdown by Aaron Anderson made it 17-14 for LSU and seemed to turn the tide in the game.

OU then went into its bag of offensive tricks in the second half only to find a terrible Bauer Sharp interception instead of just taking the tackle for loss.

We know by now the Sooners don’t have that type of offensive firepower to makeup for massive miscues like that. Never mounted much of a charge in the second half.

The good

If there’s one thing about Jackson Arnold, you cannot question his toughness. Another night where he kept coming and coming. Hit after hit, no big deal.

Arnold also did a nice job of taking care of the football once again until it became desperate territory time for OU. It’s just not an offense that is built to go for a 30-point half and score in a hurry.

And Gracen Halton and R Mason Thomas combined for a scoop-and-score in the first half. Halton on the sack, Thomas on the recovery and touchdown. It marked the third straight game for a defensive touchdown for OU. But, obviously, not the end OU was hoping for to close the 2024 regular season.

Up next

OU (6-6 overall, 2-6 SEC) gets to wait a week to find out its bowl destination. There were so many possibilities last week that it wasn’t even worth trying to figure it out. Maybe it’s a little less cloudy this week? Now, though, all eyes will go toward the offensive coordinator search and the early signing period.

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