Oklahoma’s 24-17 win over Auburn on Saturday was not without controversy. One defining moment came in the second quarter on a play the SEC later acknowledged should not have counted.
With 10:45 left in the half, Sooners quarterback John Mateer hit Isaiah Sategna for a 24-yard touchdown that extended Oklahoma’s lead to 10-3. But the reception was set up by a tactic the league has since deemed illegal.
Before the snap, Sategna drifted toward the Sooners’ sideline and gave the appearance of exiting as part of a substitution. Instead, he stopped just short of leaving the field, remained set near the boundary, and then slipped down the sideline unguarded for the score. Auburn’s defenders were unaware, allowing Mateer’s uncontested throw.
The SEC has announced that this Oklahoma TD against Auburn should not have counted because of ‘Hideout Tactic’ that should’ve actually resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty. pic.twitter.com/zhfK1CBWSx https://t.co/mvt96wzqt5
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) September 21, 2025
A few hours after the final whistle, the SEC issued a statement acknowledging that its officiating crew “did not properly interpret the action as a hideout tactic.” By rule, Oklahoma should have been penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, and the touchdown erased. The league cited NCAA rule G-2, Article 2, which prohibits simulated substitutions or deceptive hideout maneuvers.
Statement on @AuburnFootball/@OU_Football game: pic.twitter.com/PCn8AwLkeb
— SEC Officiating (@SECOfficiating) September 21, 2025
The non-call drew frustration from Auburn coach Hugh Freeze, who said he attempted to call timeout before the snap and pointed out that coaches were specifically warned about such plays before the season.
However, Oklahoma dismissed the notion of trickery. Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle called it a “tempo play,” while head coach Brent Venables added the team had confirmed Sategna was lined up legally with the officials.
Oklahoma ultimately survived on late rushing touchdown by Mateer, but the controversy left a terrible mark. The SEC’s public rebuke of its own officials shows the accountability for the mistake. This is the second high-profile officiating misstep nationally. The Big 12 removed a crew from working a future work after a mistake in the Missouri-Kansas game earlier this month.
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