Six takeaways from LSU football's loss at Oklahoma

All eyes were on LSU football's pursuit of Lane Kiffin on Saturday, but LSU played a game too. The Tigers finished their regular season in Norman, Oklahoma. LSU fell to 7-5, suffering a 17-13 loss to the Sooners.

Another game, same story for LSU. The defense, which was one of the best in the country this year, played well. Blake Baker's unit stifled Oklahoma's ground game and made it hard for the Sooners to sustain drives.

The offense, to put it lightly, struggled. Nobody expected LSU to score many points vs. this vaunted Sooners' defense, but LSU was uncompetitive on that side of the ball.

The Tigers were without Garrett Nussmeier again, so Michael Van Buren made his third straight start. It wasn't pretty. Van Buren threw for just 98 yards on 15 attempts. He tossed a bad interception when LSU was threatning to score inside Oklahoma's five-yard line.

Here are five takeaways from LSU football's Week 14 loss at Oklahoma.

1. There isn't much to say about LSU's offense

There's actually a lot to say, but you've already heard it all. This offense is one of the worst in LSU history and now ranks 90th in SP+. A far fall from grace after LSU spent much of 2024 ranked in the top-15 and much of 2023 ranked in the top-five.

Nothing about this offense works. When Garrett Nussmeier was in the lineup, the passing game maintained some upside. But with Nussmeier out, there's nothing. LSU can't run the ball, can't throw the ball. The offensive line struggles to block and receivers rarely get open.

It was a lost year on this side of the ball.

2. Michael Van Buren isn't the answer at QB

As Nussmeier struggled, some fans clamored to get a look at Michael Van Buren. After three starts, it appears Van Buren doesn't have much of a future as LSU's quarterback.

Van Buren had a 2-1 record in his three starts, but LSU scored a combined 26 points in its last two games. Per PFF, Van Buren finished 2025 with a 64.3 passing grade. Not a terrible mark, but Van Buren averaged less than five yards per attempt in his final two games. That won't cut it.

Van Buren is talented and he impressed as a freshman at Mississippi State in 2024. He was a coveted prospect in the transfer portal, and it's probably unfair to make assessments about his future given how bad the situation was at LSU. Still, its hard to see Van Buren being LSU's QB1 next year.

3. Third down struggles killed LSU

Just to put the cherry on top, LSU was abysmal on third down. The Tigers were just 2/14 on money downs.

LSU was fine on first down, but when the Tigers were forced into obvious passing situations, it got bad. LSU's success rate on passing downs was just 14% -- it doesn't get much worse than that.

With LSU's QB and OL play, it's hard to win third down.

4. LSU's defense shut down Oklahoma's run game

LSU shut down Oklahoma's rushing attack, holding the Sooners to just five successful runs. This was one of the bes run-stopping performances we've seen from an SEC defense all year.

Oklahoma's EPA/run was -0.63, which ranks in the 0th percentile according to GameOnPaper.

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins continued to play well, grading out as LSU's top run defender and making four stops. Perkins drew criticism at points in 2025, but his run defense came a long way this year. He struggled to fit the run early in his career, but that was a strength for Perkins this fall.

LSU defensive tackle Bernard Gooden was also a force on the interior defensive line.

5. LSU picks off John Mateer three times

LSU's secondary was arguably the best in the SEC this year, leading the confernece in interceptions. Those skills were on display Saturday as LSU picked off OU QB John Mateer three times.

Harold Perkins, AJ Haulcy, and DJ Pickett all had interceptions. Perkins nearly ran his back for a touchdown, but was caught inside the Oklahoma five.

LSU's secondary was a major problem point early in the Brian Kelly era. Kelly and the LSU staff made plenty of missteps in 2025, but rebuilding the secondary wasn't one of them. Haulcy proved to be one of the best safeties in the SEC and Pickett was one of the best true freshmen in the country. The offense couldn't take advantage of the turnovers, but it was another havoc-creating day for LSU's defense.

6. Two big plays doomed LSU

For as good as LSU's defense was, two big plays still doomed the Tigers.

Here's the one that sealed the game. It was a blown coverage on LSU's part with miscommunication on the backend. OU WR Isaiah Sategna ran straight into open grass and Mateer found his target for a 58-yard touchdown. Seeing LSU blow a coverage like this is a rare sight, but it came in a pivotal moment.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Six takeaways from LSU football's loss at Oklahoma