Last season, Oklahoma played spoiler by knocking off Alabama in late November to essentially eliminate the Crimson Tide from College Football Playoff contention.This season, the Sooners will try not to have their CFP destiny ruined when they host LSU on Saturday in Norman, Okla. The No. 8 Sooners (9-2, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) are almost certainly in the field — provided they earn a win over LSU (7-4, 3-4).Oklahoma has so far navigated a tough November schedule, knocking off then-No. 14 Tennessee and No. 4 Alabama on the road before beating No. 23 Missouri last week.”We caught our stride very, very well,” Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis said. “Keep coming and keep doing what we’re doing. Don’t change the process now.”The Tigers hope to end their regular season with a third straight win after a midseason lull led to Brian Kelly’s firing.LSU dropped its first game under interim coach Frank Wilson before beating Arkansas and Western Kentucky in the last two weeks.”We can go out here and raise a white flag and say, ‘You know, no one expected (us to win). We’re not going to the playoffs,'” Wilson said. “What’s your legacy?… And 8-4 is a lot better than 7-5. For us, it’s about self-reflection.”Though LSU has struggled, its defense remains one of the nation’s best.The Tigers come into the game 16th nationally in scoring defense (18.5 ppg), 23rd in total defense, 30th in passing defense and 31st in rushing defense.”They try to confuse you, and they’ll man you up,” said Sooners quarterback John Mateer. “So we’ve got to get after it.”After Mateer was hurt in the SEC opener, Oklahoma’s offense has struggled through much of conference play. The Sooners have been outgained in each of their last four games.But Oklahoma’s defense has been excellent, forcing eight turnovers during its three-game winning streak while the offense has avoided turnovers the last two games.”They’ve done a good job of tackling in space and getting guys to the ground,” Wilson said. ” … We just have to be able to create matchups where we win our one-on-ones.”
