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Why Mike Gundy says Oklahoma State football fans should be ‘thankful’ for Leon Johnson III

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Why Mike Gundy says Oklahoma State football fans should be ‘thankful’ for Leon Johnson III


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STILLWATER — Leon Johnson III could have easily preserved his redshirt status.

Seriously.

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Oklahoma State’s latest breakout star at wide receiver could have told Cowboys coaches he wanted to keep it, even with the receivers corps. depleted by injury.

Instead, he’s become a very important piece of OSU’s offensive puzzle.

“The OSU people need to be thankful for guys like him for what he did,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “If he says he wants to redshirt, we really can’t tell him no. College football’s not that way right now.

“I couldn’t be any more proud of him.”

Mussatto: Can Oklahoma State football win Big 12 title? These Cowboys can’t be counted out

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Johnson caught nine passes for 132 yards in Saturday’s wild 40-34 double-overtime win against BYU to clinch the final spot in the Big 12 Championship Game for the second time in three seasons.

The 6-foot-5 receiver who transferred from Division III George Fox is up to 27 receptions and 446 yards this season — all in the past five games. 

Until then, he was expected to redshirt and extend his career a year with the Cowboys.

But that’s no longer an option — barring a possible waiver being filed and granted, but there’s no guarantee that Johnson pursues that — and Johnson was good with that.

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He was going to spend a year working under strength coach Rob Glass and offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn, who still oversees receivers.

But Johnson was needed.

More: OSU’s Mike Gundy says Big 12 ‘is excited’ about avoiding OU football vs. Texas rematch

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Now, he’s a tremendous part of the offense.

And he’s going to be playing in Arlington, Texas, for a Big 12 title. He never really saw that coming.

“It sounds awesome,” Johnson said. “Honestly, it wasn’t something I was ever thinking about in my life. It’s real. It’s next week.”

Jacob Unruh covers Oklahoma State athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jacob? He can be reached at junruh@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jacobunruh. Sign up for the Oklahoma State Cowboys newsletter to access more OSU coverage. Support Jacob’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.

More: Oklahoma State football vs. Texas in Big 12 Championship Game: Time, TV & scouting report

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What time, TV channel is the Oklahoma Sooners vs Auburn football on today? Free live stream, spread, game odds

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What time, TV channel is the Oklahoma Sooners vs Auburn football on today? Free live stream, spread, game odds


The No. 21 ranked Oklahoma Sooners face the Auburn Tigers with a true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. being named the starter after an impressive second half in a loss to Tennessee last week. This game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 28 with a live broadcast on ABC, and streaming live on ESPN Plus.

WATCH: Auburn vs. Oklahoma football live for FREE with Fubo (free trial), or stream this game and more on the cheap with one month of ESPN+ (costs $10.99/month, cancel anytime).

The betting odds for this game have moved all over the place, originally opening with the Sooners as the favorites. However, most sportsbooks now have Auburn as slight favorites over Oklahoma in this matchup.

What TV channel is the Oklahoma vs. Auburn game on?

When: Kickoff takes place at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) on Saturday, September 28.

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Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, AL

TV Channel: ABC, and streaming on ESPN Plus

How to watch live stream online: If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial). If you are out of free trials, the cheapest and best way to watch this game and more football this month is by signing up for one month of ESPN+ (costs $10.99/month, cancel anytime).

If you already have a cable or satellite subscription already, you can watch the game on Watch ESPN or the ESPN app by signing in with your provider information.

You can find out more about which channel ABC is on in your area by using the channel finders here: Comcast Xfinity, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice.

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Oklahoma vs. Auburn spread, betting odds

Point Spread: OU: +1 | AUB: -1

Moneyline: OU: -105 | AUB: -115

Over/Under: 44.5



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LB Dasan McCullough Joins List of 11 Oklahoma Players Unavailable against Auburn

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LB Dasan McCullough Joins List of 11 Oklahoma Players Unavailable against Auburn


The list of unavailable players for the Sooners just keeps growing. 

Oklahoma linebacker Dasan McCullough will not be available for OU’s game against Auburn at 2:30 pm. Saturday, according to the most recent SEC availability report that was released Friday night. McCullough also missed last week’s game against Tennessee after being listed as doubtful most of last week. He was listed as questionable this week until Friday. 

McCullough joined a list of 10 other Sooners that will be unavailable for Week 5. The only other OU player included on the availability report was offensive lineman Jake Taylor, who was listed as probable. Unless he’s considered a game-time decision, Taylor’s status will be known when the final availability report is released 90 minutes before OU and Auburn kicks off. 

The bright side of this week’s report is that it looks like Geirean Hatchett, who is out for the season, will be the only offensive lineman the Sooners will not have available.

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Those unavailable include five of OU’s top receivers in Jayden Gibson, Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony and Deion Burks. Gibson has already been ruled out for the season, while Farooq is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after breaking his foot in the Sooners’ season opener against Temple. Anderson made his first appearance of the season last week but was injured during the opening drive. 

Burks was the newest receiver added to OU’s injured reserve on Thursday after also suffering an injury against Tennessee. Burks is the Sooners’ leading receiver with 26 receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns. The next leading pass catcher is tight end Bauer Sharp with 14 catches and 116 yards. 

So many injuries to OU receivers even influenced Brent Venables to switch cornerback Jacobe Johnson to wide receiver. And the Sooners are enduring all these injuries at receiver as freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. is set to make his first career start Saturday.

Freshman running back Taylor Tatum and defensive back Kendel Dolby were also injured last week. Tatum was ruled out on Thursday, while Dolby, who plays the cheetah position, will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on Wednesday. Fellow defensive back Gentry Williams was also ruled unavailable for Saturday. 

The biggest shock of this week was kicker Tyler Keltner, who will be unavailable after an emergency appendectomy. Zach Schmit will presumably take over all kicking duties after participating in only kickoffs so far this season. 

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As for Auburn, the Tigers’ list is much shorter. Auburn will be without defensive backs Tyler Scott and Champ Anthony, as well as tight end Brandon Frazier. Defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes, kicker Alex McPherson and offensive lineman Izavion Miller are listed as probable. 

WR Jayden Gibson, Out
LB Dasan McCullough, Out
WR Jalil Farooq, Out
WR Nic Anderson, Out
WR Andrel Anthony, Out
WR Deion Burks, Out
RB Taylor Tatum, Out
DB Gentry Williams, Out
DB Kendel Dolby, Out
OL Geirean Hatchett, Out
K Tyler Keltner, Out
OL Jake Taylor, Probable

DB Tyler Scott, Out
DB Champ Anthony, Out
TE Brandon Frazier, Out
DL Isaiah Raikes, Probable
K Alex McPherson, Probable
OL Izavion Miller, Probable



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Sources: Auburn’s Thorne to be QB1 vs. Sooners

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Sources: Auburn’s Thorne to be QB1 vs. Sooners


Veteran quarterback Payton Thorne will start for Auburn when No. 21 Oklahoma visits Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday afternoon, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel Friday.

Thorne, the former Michigan State transfer, started 13 games for the Tigers last fall. He returned as the program’s starter in 2024 before he was replaced by redshirt freshman Hank Brown in Week 3. In Thorne, Auburn will have an experienced starter under center in Week 5 against a Sooners defense that leads the nation in turnovers (12) and ranks 28th in total defense this fall.

Auburn initially turned to Brown after Thorne threw a career-high four interceptions in a 21-14 home defeat to Cal on Sept. 7. Brown led the Tigers past New Mexico in his first career start in Week 3, but struggled against Arkansas last Saturday, completing 7-of-13 passes for 72 yards with three interceptions. After Auburn went scoreless before halftime, Thorne took over at quarterback in the second half of the 24-14 home loss, finishing 13-for-23 for 213 yards with two touchdowns and interception.

Both quarterbacks turned in strong weeks of practice ahead of this weekend’s visit from Oklahoma, but Auburn will go with Thorne Saturday, banking on his experience and the momentum he built in his relief work against Arkansas as the Tigers chase their first SEC win of 2024.

Auburn hosts the Sooners at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC in Oklahoma’s first SEC road game.

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