ATLANTA – Shorthanded in terms of player availability, No. 4-ranked Oklahoma fell short on the scoreboard in a College Football Playoff semifinal and fell 63-28 to No. 1-ranked LSU on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
OU was without defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins (its best pass rusher), running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver Trejan Bridges. Also missing was starting strong safety Delarrin Turner-Yell, who was out with an injury.
The Sooners' lack of depth was exploited further when starting nickelback Brendan Hadley-Hiles was ejected for targeting early in the second quarter. Earlier in the game, All-American linebacker Kenneth Murray missed time with an apparent leg injury.
Appearing in their third straight CFP semifinal and their fourth in the last five years, the Sooners finished 12-2 for the third consecutive season.
"We're continuing to make strides," OU third-year coach Lincoln Riley said afterward. "There's no doubt about it. I mean, just putting yourself here four times in five years is – I mean, that's so hard to do, man. I mean, it's so hard to do…. This program has championship DNA. We kind of find a way, and we'll be back."
Two weeks ago, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy by the most lopsided vote in history. On Saturday, he completed 29 of 39 passes for 497 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Tigers (14-0) finished with 692 total yards with 532 coming through the air. Receiver Justin Jefferson had 14 receptions for 227 yards and four touchdowns.
"Tremendous football team," Riley said of LSU. "Played very well, very deserving. They're impressive."
Heisman runner-up Jalen Hurts completed 15 of 31 passes for 217 yards and one touchdown for OU. He also had 43 yards rushing on 12 carries and scored two TDs. First-team All-America wide receiver CeeDee Lamb had four receptions for 119 yards (29.8 average).
"It's a disappointing locker room right now," Riley said. "What can you say? I thought the game, we traded blows early. They went on the run there at the end of the first half. We got a little frantic and just didn't play our best."
After the Tigers took a 7-0 lead, OU tied the score at 7 when Kennedy Brooks scored from 3 yards out following a 51-yard connection from Hurts to Lamb.
Trailing 14-7, Hurts threw an incomplete third-down pass to freshman Jaden Haselwood, who appeared to be contacted before the ball arrived. No pass interference was called, however, and the Tigers scored on their next three possessions to open a 35-7 lead early in the second quarter.
"Just talk about the missed opportunities we had, leaving money on the table, going out there and taking advantage of every opportunity we have against teams like this," Hurts said. "I mean, games like this, you've got to maximize it. We failed to do that."
Burrow rushed for a touchdown in the opening drive of the second half, becoming the first player in FBS history responsible for eight TDs in a bowl game.
"We had a hard time, obviously, corralling him back there," Riley said of Burrow. "We're certainly not the only ones that have. They've got a good offensive line. We had a couple opportunities to get him on the ground that we didn't. They made a couple of plays and scrambled, a couple pretty good coverage, competitive plays. Those are going to happen from time to time. The biggest disappointment to me was the busts we had defensively. That's something all year we've done a tremendous job of."
The combined score of 91 points is a new record for a CFP semifinal bowl and New Year's Six bowl.
"It's been a great year," Riley said. "This team, I told them in there, it's been an absolute joy to coach. A lot of adversity this team's had to deal with, some on the outside, some that the outside doesn't know about. They've been a joy. They really have. … Proud of these guys. It hurts right now, but it won't diminish all they've been able to accomplish. Just I love this team. That's it."