An SEC officiating crew failed to identify a “hideout tactic” on Oklahoma‘s second-quarter touchdown in the 11th-ranked Sooners’ Week 4 win over No. 22 Auburn, the conference announced in a statement late Saturday night.

Oklahoma led 10-3 after quarterback John Mateer connected with Isaiah Sategna for a 24-yard touchdown with 10:45 remaining in the first half on Saturday. Before the snap, Sategna had walked toward the Sooners’ sideline appearing to feign a substitution, but he remained on the field before streaking down the sideline through the Tigers’ secondary undetected for the scoring reception.

Oklahoma went on to beat Auburn 24-17 after Mateer’s go-ahead rushing touchdown with 4:54 left in the game.

Hours later, the SEC announced that its officiating crew “did not properly interpret the action as a hideout tactic” and said the Sooners should have been assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that would have wiped out Sategna’s touchdown.

“If properly officiated, the second down play should have resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of 15 yards assessed from the previous spot,” the statement read. “Appropriate accountability will be applied without additional comment.”

The statement referred to NCAA football rule G-2, Article 2, related to “unfair tactics.”

“No simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents,” the rule states. “No tactic associated with substitutions or the substitutions process may be used to confuse the opponent. This includes any hideout tactic with or without a substitution.”

Following the game, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle referred to the call as a “tempo play.” Sooners coach Brent Venables similarly knocked down the suggestion that it had been a case of deception, claiming that Oklahoma confirmed with an official that Sategna was lined up and that “everything’s good and legal.”

However, Auburn coach Hugh Freeze made his feelings clear afterward. The Tigers’ sideline appeared to notice Sategna’s pre-snap movement, and Freeze said he attempted to call a timeout before the ball was snapped while noting that warnings against using such tactics had been clearly emphasized before the season.

“They said they didn’t hear us trying to call timeout,” Freeze said. “We were instructed all offseason about deception plays and things. So, we’ll see what’s said. I really don’t know what will be said about that.”

Shortly after, the SEC released a rare statement criticizing its own officials and promising further accountability. The move marked at least the second high-profile officiating issue over the opening month of the 2025 regular season after the Big 12 reprimanded one of its officiating crews for failing to identify a rules violation in Missouri‘s 42-31 win over Kansas on Sept. 9.

AUSTIN, Texas — Arch Manning passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns in his sharpest game of the season so far as No. 8 Texas cruised to a 55-0 win over Sam Houston on Saturday night.

Manning was 18-of-21 passing and also ran for two first-half touchdowns. He connected with Ryan Wingo for touchdowns of 53 and 13 yards in the third quarter before leaving the game with Texas (3-1) leading 45-0.

“It felt good,” Manning said. “I wish I could have done that the last [three] weeks. But I’m glad we did it tonight … Got the ball in my guys’ hands and let them go to work.”

Manning needed a confidence-builder after a poor start to the season and got one against the overmatched Bearkats (0-4). His passes looked crisp and decisive, and after his first touchdown run of the game, he stood and flexed over a defender before a game official broke them up.

His Texas teammates were glad to see it.

“He got his swagger back,” Texas senior safety Michael Taaffe said. “Everybody knew that it was in there. What he showed tonight is what we expect.”

Manning said he worried he’d get a taunting penalty, and that he quickly apologized to the game official.

“Probably a little much there. My mom was pretty mad about it,” Manning said. “I think it was some built-up frustration for the past few weeks.”

Manning had come into the game completing just 55% of his passes. The preseason betting favorite for the Heisman Trophy had promised several times during the week that he would start playing better. At one point Saturday night, Manning completed 14 passes in a row.

“When he plays a little looser and he’s free, that’s the best version of Arch,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “He got going and started throwing the ball. Started using his legs. You could feel the bounce in his step on the field.”

Manning said he won’t concern himself with the national chatter about him this week, or the critics who dismissed him after the first few games.

“I’m not really worried about what anyone thinks of the narratives. I’m just trying to play ball, get wins. That’s most important, especially going into SEC play. Right?” he said.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway guaranteed the Gators would play better on offense following a 26-7 loss to Miami on Saturday following the worst offensive showing under embattled coach Billy Napier.

The Gators had 141 total yards, their fewest in a game since 1999 against Alabama and went 0-for-13 on third down, its worst showing since 1998 vs Florida State. Lagway, a week after throwing five interceptions in a loss to LSU, went 12-of-23 for 61 yards passing. According to ESPN Research, he totaled minus-3 air yards on his 12 completions, as seven of them were caught behind the line of scrimmage.

Asked about his struggles after leading Florida to a 6-1 record last year as the starter, Lagway said, “It’s been hard, but let me tell y’all something. We’re going to get things changed for sure. I can guarantee that. This is not acceptable at all. I’m not going to sit here and lie to y’all and make this seem like this is OK. This isn’t OK. We’ve got to play better football, and it starts with me.”

Lagway missed all of spring football and was limited for most of fall camp with various injuries, and both he and coach Billy Napier have pointed to that as one big reason why he has struggled. Taking out the opener against FCS Long Island University, Lagway is 68-of-105 for 507 yards with two touchdown passes and six interceptions.

Against Miami, Florida struggled against a fierce pass rush, as Lagway was sacked four times and often overshot open receivers. In the first half alone, Florida only had 32 total yards — including four three-and-outs and six punts.

“I didn’t play my best ball tonight,” Lagway said. “I took what the defense gave me. I didn’t make a lot of plays that I needed to make to stand out in the game. I kind of just managed it. I didn’t make a lot of big plays, so I’m trying to find the balance between both. And still just development. Just trying to get better.”

But an 80-yard drive on its first drive of the third quarter gave Florida some hope, as the Gators trimmed the lead to 13-7. Then, the Gators got the ball back immediately after Carson Beck threw an interception. Florida moved into Miami territory, but Lagway threw short on fourth-and-3. Miami then put the game out of reach with a definitive 13-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that took 7:12 off the clock.

Florida has now scored 10 or fewer points in consecutive games for the first time since 1989, putting more pressure on Lagway and Napier, who calls the plays.

“Every position is contributing to our issues,” Napier said. “Obviously, we talked about DJ and what he’s been through this offseason. I do think that there’s some rhythm missing there, and we’re going to go back to the drawing board, and I think the open date’s coming at a good time there. We’ve got to evaluate everything we’re doing on that side of the ball.”

There may not be a better time for an open date for the Gators. When Florida plays next, it hosts No. 8 Texas on Oct. 4, before going on the road to play No. 10 Texas A&M on Oct. 11.

Lagway said he guarantees things will change because, “I’m going to start with it.”

“I’m going to demand greatness from everybody,” Lagway said. “We’re done with the playing around stuff. It’s time to get serious. It starts with me. I’ve got to set the tempo. I’ve got to set the tone in practice in meetings around the building. I know for a fact it’s going to change because it’s going to start with me.”