The Oklahoma Sooners ran into a buzzsaw when they made the trip to Auburn, Ala. to take on the No. 1 team in the nation on Tuesday night. Though the game was close for much of the first half, the Tigers were simply too much for the Sooners and began to pull away in the final eight minutes before halftime.

The game was in reach for the Sooners at halftime, but the Tigers played like the No. 1 team in the nation in the second half. Oklahoma kept within reach of No. 1 Auburn for the first half of Tuesday’s road game. But the Tigers showed why they’re the nation’s top-ranked squad in the second half.

The Oklahoma Sooners enter a pivotal offseason ahead of year two in the SEC. After his second 6-7 season in three years, there isn't much more leeway for Brent Venables in Norman. While many pundits are putting him on the hot seat, there are reasonable explanations for the two losing seasons Oklahoma's had under his leadership.