Sooners DL Thomas ejected, faces 1st-half suspension vs. Auburn

Oklahoma defensive lineman R Mason Thomas will be suspended for the first half of the Sooners’ Week 4 visit from No. 24 Auburn following a targeting ejection Saturday.

Thomas, Oklahoma’s 2024 sack leader, was ejected in the third quarter of the program’s Week 3 visit to Temple on Saturday afternoon following a high hit on Owls quarterback Evan Simon.

Thomas was initially penalized for roughing the passer with the Sooners leading 28-3. The penalty was upgraded to targeting following an official review. Per NCAA rules, targeting penalties incurred in the second half of a game result in a first-half suspension in the subsequent game.

“I didn’t see it, but you put your face to their face — a quarterback — they’re going to call it most of the time,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said postgame. “So we’ll be without him, obviously, [in the] first half next week.”

Venables told reporters that the Sooners intend to appeal the ruling of targeting. Earlier this month, Michigan failed in its appeal of targeting call against star defender Jaishawn Barham, who was suspended the first half of the Wolverines’ Week 2 visit to Oklahoma.

“We’ll go to the nth-degree to do that,” Venables said of an appeal. “But we’ll see.”

Thomas’ ejection will leave the 13th-ranked Sooners without one of their top defenders for the first half of next week’s SEC opener against Auburn. That game also marks the return of former Sooner and current Tigers starting quarterback Jackson Arnold to Norman, where the former five-star quarterback made nine starts for OU last season before entering the transfer portal and landing with Auburn last December.

Thomas’ ejection aside, Oklahoma faced very little adversity Saturday against Temple. Quarterback John Mateer threw for 282 yards and a touchdown and had a 51-yard rushing score, and running back Tory Blaylock rushed for 100 yards and a pair of TDs in the 42-3 victory.

The Sooners (3-0) took a 25-0 lead in the first half of the game, which was played at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, and never looked back.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.