Numbers behind OU's gritty comeback win over LSU that sent Sooners to College Football Playoff

It wasn't a pretty performance, especially on offense, from an Oklahoma team needing just one more win to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff, but as championship-quality teams do, the Sooners managed to find a way to win despite three costly turnovers.

Quarterback John Mateer threw three interceptions, tying his most in a game this season, but he also had touchdown throws of 45 and 58 yards to Deion Burks and Isaiah Satenga III, respectively, which proved to be enough for a 17-13 come-from-behind win over a struggling LSU team.

If you had reviewed the stat sheet after the game but not attended or watched the game on TV, you would have concluded that the Oklahoma offense had an excellent game. The Sooners produced 393 yards offensively and 318 passing yards. The 393 yards of offense was the most by Oklahoma against an SEC opponent all season, and the 318 passing yards were the highest total all season.

On the other side of the ball, the Sooner defense, which has been elite all season, held LSU to just 198 yards of total offense, the Tigers' lowest total since a 125-yard performance in a 10-0 loss to Alabama in 2016. It was the third time this season Oklahoma has held an opponent to under 200 yards of offense.

In reality, however, the Sooners had difficulty advancing the ball consistently against a stubborn LSU defense that limited OU to just 14 first downs and 4-of-15 on third downs.

"There's not a whole lot to really write about on the stat sheet, other than the score," Sooner head coach Brent Venables said in his postgame press conference.

After Oklahoma lost to Ole Miss in the eighth game of the season, suffering its second loss in three games, to stand at 6-2, experts held out slim hopes that the Sooners would win out at Tennessee, and Alabama, and at home against Missouri and LSU, in their final four games, which is what it was going to take to make it into the College Football Playoff.

But with the win over LSU, the Sooners pulled off the improbable and are now headed to the playoff and with a chance of securing a home game in the opening round. That will be determined on Selection Sunday this weekend.

Numbers that tell the story of OU's win over LSU, its 10th of the season

0 -- Neither team had a quarterback sack in the game. It was the first time in 12 games this season that the Sooners did not recorded a sack.

9 -- OU wide receiver Isaiah Satenga III had a career-high-tying nine receptions for 121 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

14 -- LSU's third-down conversion percentage against the Oklahoma defense. For the season, OU opponents have successfully converted just 29% (51 of 176) of their third-down tries.

23 -- Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell had a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter, extending his school-record streak of 23 consecutive made field goals this season.

35 -- In addition to his 58-yard game-winning touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, Isaiah Sategna III returned a punt 35 yards that preceded a 45-yard touchdown catch on the ensuing Sooner possession for Oklahoma's first touchdown in the game.

43 -- The win over LSU gave the Sooners 10 for the season, the 43rd time an Oklahoma team has won 10 or more in a season, which ranks second best all-time.

85 -- LSU gained 85 yards on the ground against the Sooners. Oklahoma has held six of its eight conference opponents to 85 rushing yards or fewer this season.

89 -- Oklahoma has won its last 89 games when holding its opponent to fewer than 21 points.

147 -- LSU's 198 yards of offense versus Oklahoma was 147 below its season average.

238 -- Oklahoma produced 238 of its 393 yards of offense versus LSU in the second half, the second-most in a second half this season.