Oklahoma DL R Mason Thomas Ejected, Misses First Half vs Auburn

Oklahoma defensive end R Mason Thomas was ejected from the Week 3 game against Temple due to a targeting penalty after a hit on Temple quarterback Evan Simon, which officials upgraded from roughing the passer upon review. As a result, Thomas will be suspended for the first half of Oklahoma's upcoming Week 4 Southeastern Conference opener against Auburn, where former OU quarterback Jackson Arnold will return to Norman. Thomas, a preseason All-SEC second-team selection who finished last season with nine sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, has been a key defensive player for Oklahoma, helping the team rank 17th in FBS total defense entering the Temple game. Despite his ejection, Oklahoma held a commanding 28-3 lead when Thomas left the game and eventually won. With Thomas sidelined for the first half against Auburn, defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis will look to other starters, including Florida State transfer Marvin Jones Jr. and sophomore Taylor Wein, to fill the gap. The Auburn game is considered a marquee matchup, with both teams having notable wins and players to watch.