The Sooners were nearly 12-point favorites to beat a struggling LSU squad at home and even had a spot in the College Football Playoff waiting on them, but they

An Oklahoma Sooners fan bodyslammed an LSU staffer in an attempt to hold on to a ball after catching it in the stands.

In a game that had more twists and turns than a country backroad, the Oklahoma Sooners somehow, someway, kept their College Football Playoff dreams from turning into a full-blown nightmare.

Oklahoma is poised to play for its 8th national championship -- and the first since 2000 -- in the College Football Playoff.

The No. 8 Sooners were a 4.5-point favorite when they defeated the then-No. 21 Missouri Tigers 17-6 (Under 42.5) last Saturday. Oklahoma won that battle in Columbia despite cranking out just 276 yards of total offense. LSU defeated OU 37-17 last season in Baton Rouge and leads a 4-game all-time series 3-1.

The LSU Tigers had a chance to derail the Oklahoma Sooners' College Football Playoff hopes on Saturday night, but they did not as the Sooners held on for a 17-13 victory.

The Tulane Green Wave face a win-and-in scenario to reach the American championship game hosting the struggling Charlotte 49ers.