Bama’s Playoff Hopes Take a Hit After Shocking Loss to Oklahoma
NORMAN, Oklahoma — It was a night to forget for Alabama fans as the Crimson Tide suffered a crushing 24-3 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. Head coach Kalen DeBoer didn’t mince words, calling his team’s performance riddled with “uncharacteristic” mistakes. The defeat not only snapped Alabama’s momentum but also delivered a significant blow to their College Football Playoff hopes.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe had a night he’ll want to erase from memory, throwing three interceptions and struggling to find any rhythm. The Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC) managed just 70 rushing yards, their lowest of the season, against a Sooners defense that came ready to play. Meanwhile, Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5) leaned on the dynamic duo of quarterback Jackson Arnold and freshman running back Xavier Robinson, who combined to gash Alabama for 257 rushing yards. The win secured bowl eligibility for Oklahoma for the 26th consecutive season.
Three Losses for the First Time Since 2010
For Alabama, this marks the first time since 2010 that the program has suffered three losses in a season. Heading into Week 13, the Crimson Tide controlled their own destiny, needing wins over Oklahoma and Auburn to secure a spot in the SEC title game on Dec. 7. But Saturday’s stumble handed No. 10 Georgia a ticket to the conference championship and left Alabama’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Even if they defeat Auburn in the Iron Bowl next weekend, Alabama will need a lot of help from other teams to sneak into the 12-team playoff field.
What Went Wrong for Alabama?
After the game, DeBoer pointed to early mistakes as the turning point in a contest that spiraled out of control after halftime. “We gotta be better in all ways,” DeBoer said. “Some simple things, uncharacteristic things, happened early in the game where we didn’t get the momentum on our side, and really it comes down to the end of the first half [with] them scoring a touchdown and the turnovers really kind of changing the momentum of the game there.”
Milroe’s struggles were glaring. The junior quarterback completed just 11 of 26 passes for 164 yards and was held to a mere 7 rushing yards on 15 attempts. Alabama trailed 10-3 early in the third quarter when Oklahoma cornerback Eli Bowen intercepted Milroe, setting up Robinson’s second touchdown of the night just four plays later. Things went from bad to worse on the next possession when Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis jumped a pass intended for tight end Robbie Ouzts and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown, extending Oklahoma’s lead to 24-3.
Key Stats from the Game
- Alabama’s 21-point deficit was their largest against an unranked opponent since 2003.
- The Crimson Tide managed just five first downs and 80 total yards after Milroe’s back-to-back interceptions.
- Milroe became the first Alabama quarterback to throw three interceptions in a game since 2015.
DeBoer acknowledged that the offensive struggles went beyond Milroe’s performance. “I think stepping back it just felt like early in the game there were different things — drops, balls we lost in the lights — different uncharacteristic things,” he said. “Weird things that happened. I thought [Milroe] was actually putting the ball where he needed to. We just needed to help him out a little bit.”
Oklahoma’s Physical Dominance
Sooners head coach Brent Venables credited his team’s physicality for the win. Oklahoma’s offense racked up 205 rushing yards in the first half alone, the most Alabama has allowed in a half since 2007. The Crimson Tide’s defense struggled even more after losing second-leading tackler Deontae Lawson to a lower-body injury in the second quarter. DeBoer did not provide an update on Lawson’s status after the game but admitted his absence was felt. “Anytime you lose a great player like Deontae, it’s going to affect you,” DeBoer said. “His leadership. He’s the guy who makes a lot of the calls on the field. Just seems like he’s always in control.”
What’s Next for Alabama?
With their postseason fate no longer in their hands, the Crimson Tide face an uphill battle. Milroe, however, remained optimistic about the team’s mindset moving forward. “It’s all about finish,” he said. “We’ve got to finish. There’s so much left for the football season. We’ve got to get everyone together to have a like-mindedness and just keep on competing. Every opportunity that we have we’ve just got to seize it.”
Alabama’s playoff hopes may be on life support, but the Iron Bowl against Auburn looms as a chance for redemption. Whether or not the Crimson Tide can bounce back remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Saturday’s loss will sting for a long time.
Originally Written by: Alex Scarborough
