The Alabama Crimson Tide was dominated at the hand of unranked Oklahoma on Saturday night in Norman in what was the first-ever SEC matchup between the Tide and Sooners.
Oklahoma claimed a 24-3 victory on a night Alabama was simply outplayed on both sides of the ball. It was a particularly poor game from Jalen Milroe and the offense.
Alabama forced an early fumble, but was only able to get a field goal out of it. That was after a Kalen DeBoer decision to kick, after originally being lined up to go for it, putting the first points of the night on the board for either team late in the first quarter.
The Sooners carried a 10-3 lead into halftime — which could have been worse. But Alabama was able to limit the damage on the defensive side of the ball for the most part in the first half. That was, until the final minute. Xavier Robinson ran from 18 yards out to score the first touchdown of the game:
X gon' give us the lead 🗣️#OUDNA | @xavierrobinson0 pic.twitter.com/vxWfdJOIxk
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 24, 2024
Things got ugly right away for Jalen Milroe in the second half. He threw a pick on a screen pass attempt that set the Sooners up to take a 17-3 lead:
He's a freshman 🗣️#OUDNA | @EliBowen12 pic.twitter.com/XuzgkiO7Dt
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 24, 2024
The situation got much worse on the following possession, as another sloppy throw from Milroe went inbound for a defensive touchdown, to put Oklahoma up by three scores and pushing the game to an early brink:
Kip doesn't like teams from Alabama…@KipLewis9 | #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/jCLU5BjI6G
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 24, 2024
Early in the fourth quarter, a dreadful call against Alabama wiped out a Ryan Williams touchdown through the air that would have made it a two score game with a full quarter left.
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That was all she wrote for the Tide offense. Milroe was picked off a third time later in the quarter after taking a hit while throwing:
Blitz Boomer Blitz‼️ pic.twitter.com/LIK1SjQMWv
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 24, 2024
Milroe finished just 11 of 26 for 164 yards with no touchdowns and three picks as well as just seven yards on the ground.
The Tide’s third loss likely eliminates them from College Football Playoff contention, barring a miracle situation. The focus now turns to next week’s Iron Bowl as Alabama tries to regroup.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
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