Alabama’s playoff chances crumbled in a 24-3 absolute beat down by the Oklahoma Sooners. The Crimson Tide have been living on the edge ever since they lost two out of three games mid-season. Things were looking up after winning three in a row. They were a team on the rise while the Sooners have struggled. But in an extremely winnable game, even if it was on the road in the SEC, they just didn’t show up. Now Alabama’s playoff hopes are non-existent.
The offense was a complete disaster gaining only 234 total yards and scoring three points. Jalen Milroe played arguably his worst college game ever. He finished 11 for 26 for 164 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions. Just like the other two losses, he couldn’t get anything going on the ground with 15 carries for only seven yards. As a team, they rushed 30 times for 70 yards, so the running backs didn’t do much more. It was a 10-3 game at halftime, but two devastating turnovers on the first two offensive drives of the second half sealed their fate. The defense didn’t help by getting run all over. They gave up 257 yards rushing with 205 of those yards coming in the first half. Kalen DeBoer’s team was awful from top to bottom.
Encouraging Early
The teams exchanged punts on the first two drives. Oklahoma moved the ball well on their second drive getting inside the Alabama 30. But the Sooners running back Taylor Tatum fumbled the ball and Deontae Lawson recovered. Alabama put together a 12-play drive that went 75 yards and took up 6:18, but they settled for a field goal. The Sooners offense moved the ball yet again, getting the ball inside the Alabama 30. But this time kicker Zach Schmit missed a 39-yard field goal. That was two solid drives by the Sooners that were wasted.
The Tides Turn
The Crimson Tide offense went three-and-out on the next drive gaining negative two yards. Oklahoma put together an 11-play drive in which they ran the ball 10 times. It stalled out at the Alabama 11-yard line and this time Schmitt made a 29-yard field goal to tie the game. Bama could only muster 19 yards on the next drive before another punt. The Sooners took advantage with a 12-play drive where they ran the ball 10 more times. Xavier Robinson punctuated it with an 18-yard touchdown run to give the Sooners a seven-point lead at half
In the first half, Alabama was out-gained in yards 242 to 97. Oklahoma possessed the ball five minutes longer than them and had 13 first downs to Alabama’s four. Milroe only completed two passes. The defense gave up 205 yards rushing at 7.1 yards per carry. Alabama was outperformed in every facet and were only down a touchdown. They were also getting the ball to start the second half, so it felt like they would find a way to turn it around.
Double Disaster
On the third play of the second half, Bama set up a screen pass to Ryan Williams on first down. Kobe Prentice completely whiffed on a block and Eli Bowen broke into the backfield to intercept it. He returned it 25 yards to the Alabama 14-yard line. Five plays later, Robinson ran it in to give Oklahoma a 17-3 lead. Alabama desperately needed to just get some points on the board. Instead, Milroe made a horrible throw that was picked off by Kip Lewis and returned 49 yards for a touchdown. The Sooners led 24-3 and it was panic time for the Crimson Tide.
The next drive felt like the biggest one of the season. Alabama needed to get a score. After getting one first down, the plays went incomplete pass, two-yard loss, incomplete pass. They had to punt. Oklahoma rightfully started to play conservatively with a big lead. They ran the ball five times, gaining only one first down, and punted it back.
Final Shot
Alabama had one last chance. On 4th and three, Milroe found Williams in the corner of the end zone for an incredible 36-yard touchdown catch. But the refs made the highly questionable illegal touching call on Williams because he was covered up when the ball was snapped. The flag was late and the call was wrong, but the points came off the board and resulted in a turnover. Bama got the ball back one more time. On fourth down, Milroe got hit as he threw the ball resulting in a Woodi Washington interception. That ended the game and any chance Alabama had at the conference championship or the playoffs.
Slim To None
This loss will haunt DeBoer and the Crimson Tide into next season. It was their third loss, all in the SEC. They will not play for the SEC championship. That will be Georgia and the winner of next week’s Texas and Texas A&M matchup. The chances they can still make the college football playoffs are slim to none. Ole Miss and Texas A&M were both also upset by unranked teams. The Rebels are done but that was only the Aggies’ second conference loss.
Bama is now sixth in the conference. The SEC will have three or four teams at most make it. Even if they beat Auburn next week, Alabama will need an unrealistic amount of help to make the playoffs. The season is over. The first non Nick Saban season will end in huge disappointment especially when no team in the country seems dominant. It’s back to the drawing board for DeBoer and company. But the only relevant questions now revolve around 2025.
