No. 7 Alabama’s surprising 24-3 loss to Oklahoma has shaken up the SEC Championship Game picture and put the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff aspirations on life support.
The Crimson Tide hit three losses for the first time since 2010
The loss brings the Crimson Tide to 8-3, marking the first three-loss season in Tuscaloosa since 2010. Oklahoma secured a bowl berth with the victory in Norman.
Oklahoma grabbed control of the game for eight minutes in the middle. The Sooners scored a touchdown before halftime, intercepted Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to set up another short touchdown, and nabbed a pick-six from Milroe to score 21 points in almost no time.
Even outside of the middle period, Alabama experienced a complete collapse. The Crimson Tide gained only 234 yards and gave up 260 on the ground to the nation’s No. 86 rushing offence. Milroe finished with 171 total yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions.
Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold rushed for 131 yards, while true freshman running back Xavier Robinson added 107 yards and two scores.
The loss was one of the program’s worst in years. Alabama’s greatest loss since the 2018 national championship game, and its worst against an unranked team since Virginia Tech in 1998.
The Tide scored three offensive points, the fewest since 2004 against South Carolina. Alabama’s other losses this season came as No. 1 at Vanderbilt, which was historic, and a thriller at Tennessee.
Oklahoma entered the game 1-5 in SEC play and 0-2 at home. Its previous home game was a stunning 35-9 loss to South Carolina, one of the worst in program history. The program had not defeated an FBS opponent since September and was unlikely to make a bowl game.
Instead, Alabama’s future has become questionable. With Alabama and Ole Miss falling in Week 13, the SEC’s only four teams with two or fewer losses are Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Tennessee. The Longhorns and Aggies will face off at Kyle Field in Week 14.
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