NORMAN, Okla. — Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer lamented his staff’s “uncharacteristic” errors within the aftermath of a 24-3 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday evening that dealt a big blow to the Crimson Tide’s Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe threw three interceptions, and the Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC) by no means shook off a sluggish begin in opposition to an Oklahoma protection that held them to a season-low 70 speeding yards.
In the meantime, the Sooners (6-5, 2-5) — counting on the legs of quarterback Jackson Arnold and freshman working again Xavier Robinson — gashed Alabama for 257 speeding yards on their strategy to sealing bowl eligibility for a twenty sixth consecutive season.
The Crimson Tide have three losses for the primary time since 2010.
Alabama started Week 13 in line to succeed in the SEC title recreation on Dec. 7 with wins over Oklahoma then Auburn throughout the closing two weeks of the common season. As an alternative, the Crimson Tide’s street stumble helped No. 10 Georgia clinch a spot within the convention championship and left Alabama’s path into the CFP on shaky floor. Even when the Tide beat the Tigers within the Iron Bowl subsequent weekend, Alabama will want loads of assist in an effort to land a spot within the 12-team playoff discipline.
Following this system’s lowest-scoring efficiency since 2004, DeBoer targeted on the Tide’s early errors in a recreation he stated “acquired away” from them after halftime.
“We acquired to be higher in all methods,” DeBoer stated. “Some easy issues, uncharacteristic issues, occurred early within the recreation the place we did not get the momentum on our facet. And actually, it comes right down to the tip of the primary half [with] them scoring a landing and the turnovers actually sort of altering the momentum of the sport there.”
It was a very tough evening for Milroe. The junior went 11-for-26 for 164 yards passing and managed simply 7 yards speeding on 15 makes an attempt. Alabama trailed 10-3 early within the third quarter when Oklahoma cornerback Eli Bowen intercepted Milroe, establishing Robinson’s second landing run of the sport 4 performs later. The Sooners’ lead grew to 24-3 on the following possession after linebacker Kip Lewis jumped Milroe’s throw to tight finish Robbie Ouzts and returned it 49 yards for a rating.
Oklahoma’s 21-point benefit marked Alabama’s largest deficit in opposition to an unranked opponent since 2003. The Tide picked up solely 5 first downs and 80 yards complete after Milroe’s back-to-back picks. He grew to become the primary Alabama quarterback to throw three interceptions in a recreation since 2015 on Woodi Washington‘s game-sealing decide with 6:53 remaining within the contest.
Whereas Milroe struggled, DeBoer noticed wider issues in an offense that by no means recovered from a sloppy first half, which included punts on three of the Tide’s first 4 possessions.
“I believe stepping again, it simply felt like early within the recreation there have been various things — drops, balls we misplaced within the lights — totally different, uncharacteristic issues,” DeBoer stated. “Bizarre issues that occurred. I assumed [Milroe] was truly placing the ball the place he wanted to. We simply wanted to assist him out somewhat bit.”
Sooners coach Brent Venables stated Oklahoma was the extra “bodily soccer staff,” and his offense proved it with 205 first-half speeding yards that marked essentially the most Alabama had allowed in a half since 2007. The Tide continued to battle in opposition to the Sooners’ speeding assault after halftime with out linebacker Deontae Lawson. Alabama’s second-leading tackler was dominated out for the rest of the competition after exiting with a decrease physique harm within the second quarter.
DeBoer didn’t present an replace on Lawson’s standing following the sport.
“Anytime you lose an amazing participant like Deontae, it is going to have an effect on you,” DeBoer stated. “His management. He is the man who makes a number of the calls on the sector. Simply looks as if he is at all times in management.”
The beautiful defeat leaves the Tide’s postseason hopes in a precarious place coming into the ultimate week of the common season. With these playoff aspirations now not in Alabama’s management forward of an Iron Bowl go to from the Tigers, its quarterback was targeted on transferring ahead.
“It is all about end,” Milroe stated late Saturday evening. “We have to complete. There’s a lot left for the soccer season. We have to get everybody collectively to have a like-mindedness and simply carry on competing. Each alternative that we’ve got, we have simply acquired to grab it.”