Postmortem: Alabama’s playoff dreams die in Norman

Well, it happened.

It just felt this week as if an Oklahoma team with nothing but pride to play for, coming off a bye on Senior Night, would come to play. That proved to be an understatement as they completely dominated Alabama in every measure but the scoreboard in the opening half. Alabama couldn’t stop the run at all, but a fumble, a dropped TD pass and a missed Oklahoma field goal kept the Tide in the game. On the other hand, Oklahoma clearly came into this game determined not to let Jalen Milroe run the football.

There were yards to be gained through the air, and Alabama managed to hit on a few plays, but the passing game was generally out of whack. When receivers weren’t dropping passes, Milroe was missing throws. A wide open Germie Bernard appeared to lose one in the light and Ryan Williams stepped right on the chalk after a magnificent catch along the sideline to turn a touchdown into a field goal.

Oklahoma finally found dirt on their final possession of the half, aided by an obvious but uncalled hold by CB Domani Jackson on an explosive run around left end by QB Jackson Arnold. Oklahoma RB Xavier Robinson punched it in to close out his 8 carry, 88 yard first half and the Sooners took a 10-3 lead into the half and it was a miracle it was that close. Deontae Lawson went down with what is feared to be a serious injury in the second quarter, and that certainly didn’t help matters.

The miracle did not last long. Kobe Prentice whipped a block on a screen that turned into a terrible interception, and Oklahoma promptly punched it back in for a 17-3 lead. Unfortunately, one wasn’t enough for Jalen as he threw a pick-six on the next possession and a 24-3 deficit. For all intents and purposes, the game was over. Ryan Williams tried to get them back in the game with one of his signature acrobatic grabs in the end zone, but even that was taken away with a call so bad and late that it’s hard not to suspect corruption.

Still, there’s no way to cover just how inept the entire team looked tonight. It’s only year one of the Kalen DeBoer era, but Alabama’s play in SEC road games has been awful outside of the one against an LSU team that has proven unable to stop a running QB. When both sides of the football get whipped like this team did, and even the player is out, it’s an indictment of the staff.

DeBoer is finding out what he signed up for by following Saban, and every bit of the criticism will be deserved. It’s one thing to lose games, but another to fail to show up. It’s something Alabama fans haven’t had to deal with in a long time and won’t be well received. Auburn heads to Tuscaloosa feeling more comfortable after playing much better this week and their entire existence is predicated on beating Alabama. Alabama is beat up and feeling sorry for herself. Lose it and I don’t even care to think about the reaction of the fan base.

Vent all you want, but don’t be an idiot. There’s more football on tonight if you have an appetite, schedule courtesy of CFBGrid.com.

Roll Tide.