Alabama stumbles at Oklahoma as CFP chances take a hit

NORMAN, Okla. – Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer lamented his team’s “uncharacteristic” mistakes in the wake of a 24-3 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday night that dealt a significant blow to the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff hopes.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe threw three interceptions and the Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC) never shook off a slow start against an Oklahoma defense that held them to a season-low 70 rushing yards.

Meanwhile, the Sooners (6-5, 2-5) — relying on the legs of quarterback Jackson Arnold and freshman running back Xavier Robinson — crushed Alabama for 257 rushing yards en route to sealing bowl eligibility for a 26th straight season.

The Crimson Tide have three losses for the first time since 2010.

Alabama began Week 13 in line to reach the SEC title game on Dec. 7 with wins over Oklahoma and then Auburn over the final two weeks of the regular season. Instead, the Crimson Tide’s road fumble helped No. 10, Georgia, to earn a berth in the conference championship and left Alabama’s path into the CFP on shaky ground. Even if the Tide beat the Tigers in the Iron Bowl next weekend, Alabama will need plenty of help to earn a spot in the 12-team playoff field.

After the program’s lowest-scoring performance since 2004, DeBoer focused on the Tide’s early mistakes in a game he said “got away” from them after halftime.

“We have to be better in every way,” DeBoer said. “Some simple things, uncharacteristic things, happened early in the game where we didn’t get momentum on our side. And really it comes down to the end of the first half (with) them scoring a touchdown and the turnover was really kind. that change the momentum of the game there.”

It was a particularly rough night for Milroe. The junior went 11-for-26 for 164 yards passing and managed just 7 yards rushing on 15 attempts. Alabama trailed 10-3 early in the third quarter when Oklahoma cornerback Eli Bowen intercepted Milroe and set up Robinson’s second touchdown of the game four plays later. The Sooners’ lead grew to 24-3 on the ensuing possession after linebacker Kip Lewis jumped Milroe’s throw to tight end Robbie Ouzts and returned it 49 yards for a score.

Oklahoma’s 21-point advantage marked Alabama’s largest deficit against an unranked opponent since 2003. The Tide picked up just five first downs and 80 total yards after Milroe’s back-to-back picks. He became the first Alabama quarterback to throw three interceptions in a game since 2015 on Woodi Washington’s game-sealing pick with 6:53 left in the contest.

While Milroe struggled, DeBoer saw bigger problems in an offense that never recovered from a sloppy first half that included punts on three of the Tide’s first four possessions.

“I think stepping back, it just felt like early in the game there were different things — drops, balls we dropped in the lights — different, uncharacteristic things,” DeBoer said. “Strange things that happened. I thought (Milroe) actually put the ball where he was supposed to. We just had to help him out a little bit.”

Sooners coach Brent Venables said Oklahoma was the more “physical football team,” and his offense proved it with 205 rushing yards in the first half, marking the most Alabama had allowed in a half since 2007. The Tide continued to struggle The Sooners’ rushing attack after halftime was without linebacker Deontae Lawson. Alabama’s second-leading tackler was ruled out for the remainder of the contest after leaving with a lower-body injury in the second quarter.

DeBoer did not provide an update on Lawson’s status after the game.

“Anytime you lose a big player like Deontae, it’s going to affect you,” DeBoer said. “His leadership. He’s the guy who makes a lot of calls on the court. It just seems like he’s always in control.”

The stunning loss leaves the Tide’s postseason hopes in a precarious position heading into the final week of the regular season. With those playoff hopes no longer in Alabama’s control ahead of an Iron Bowl visit from the Tigers, its quarterback was focused on moving on.

“It’s all about finishing,” Milroe said late Saturday night. “We’ve got to finish. There’s so much left in the football season. We’ve got to get everybody on the same page and just keep competing. Every opportunity we have, we just have to take it. “