Kirk Herbstreit compares Oklahoma fans who rush onto the field too early to sheep

On November 25, 2024By Littum

With their team holding a command 24-3 lead over no. 7 Alabama Saturday night and with under a minute left, Oklahoma fans began storming the field at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to join in a much-needed celebration near the end of what has been a difficult 2024 season.

The urge was understandable, but there was just one problem – there were still 28 seconds left on the clock.

For Kirk Herbstreit, who called the game with Chris Fowler for ESPN, the scene unfolding before him looked more like something on a farm than inside a college football stadium, with the longtime analyst compare the fans to sheep.

“You think they can’t see the clock?” Herbstreit said. “They just see other people running and they just go off like sheep? They just go off?”

His confusion was deserved.

While a victory was assured for Beforecoach Brent VenablesThe team still had a third-and-6 and more time on the game clock than the play clock.

The field was eventually cleared and Oklahoma took one last knee to seal the program’s biggest win of the season by far. The moment of euphoria will cost the Sooners — literally — as the school will have to pay Alabama $100,000 as a first-time violation of the SEC’s “access to the competitive domain” policy.

Oddly enough, it wasn’t the only game Saturday that featured an early field storm.

In no. 22 in Arizona State’s 28-23 win against no. 15 BYU, Sun Devils fans rushed the field, thinking the game was over after an incomplete pass on fourth down they believed had drained the remaining seconds off the clock. However, the officials ruled that there was one second left, which meant BYU took possession and had the chance to win the game on a desperation drive.

It took 15 minutes to clear the field and the Cougars’ Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete a few yards from the end zone.

With the win, Oklahoma improved to 6-5 and became bowl eligible for the 26th consecutive season.

The loss continued what has been a crazy season for Alabama under first-year coach Kalen DeBoer, who took over for the legendary Nick Saban in January. With their latest defeat, the Crimson Tide fell to 8-3, putting their College Football Playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. It is the first time since 2010 that Alabama has had more than two losses in a season.