5 questionable milestones Alabama reached with Oklahoma loss Saturday night

Alabama’s 24-3 loss at Oklahoma was among the most stunning in recent program history for a number of reasons.

The Crimson Tide entered the game ranked No. 8 nationally and in the driver’s seat for a spot in both the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. The Sooners entered the night with just one SEC win all year (vs. Auburn) and were clinging to hopes of bowl eligibility.

Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) left Norman out of the game for a trip to Atlanta and was just barely alive for a CFP berth heading into next week’s Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa. Oklahoma, meanwhile, picked up its sixth win of the year with one game to spare (at LSU next Saturday).

Saturday’s three-touchdown loss broke some long-standing trends for Alabama. Here are 5, in reverse chronological order:

1. Alabama failed to score a touchdown for the first time since 2011

The last time that had happened was a 9-6 loss to LSU in Tuscaloosa, in the so-called “Game of the Century.” The Crimson Tide went on to win the BCS national championship that season, beating the Tigers 21-0 in the rematch in New Orleans.

2. Alabama has three losses in a season for the first time since 2010

Including losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and now Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide must win the Iron Bowl and a bowl game just to get to 10-plus wins for the 17th straight year. Alabama’s 2010 team lost to South Carolina, LSU and Auburn in the regular season, but beat Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl to reach double-digit wins.

3. Alabama lost its Iron Bowl lead-in for the first time since 2007

The Crimson Tide generally played an FCS or Group of 5 school in its Iron Bowl warmup from 2007-23, though that has obviously changed with the SEC’s new schedule rotation. Alabama’s last game loss before facing Auburn was the infamous 21-14 loss to Louisiana-Monroe in Nick Saban’s first season.

4. Alabama has three true road losses for the first time since 2006

The Crimson Tide hadn’t lost three road games in the same season since the final year of the Mike Shula era, when it lost all four of its SEC road games (at Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, LSU). Saban’s first Alabama team lost at Mississippi State and Auburn and against Florida State in Jacksonville, although the latter was a neutral site game. The Crimson Tide’s only SEC road win this year was 42-13 at LSU on Nov. 9.

5. Alabama scored fewest points since 2004

Another low point of the Shula era was a 20-3 loss to South Carolina in Tuscaloosa 20 years ago, although that game came two weeks after the Crimson Tide lost starting quarterback Brodie Croyle to a season-ending knee injury. Alabama had scored at least six points in every game since then. (By the way, Alabama hasn’t been shut out since a 9-0 loss in the 2000 Iron Bowl.)