Alabama Blows it With Upset Loss to Oklahoma

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - No. 4 Alabama faced another ranked opponent this season, welcoming in the 11th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners to Bryant-Denny Stadium. A win almost certainly clinched an SEC title berth for the Crimson Tide, while a loss would put Alabama's back to the wall for the rest of the regular season, and make a late November trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium that much more important as Alabama hunts for an SEC championship and a College Football Playoff appearance.

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The first quarter looked like a continuation of last year's 24-3 upset of the Sooners over the Crimson Tide. Alabama went three-and-out on its first drive, and Oklahoma added a field goal after stalling out in the redzone. The Crimson Tide began to move the ball, something it does really well inside the 20s, but Sooners' head coach Brent Venables wasn't going to make it easy on Ty Simpson. He sent senior linebacker Kip Lewis up the middle on a blitz, and Simpson just threw the ball right into the hands of Eli Bowen, who returned Simpson's second interception of the season 87 yards the other direction. Before Alabama realized it, the Crimson Tide faced a 10-0 deficit on its own home field against a defense that is known for flying around and making big plays when facing good teams on the road.

The Crimson Tide's offense spotted Oklahoma 10 points, which isn't good for the blood pressure of the Alabama faithful, but it makes for entertaining television ratings. In the second quarter, Alabama finally pieced together a touchdown drive, going 72 yards in 12 plays and eating 6:21 off the clock, capping the drive with a touchdown by Daniel Hill, who appeared to be the lead back on Saturday against the Sooners early.

Alabama continued to make mistakes in the first half. The Crimson Tide's defense had kept Oklahoma from establishing a rhythm, forcing the Sooners to go three-and-out after the Tide's touchdown drive. Alabama looked to be swinging momentum back in its favor; all it needed was to get the offense back on the field. Unfortunately, Ryan Williams fumbled on the ensuing punt, and Oklahoma wasted no time capitalizing on the Tide's second mistake of the first half, with Sooner quarterback John Mateer keeping the ball and spinning his way into the endzone to give Oklahoma another 10-point lead.

The Crimson Tide offense would need to keep pace, and maybe even exceed any performance it's had this season against a power four opponent. Alabama, facing a 10-point deficit, orchestrated yet another impressive drive, using six plays to go 78 yards in 2:28, where Ty Simpson found Josh Cuevas over the middle of the field, capping the drive with a 25-yard touchdown. Could Alabama's defense get Oklahoma off the field again, and could Alabama's special teams department play error-free football to give the Tide a chance to take its first lead?

Alabama's defense rose to the occasion, with the Crimson Tide forcing an Oklahoma punt. Now, the Crimson Tide's offense faced a situation it seemed to have been very comfortable in all season long: two-minute offense. Alabama's offense was able to move down the field, but stalled out once it got to the Oklahoma side of the field. The Crimson Tide had to settle for a field goal attempt, but couldn't capitalize, resulting in a three-point deficit heading into the halftime locker room.

Oklahoma opened the second half by moving the ball on Kane Wommack and Alabama's defense, but a big tackle for loss by Red Morgan set up third and long for Oklahoma, where Bray Hubbard ended any hopes of a Sooner offensive touchdown, and Alabama's defense held Oklahoma to just a field goal on the Sooners' opening drive of the second half. Alabama could take the lead with a touchdown on its first drive of the second half. It wouldn't take long, with Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson leading the Crimson Tide down the field before Daniel Hill scored his second rushing touchdown of the season, taking a direct snap one yard to give Alabama its first lead of the evening. It was Daniel Hill's second rushing touchdown of the game, and his fourth of the season for the Crimson Tide.

Oklahoma took the lead early in the fourth quarter, with Sooner quarterback John Mateer leading Oklahoma into the redzone after Oklahoma defensive lineman Taylor Wein forced a sack fumble on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. It was Simpson's fifth sack-fumble of the season. Oklahoma held a 23-21 lead with 14 minutes left in the game.

That would be the final score of the game, as Oklahoma pitched the fourth-quarter shutout to force Alabama to control no longer its own destiny regarding the SEC championship and the College Football Playoffs. Alabama falls to 8-2 (6-1) on the season after the 23-21 loss to Oklahoma.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.