Oklahoma's defense does number on No. 7 Alabama

Field Level Media|published: Sat 23rd November, 23:27 2024

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Malachi Moore (13) chases after Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

Oklahoma forced two big turnovers in the third quarter and freshman running back Xavier Robinson ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Sooners to a 24-3 home win over No. 7 Alabama on Saturday.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak in the Southeastern Conference for Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5 SEC) and clinched bowl eligibility for the Sooners for the 26th consecutive season.

Only Georgia has a longer active bowl streak (28).

The Crimson Tide (8-2, 4-3) had their three-game winning snapped and their chances for a berth in the College Football Playoff in serious jeopardy.

The loss was the Crimson Tide's biggest since their 44-16 loss to Clemson in the 2018 College Football Playoff title game. The Sooners' coach, Brent Venables, was Clemson's defensive coordinator in that game.

Alabama's 234 yards were its fewest since 2014.

Oklahoma led 10-3 at halftime, mostly keeping the ball on the ground with a steady diet of runs by Robinson and quarterback Jackson Arnold.

Arnold finished with a career-high 131 yards on the ground and went 9 of 11 for 68 yards through the air.

The Sooners' defense blew the game open with two turnovers in the third.

Cornerback Eli Bowen jumped Alabama's route and picked off Jalen Milroe's pass on the third play of the second half, returning the ball 25 yards to the Alabama 14.

Five plays later, Robinson's 1-yard touchdown put Oklahoma up 17-3.

On the next drive, the Sooners' defense did it themselves.

Linebacker Kip Lewis picked off Milroe and returned it 49 yards for a score.

Alabama drove 75 yards on its second drive of the game, but had to settle for a field goal after replay showed Ryan Williams stepped out of bounds at the 11 on a 30-yard pass play after he was initially credited with a touchdown.

It was the last sustained drive the Crimson Tide would put together until the fourth quarter when the Sooners held a comfortable lead.

Milroe finished 11 of 26 for 164 yards and three interceptions and 15 carries for 7 yards.

--Field Level Media