Oklahoma surprises Alabama to remain in the College Football Playoff race

Oklahoma Upsets Alabama in Close Match

No. 4 Alabama didn’t openly label their matchup against No. 11 Oklahoma as a chance for revenge, but they ended the game with another loss on Saturday.

After defeating Alabama 24-3 in Norman last year, the Sooners came to Tuscaloosa with hope of boosting their College Football Playoff hopes. They succeeded, pulling off an upset with a score of 23-21.

Despite the energetic crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Oklahoma’s defense was relentless, scoring 17 points from three turnovers that led them to victory.

The win not only improved Oklahoma’s playoff possibilities but also complicated Alabama’s route to the Southeastern Conference title game in Atlanta. While it may not completely ruin Alabama’s chances, the team faces an intense matchup against archrival Auburn in two weeks, which will be must-win.

Sooners defensive back Eli Bowen made a significant impact by returning an interception for a touchdown, and linebacker Kip Lewis contributed with two sacks. This loss ended Alabama’s impressive home winning streak at 17 games and marked the first defeat for second-year coach Karen DeBoer in Tuscaloosa.

Oklahoma, which was on the cusp in last week’s CFP rankings, could potentially secure a playoff spot if they win their next games against Missouri State and LSU.

Back in the second half, Alabama had a chance to turn things around, but a crucial fourth-down pass from Ty Simpson to Ryan Williams was incomplete.

Oklahoma managed to run out the clock from that point onward, and fans began celebrating wildly. The Sooner defense was pivotal, limiting Alabama to just 57 yards in their final four drives—ultimately the deciding factor.

John Mattia had a solid day for Oklahoma, throwing for 138 yards and scoring a rushing touchdown. Meanwhile, Simpson recorded 326 passing yards, with one touchdown and one interception on his stats.

Alabama, despite their strong performances in many areas, fell prey to costly mistakes, including a missed field goal and a 46-yard punt return that set up Oklahoma’s first score.