Postmortem: Alabama’s playoff dreams die in Norman

Well, that happened.

It just felt this week like an Oklahoma team with nothing but pride to play for, coming off a bye on Senior Night, would come to play. That turned out to be an understatement, as they flat out dominated Alabama in every metric except the scoreboard in the opening half. Alabama could not stop the run at all, but a fumble, dropped TD pass, and missed field goal from Oklahoma kept the Tide in the game. On the other side, Oklahoma clearly came into this game determined not to let Jalen Milroe run the football.

There were yards to be had through the air and Alabama managed to hit on a couple of plays, but the passing game was generally out of sorts. When receivers weren’t dropping passes, Milroe was missing throws. A wide open Germie Bernard appeared to lose one in the lights and Ryan Williams just stepped on the chalk after a gorgeous catch along the sideline to turn a touchdown into a field goal.

Oklahoma finally found paydirt on their last possession of the half, aided by an obvious but uncalled hold of CB Domani Jackson on an explosive run around the left end by QB Jackson Arnold. Oklahoma RB Xavier Robinson punched it in to close out his 8 carry, 88 yard first half and the Sooners took a 10-3 lead into the half, and it was a miracle that it was that close. Deontae Lawson went down with what is feared to be a severe injury in the second quarter, and that certainly didn’t help matters.

The miracle didn’t last for long. Kobe Prentice whiffed a block on a screen that became a terrible interception, and Oklahoma promptly punched it in again to lead 17-3. Sadly, one wasn’t enough for Jalen as he tossed up a pick six on the next possession and a 24-3 deficit. For all intents and purposes, the game was over. Ryan Williams tried to get them back in the game with one of his signature, acrobatic grabs in the end zone but even that was taken away with a call so bad and late that it’s hard not to suspect corruption.

Still, there is no way to sugarcoat just how inept the whole team looked tonight. It’s only year one of the Kalen DeBoer era, but Alabama’s play in SEC road games has been awful outside of the one vs a LSU team that has proven itself unable to stop a running QB. When both sides of the football get whipped like this team did, and even the punter is off his game, it’s an indictment on the staff.

DeBoer is about to find out just what he signed up for in following Saban, and every bit of the criticism will be deserved. It’s one thing to lose games but it’s another to fail to show up. That’s something that Alabama fans haven’t had to deal with for a long time and will not be well received. Auburn is headed to Tuscaloosa feeling better about itself after playing much better this week, and their entire existence is based around beating Alabama. Alabama is beat up and feeling sorry for itself. Lose that one and I don’t even want to think of the fanbase reaction.

Vent as you will, but don’t be an idiot. There is more football on tonight should you have the appetite, schedule courtesy of CFBGrid.com.

Roll Tide.

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