The Oklahoma Sooners shocked the college football world with their 24-3 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. It was spurred by a dominant defensive effort and a performance in the run game that would have made Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer proud.
The Sooners’ upset was one of a number that came in Week 13 as Auburn beat Texas A&M and Florida beat Ole Miss.
Like he does every week, Paul Myerburg of USA TODAY Sports revealed his winners and losers of week 13. The Sooners weren’t included among the winners, but when the team you beat shows up as a loser of the week, you can claim winner status by extension.
Move over, Indiana. Make room, Ole Miss. Here’s the most stunning score of Saturday: Oklahoma 24, No. 7 Alabama 3. Playing as more than two-touchdown favorites, the Crimson Tide were completely shut down by an opponent scuffling in a major way as new members of the SEC. Jalen Milroe was the poster child for these struggles, completing just 11 of 26 throws with three interceptions while gaining just 7 yards on 15 carries. While not productive through the air, the Sooners ran for 257 yards, led by a pair of 100-yard performances by quarterback Jackson Arnold (131 yards) and freshman back Xavier Robinson (107 yards, two touchdowns). Alabama was expected to stroll into the SEC championship game and the playoff with wins against Oklahoma and Auburn but will instead have a very hard time earning an at-large bid with three losses, none worse than Saturday night. – Myerburg, USA TODAY Sports
The Sooners may have pulled the plug on Alabama’s College Football Playoff hopes on Saturday night. At this point the Crimson Tide will need a lot of help to make it into the 12-team field with losses to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and now Oklahoma.
Oklahoma has aspirations of being a contender. And to be one, they have to be able to win games like the one last night. It was evidence that when the Sooners take care of the football on offense, they can play with some of the best in college football.
Can they play another clean game against the LSU Tigers next Saturday in Baton Rouge? On Saturday night, the Sooners showed they’ve got it in them.