TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Oklahoma gamers and coaches gathered in numerous spots round Saban Subject at Bryant-Denny Stadium, posing for footage and savoring each second of the group’s finest win as an SEC member and its finest beneath fourth-year coach Brent Venables.
When the Eleventh-ranked Sooners lastly retreated to their locker room, their victory playlist started with “Dixieland Delight,” Alabama’s cherished late-game anthem, after which, after all, “Candy Residence Alabama.” Written off in most Faculty Soccer Playoff projections after its house loss to Ole Miss on Oct. 25, Oklahoma responded with consecutive street wins towards Tennessee and Saturday at No. 4 Alabama, holding off the Tide 23-21.
The Sooners recorded their first street win towards a top-five opponent since their victory over Ohio State in 2017, that includes one other well-known postgame celebration with quarterback Baker Mayfield’s flag planting at Ohio Stadium. OU ended Alabama’s 17-game house successful streak and have become the primary group to beat the Tide in consecutive seasons since Ole Miss in 2014 and 2015. The Sooners additionally registered their fourth win towards an AP-ranked opponent this season, tying Alabama for probably the most within the FBS.
“I am not a boastful or braggadocious type of man, however, man, I’ll brag on our guys, and so they deserve it,” Venables stated. “They put so much into this chance, and we have created imaginative and prescient for that, so I acquired to comply with by. I am like, ‘Hey, man, that is what victory seems like. That is how we’ll do it. And I wish to see you guys dancing, carrying on, simply having some pleasure within the second.'”
Oklahoma gained regardless of producing solely 212 yards of offense, its fewest since 2022 and OU’s fewest in a win since 2001 towards No. 5 Texas. The Sooners rode their protection, which pressured three Alabama turnovers, half of the Tide’s season whole getting into Saturday, and scored on Eli Bowen’s 87-yard interception return within the first quarter.
The protection wanted one remaining cease as Alabama took possession with 7:14 play, needing solely a subject purpose to win. Even after “Dixieland Delight” despatched the group right into a frenzy and Alabama transformed a key fourth down, an Oklahoma protection enjoying with out prime move rusher R Mason Thomas and others clamped down on the Tide, who have been held scoreless for the ultimate 22:27.
“It was all crimson, and the lights have been on, however we fed off the vitality,” Oklahoma defensive lineman Taylor Wein, who had a strip-sack fumble and two quarterback hurries, stated of listening to “Dixieland Delight” within the closing minutes. “Little do they know, they suppose that they are feeling their group, they’re feeling us, they’re getting us able to go.”
Wein was certainly one of many Oklahoma gamers sporting a T-shirt that learn “Laborious to Kill” on the entrance and “Sufficient is Sufficient” on the again after the sport. The Sooners harassed these themes after the loss to Ole Miss, recognizing {that a} third defeat would most likely finish their CFP hopes.
“How a lot is sufficient?” stated kicker Tate Sandell, who went 3-for-3 on subject purpose makes an attempt, together with a 52-yarder. “It is simply having that mindset of staying alive, blue collar, roll your sleeves up and simply discover a means, and being laborious to kill within the course of.”
Venables thought the Sooners may “separate ourselves” on particular groups, and so they delivered, not solely with Sandell’s subject objectives however forcing a Ryan Williams fumble on an Alabama punt return and partially blocking a Conor Talty subject purpose try on the finish of the primary half to protect a 17-14 lead. The Sooners had 17 factors off turnovers and overcame the huge yards differential by limiting main errors and doing the little issues to win.
“Who’s it not fairly for? What does that imply?” a smiling Venables requested. “I occur to love it.”
Oklahoma had a extra dominant defensive effort final 12 months towards Alabama, holding the Tide out of the tip zone. However the 2024 Sooners misplaced their remaining two video games to complete 6-7 and raised questions in regards to the trajectory beneath Venables, a first-time head coach.
However this season’s OU group has responded to each of its losses and key accidents, together with to quarterback John Mateer, to be in place for a return to the CFP.
“They have not flinched,” Venables stated. “When the fireplace is raging and issues are trying slightly desolate, they’ve responded a number of instances this 12 months, and so they actually have the final couple of weeks, when it mattered probably the most. They put respect on our model once more this week.”
Oklahoma should refocus for house video games towards Missouri and LSU, however the magnitude of Saturday’s win will resonate.
“The photographs after the sport, you like the moments, the reminiscences you create,” defensive deal with David Stone stated. “We’ll have that for a lifetime.”
