OU football smashes Alabama in blowout win to reach bowl eligibility

NORMAN — The first time seemed a bit premature.

But when the opening notes of House of Pain’s “Jump Around” kicked up with 6:53 remaining in the fourth quarter Saturday vs. Alabama, the crowd at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium was ready to explode.

OU pulled off a stunner, blowing out No. 7 Alabama 24-3 on Saturday.

The second time the song played came in the aftermath of Woodi Washington’s interception, the third for the Sooners in the second half off Crimson Tide star quarterback Jalen Milroe.

In the final minute, anticipating the victory, OU fans stormed the field and the goal posts were dropped at both ends to avoid fans tearing them down.

The field had to be cleared before the game was summarized for a play before the fans ran onto the field. It was the first field-storming of Owen Field since OU’s victory over Nebraska during the 2000 national championship run.

The win snapped a four-game SEC losing streak for the Sooners and clinched a bowl berth for the 26th consecutive season.

Only Georgia has a longer active bowl streak in FBS.

The win was the first for an unranked Sooners team over a top-10 opponent since OU beat No. 6 Oregon in the 2005 Holiday Bowl.

Here are five takeaways from the win:

Sooners’ defense keeps Jalen Milroe confused

OU linebacker Danny Stutsman set the tone from the Sooners’ first defense play.

Stutsman stepped up into the gap and met Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe near the line of scrimmage, delivering a crushing blow.

It was the beginning of a rough day for the Crimson Tide star.

Slowing down Milroe’s running game was a major focus for OU’s defense and the Sooners did a strong job of keeping Milroe bottled up.

But it wasn’t just on the ground where the Sooners’ defense succeeded against Milroe.

On the third play of the second half, freshman cornerback Eli Bowen jumped Milroe’s pass, intercepting it and bringing it back 25 to the Alabama 14.

Five plays later, the Sooners stretched their lead to 14 on Xavier Robinson’s touchdown run.

The defense made an even bigger play on the next drive, as linebacker Kip Lewis picked off a Milroe pass and brought it back 49 yards for a score.

It was Lewis’ second interception return for a score this season, the other coming late in OU’s win over Auburn on Sept. 28.

Milroe finished 11 for 26 for 164 yards and with 15 carries for 7 yards on the ground.

Xavier Robinson takes over

Xavier Robinson stretched out his left arm and leaped toward the end zone.

The ball popped loose from Robinson’s hand but no matter, as it was already passed the goal line by the time it sprung free.

Less than three weeks ago, the plan was to redshirt Robinson, the freshman Carl Albert product.

But with Jovantae Barnes injured and Taylor Tatum struggling to hold onto the ball, Robinson’s role has steadily grown over the past few games.

Robinson finished with 18 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns, more than doubling his output for the season.

Early in the first quarter, the Sooners were driving thanks to Robinson’s 40-yard run on his first carry of the game.

But three plays later, Tatum coughed up the ball on third-and-2.

It was recovered by Deontae Lawson at the Alabama 21.

The fumble was Tatum’s fourth of the season — the third resulting in a turnover.

Sooners grind it out on the ground

It wasn’t just Robinson.

From early on, the Sooners controlled the game on the ground.

Quarterback Jackson Arnold had a career high 101 yards on 20 carries on the ground, with a variety of read-option looks throughout.

By halftime. OU had 205 yards on the ground — more than 60 yards more than their season average per game coming in.

The Sooners’ offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, a stunning result for Bill Bedenbaugh’s group.

OU had struggled to find success on the offensive line throughout the season, but Logan Howland, Heath Ozaeta, Troy Everett, Febechi Nwaiwu and Spencer Brown created plenty of holes and kept Arnold clean on the rare times the Sooners did throw the ball.

Freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis even got in on the act, replacing Nwaiwu on a second-quarter drive and helping the Sooners get on the board just before halftime.

Alabama didn’t record a sack in the game.

Trick play nearly pays off early

Earlier in the week, OU coach Brent Venables recalled Alabama’s only other visit to Norman, in 2002.

In that game, an unranked Crimson Tide pulled out the stops and kept the Sooners on their toes before No. 2 OU settled in for a 37-27 win.

Seemingly overmatched Saturday, it was Venables calling for some trickery.

Late in the first quarter, with OU trailing 3-0, Jackson Arnold flipped a lateral to Brenen Thompson in the flat.

Thompson ran toward the line of scrimmage before pulling up and lofting a pass toward a wide open Bauer Sharp near the end zone.

But Thompson’s pass was to the outside of the field, forcing Sharp to twist his body, and the ball bounced off Sharp’s hands for an incomplete pass.

On the next play, OU kicker Zach Schmit pushed his 39-yard field-goal attempt wide left.

Schmit’s miss was his first of the season, after starting season 7 for 7.

Brent Venables does it again

The Sooners’ win was the largest for any opponent against Alabama since the 2018 College Football Playoff championship game.

The Crimson Tide loss was hurt out by Clemson, whose defense was coordinated by Brent Venables.

The 234 yards by Alabama was the Crimson Tide’s fewest in a game since they had 227 against Arkansas in 2014.

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