Alabama leaders look to rally team after disappointing loss at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – No. 7 Alabama suffered a disappointing road loss at unranked Oklahoma on Saturday night. The 24-3 loss to the Sooners all but ended the Tide’s postseason hopes.

There was no excuse for the way Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) played, linebacker Jihaad Campbell said, and the Crimson Tide will look to bounce back and avoid back-to-back losses when it plays host to in-state rival Auburn to end the regular season. Leaders like Campbell, Malachi Moore and others know they have to play better to avoid a late-season meltdown.

“I just told the team it’s really gonna show us what type of man we are when things aren’t going our way and things are out of our control right now,” Moore said. “All we can do is play the next game because that’s all we can do. 

“We’ve still gotta play the next game and go out there and create value for our team, continue to play to our standard and try to play to our standard.”

Alabama could still end up in the College Football Playoff, but the chances are slim. The last time the Crimson Tide was left out of the postseason tournament was in 2022 when Alabama faced Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl and capped the season with a 45-20 bowl victory.

One of the biggest storylines for that game was no Tide player opted out. Two of the top three picks in the 2023 NFL Draft led that charge as Bryce Young and Will Anderson chose to play in their final games in crimson. Their leadership kept the team together in an era of college football where many of the stars of the sport turn their attention to the next level.

“Their leadership and the way that they played, the way that they gave their all in that Sugar Bowl really propelled the next year’s team,” said Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker. “That really gave us a lot of momentum, and we built off of that. We made a playoff run. We just have to continue to play football. We love playing football. 

“So however many opportunities that we get to do so, we’re gonna do so to the fullest.”

Could Alabama’s 2024 leaders do something similar? Count Booker in.

“I love this team,” Booker said. “The reason why I came back is the love that I have for the guys in the locker room. I’ve developed a love for the coaches, this new coaching staff. So however many games we have left, I will play. I just owe it to those guys in the room, and I owe it to myself to finish out the way I should.”

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe had a similar message following the loss to Oklahoma.

“It’s all about finish. We’ve gotta finish,” Milroe said. “There’s so much left for the football season. We have to get everyone together, have like-mindedness and just keep on competing. Competing and every opportunity that we have, we just have to seize it.”

But Milroe wasn’t as quick to respond about his participation in Alabama’s postseason game. The Tide players don’t look ahead when speaking to reporters, and the Iron Bowl is the most important game on the schedule, and has the Crimson Tide quarterback’s full attention.

“I’m just worried about Auburn right now,” Milroe said.

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