OU-Alabama quick-hit: Sooners pure domination, upset No. 7 Crimson Tide
All season, we’ve heard OU head coach Brent Venables say this team hasn’t flinched. They’re not fractured. That they’ve stay connected.
It’s always been tough to truly believe. But then there’s a performance like Saturday night that shows that has indeed been the case.
OU just said let’s get physical. Time and time again, the Sooners were the tougher team. And OU, somehow, is going bowling.
The Sooners absolutely dominated No. 7 Alabama 24-3 to earn win No. 6 this season.
Here are your quick-hit takeaways.
Defensive domination
Throughout the course of the season, you were wondering when the defense was going to wilt. Put in so many tough spots the whole season, but they kept coming.
And the second half against Bama? They decided it was their night. The OU defense turned a 10-3 halftime advantage into a 24-3 blowout in just a matter of minutes.
Freshman cornerback Eli Bowen started it with an interception that set up OU in the red zone. On the next drive? It was another Kip-Six. Kip Lewis returned a pick 49 yards to send the OU crowd into a frenzy.
X gave it to ‘em
We learned earlier this week that true freshman running back Xavier Robinson wasn’t going to redshirt. And on his first carry he showed why.
Robinson set the tone with a 40-yard rush to begin a memorable night. Not just for him but for the offensive line.
OU bullied Alabama, to the tune of 205 rushing yards in the first half. Robinson rushed for two touchdowns.
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Jackson Arnold didn’t do much through the air, but it didn’t matter. That was toughness personified, time and time again.
One hit after another, kept getting up. Kept fighting, the theme of the evening.
A nod to the crowd
That was as electric an OU crowd as has been around in a long time. Not sure how many OU fans entered the stadium believing an upset was possible. But that wave of emotion started to show, and hope turned into believing.
Hearing that crowd after Lewis’ touchdown? That was next level. It wasn’t the 2024 season the OU home fans wanted. But they brought it for the final game.
Fitting end for seniors
It was senior night and a bunch of them came up with big efforts. From defensive end Ethan Downs to defensive tackle Da’Jon Terry and a whole bunch of others, it was something to watch.
The highlight of the night looked like it would be linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman earning the prestigious Don Key Award. But it was just the beginning of a memorable evening in Norman.
Up next
OU (6-5 overall, 2-5 SEC) closes the season on the road at LSU. It has been a rough season for both programs, but both can still try to get some momentum going toward bowl season.
