Alabama football’s CFP hopes suffer massive blow with stunning upset

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The Oklahoma Sooners defeated the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide, 24-3, Saturday night in Norman to deliver a stunning blow to Alabama football’s College Football Playoff hopes.

Jalen Milroe threw an interception on back-to-back drives to start the second half. The second was returned 49 yards to the house by Kip Lewis for a pick-six touchdown as the Sooners built a shocking three-score lead early in the third quarter.

Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5 SEC) never looked back. Alabama (8-3, 4-3) never looked worse — at least not under first-year coach Kalen DeBoer.

The 21-point loss is the most lopsided defeat by a Crimson Tide team since Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers, led by Trevor Lawrence, took ‘Bama to the woodshed in a 44-16 blowout in the 2019 College Football Playoff Championship Game in Santa Clara, California.

Alabama likely will not have to worry about the playoffs after this one. Not after Milroe and the Tide fought with their own mistakes, Brent Venables’ inspiring defense and, when facing a last-gasp fourth down attempt early in the fourth quarter, SEC officials.

On a fourth-and-3 on the first drive of the final period, Ryan Williams appeared to haul in a 36-yard touchdown with an incredible catch. But officials ruled Williams guilty of illegal touching. If you don’t know the definition of that, you aren’t alone. ABC’s No. 1 broadcast crew of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit couldn’t explain it. Neither could ESPN’s “rules expert” Bill Lemonnier.

Officiating wasn’t to blame for Alabama’s inexplicable Sooner State dud. The Tide were struggling well before the play, and no great team that was as heavy a favorite as Alabama was going into the night should ever put a game in the hands of the officials to begin with.

Milroe had his worst game by far in two seasons as Alabama’s starting quarterback. He finished with three interceptions and was 11-of-26 passing for 164 yards. Oklahoma’s defense held Milroe to seven rushing yards on 15 carries.

The Tide’s defense yielded over 200 rushing yards in the first half as Oklahoma built a 10-3 lead at intermission. The Sooners finished with 328 yards of offense and held Alabama to 234 yards to give Venables his first signature win in three seasons as Oklahoma’s coach.

Alabama never established a run game against the Sooners, rushing 30 times for 70 yards.

Saturday’s loss marked the first time since the 2011 “Game of the Century” 9-6 loss to the LSU Tigers in Tuscaloosa that Alabama failed to score a touchdown.

Alabama-Auburn up next Alabama will face the Auburn Tigers on Saturday in the 89th edition of the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ABC.

Auburn (5-6) defeated No. 15 Texas A&M, 43-41, in four overtimes Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

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