NORMAN — On a four-game SEC losing streak, OU football hosts Alabama at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in a game televised on ABC.
The Sooners will once against be shorthanded at wide receiver, as Jalil Farooq and Deion Burks were both ruled out late in the week.
OU (5-5, 1-5 SEC) needs one win in its last two games to stretch its streak of bowl appearances to 26.
The game will be the last home game for the Sooners’ seniors, including linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman, who have been critical to OU’s defensive turnaround under Brent Venables.
The Crimson Tide (8-2, 4-2) have won three consecutive games to get back into College Football Playoff contention.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe has fueled Alabama’s recent surge.
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Jackson Arnold had a 16-yard pass to Bauer Sharp, but the Tide defense holds OU to a five-play drive that takes up 3:47, which is the more important number.
—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer
The Sooners took over on downs after a Ryan Williams touchdown catch was wiped away due to an illegal touching penalty that will likely be much talked about.
Kalen DeBoer is not not a happy camper.
—Jeff Patterson, Staff writer
Alabama is driving.
But will it be enough?
The Crimson Tide will start the fourth quarter with third-and-2 from the OU 35, training by 21.
The Sooners were outgained 69-29 in the third quarter but thanks to a pair of turnovers, OU outscored Alabama 14-0 in the quarter.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
At least OU for out from the shadow of the end zone.
Starting the drive at their own 2, the Sooners picked up a first down before the drive stalled and Luke Elzinga sent a punt flying past midfield.
The punt appeared to touch one of Alabama’s players ahead of returner Ryan Williams, but Williams was able to scramble forward to jump on the ball.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
The Sooners’ defense continues to keep Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe scrambling.
OU forced yet another Crimson Tide punt, though Alabama pinned the Sooners at their own 2 with the punt.
Milroe is 4 of 13 for 82 yards through the air and has 11 carries for 0 yards on the ground.
The Sooners are outgaining the Crimson Tide 256-145.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
Teams from Alabama might fear OU linebacker Kip Lewis.
Lewis returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown to put the Sooners up by 21 with 8:05 remaining in the third.
It was Lewis’ second interception return for a touchdown this season.
Lewis returned an interception 63 yards for a touchdown at Auburn on Sept. 28 to help OU win its first SEC game.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
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Xavier Robinson strikes again.
After Eli Bowen’s interception gave the Sooners the ball deep in Alabama territory, Robinson scored his second touchdown of the game, taking a pitch from Jackson Arnold and sliding through the line for a 1-yard touchdown run.
Robinson has 10 carries for 89 yards and two scores.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
Freshmen keep coming up big for the Sooners.
Cornerback Eli Bowen intercepted Jalen Milroe’s pass in the opening minute of the second half, and returned it 25 yards to the Alabama 14.
On offense, running back Xavier Robinson and offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis have been contributors, with Robinson’s touchdown in the final minute of the first half putting the Sooners on top.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
Freshman running back Xavier Robinson turned in the biggest play of his young career in the final minute before halftime, with an 18-yard touchdown run to put the Sooners up front.
Robinson went around the corner, and leapt toward the end zone as he stretched out the ball across the line.
The ball popped loose — but only after it had crossed the line.
OU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh made a switch on the drive, inserting freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis at right guard in place of Febechi Nwaiwu.
The offensive line, which had struggled for much of the season, is a big reason why the Sooners are in front.
OU already has 205 yards on the ground.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
The Sooners’ defense continues to bottle up Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
After the Crimson Tide got near midfield, the Alabama drive stalled and OU forced the Crimson Tide’s third punt in four drives.
Milroe has nine carries for minus-2 yards as the Sooners are outgaining Alabama 175-94.
Milroe is 2 for 7 for 62 yards through the air.
On the drive, OU linebacker Danny Stutsman passed Rick Bryan for ninth on the program’s career tackles list with his 366th tackle of his career.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
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Jackson Arnold keeps having success on the ground, and this time, the Sooners were able to get on the board to tie it.
Zach Schmit hit a 29-yard field goal, after he missed his first field goal of the season on OU’s previous drive.
Arnold has 11 carries for 72 yards. On the drive, Arnold had six carries for 13 yards.
The first big play of the drive was Arnold’s 19-yard completion to Brenen Thompson, though the wide receiver was injured later on the drive.
Xavier Robinson followed with a 12-yard gain to put the Sooners at the Alabama 27.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
OU’s defense came up big once again.
This time, the Sooners didn’t wait until Alabama was deep in OU’s territory to do it.
After Zach Schmit’s missed field goal, the Sooners held Alabama to a three-and-out.
They might’ve gotten some help from the lights around Owen Field.
On the first play of the drive, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe threw to Germie Bernard.
The throw looked on point, but Bernard flinched just before the ball arrived.
ABC sideline reporter Holly Rowe said some Crimson Tide players struggled picking up the ball against the lights in the corner of the stadium during pregame warmups.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
OU looked like it had a successful trick play dialed up.
But the Sooners couldn’t complete it, and then to add insult to injury, Zach Schmit pushed a 39-yard field-goal attempt wide left to keep OU scoreless.
On the play before Schmit’s miss, Jackson Arnold flung a lateral to wide receiver Brenen Thompson in the flat and Thompson pulled up and floated a pass toward tight end Bauer Sharp, who was wide open near the end zone.
But Thompson put the pass on the outside, forcing Sharp to turn around to try to haul in the pass, which instead dropped through his hands.
The Sooners are outgaining the Crimson Tide 124-80 after the first quarter. Arnold has 58 yards rushing.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
Alabama struck first, and the Sooners are already in the hole when it comes to points off turnovers.
The Crimson Tide took advantage of OU’s fumble, though the Sooners’ defense came up big after replay helped them out.
Alabama freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams was initially credited with a 41-yard touchdown but Williams was ruled to have stepped out at the OU 11.
The Sooners’ defense held strong after Jalen Milroe’s 7-yard gain on first down.
Kani Walker forced Milroe out of bounds for a 3-yard loss on second down and then Dasan McCullough stopped Jamarion Miller for a 3-yard gain on third down.
The Crimson Tide lined up to go for it on fourth down from the 4 before calling timeout and eventually settling for a 22-yard field goal by Graham Nicholson.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
Taylor Tatum’s fumble problem continues.
After a promising start to OU’s second drive, the Sooners’ freshman running back, took the handoff on third-and-2 from the 27 and had it popped from his hand.
Alabama recovered the fumble to end the Sooners’ threat.
The lost fumble was the Sooners’ 14th of the season, the most in FBS.
The fumble was Tatum’s fourth fumble on the second, and the third that resulted in a turnover.
The drive started with a 40-yard gain by Xavier Robinson, the Sooners’ other freshman running back.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
Danny Stutsman’s last game at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium got off to a big start.
Stutsman stepped up and met Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe near the line of scrimmage for a short game, delivering a thunderous tackle to start the game for OU’s defense.
The Sooners overcame an offsides penalty on second down to hold Alabama to a three-and-out.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
OU’s first drive didn’t last very long.
After a 12-yard gain by quarterback Jackson Arnold on the game’s first play, the Sooners were forced to punt three plays later after two short runs and an incomplete pass.
Freshman Taylor Tatum started at running back for the Sooners.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
During a pregame ceremony before the Sooners’ matchup with Alabama, six Sooners were honored with awards.
Linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman Jr. shared the Don Key Award.
Defensive end Ethan Downs and center Troy Everett were named winner of the Bob Kalsu Award.
Kicker Zach Schmit and punter Luke Elzinga shared the Derrick Shepard Most Inspirational Walk-On Award.
—Ryan Aber, Staff writer
OU running back Jovantae Barnes is a gametime decision to play Saturday night against Alabama, per the pregame update to the SEC availability report.
Barnes, who was listed as questionable Friday night, missed the Sooners’ loss to Missouri two weeks ago.
OU will again be without its five best receivers after Deion Burks was ruled out Wednesday night. Offensive lineman Josh Bates was ruled out Friday night.
—Colton Sulley, Staff writer
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OU vs. Alabama will be broadcast nationally on ABC. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the game from the booth at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, with Holly Rowe reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
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Here are some of The Oklahoman‘s staff predictions for the game. The full staff predictions can be found here.
Alabama 28, OU 10
NO TURNING THE TIDE
Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams lead Crimson Tide to convincing win as Sooners’ drop fifth consecutive SEC game, move within one loss of missing a bowl for the first time since 1998.
Alabama 28, OU 21
GOOD TIDINGS
Jalen Milroe leads Alabama on a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter, but Sooners can hold their heads high on Senior Night after playing Alabama close.
Alabama 27, OU 13
SOONERS ROLLED
The Crimson Tide are in the thick of a SEC race with five other teams and Kalen DeBoer’s squad will roll into Norman on a mission. OU’s lowly offense fails to move the ball against Alabama’s talented defense and Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe takes advantage of the Sooners’ struggling secondary.
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Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
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Temperature at kickoff is expected to be 62 degrees with 14 mph winds from the south-southeast according to the National Weather Service. There is no chance of precipitation.
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All times are Central Standard Time
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