Some games are decided by execution, others by chaos. Oklahoma’s 23-21 win over Alabama on Saturday delivered a heavy dose of both, as the Sooners capitalized on turnovers and timely defensive pressure to outlast the Crimson Tide in a mistake-filled outing.
Alabama opened with a three and out, immediately setting the tone. Oklahoma struck first on a short field after Isaiah Satanga’s 43-yard punt return, settling for a field goal. The Sooners then seized full control. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson threw late to the sideline, and cornerback Eli Bowen jumped the route for an 87-yard pick-six, flipping momentum and electrifying the crowd. It was Bowen’s second interception of the season and the defining play of the game.
The Crimson Tide responded with a Daniel Hill touchdown run, but turnovers continued to derail their rhythm. Simpson accounted for two interceptions, and another wiped out by penalty, along with a fumble. Ryan Williams muffed two punts. Oklahoma scored 14 of its first 17 points off Alabama giveaways despite being outgained by nearly 200 yards.
Sooners coach Brent Venables committed fully to pressure, blitzing on 62.5% of Simpson’s dropbacks. All four Oklahoma sacks came from blitz looks, and both turnovers were triggered by pressure. Linebacker Kip Lewis led the charge with seven tackles, four quarterback pressures and two sacks, helping the Sooners limit Alabama to no explosive completions in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Mateer supplied the game’s offensive highlight, spinning through defenders on a physical touchdown run that pushed the lead to 17-7. The Sooners managed only 217 total yards but avoided crippling mistakes.
Alabama cut the deficit to 23-21 early in the fourth but blinked when it mattered most. Starting from their own 6-yard line with 6:42 remaining, the Tide leaned heavily on the run game and stalled. A late sack and turnover on downs ended their comeback bid.
The victory marked Oklahoma’s second straight over Alabama, making the Sooners the first team since Ole Miss in 2014-15 to defeat the Crimson Tide in consecutive matchups.
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