Defense Dominates Alabama in Senior Night Victory

Saturday, November 23

Norman

6:30 p.m.

University of Oklahoma

6-5 , 2-5

Alabama

8-3 , 4-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Alabama

Oklahoma

Defense Dominates Alabama in Senior Night Victory

November 23, 2024 | Football

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NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma's fans literally couldn't wait to celebrate their team's victory over Alabama.

An overzealous crimson and cream-clad mob stormed the field with 28 seconds remaining.

After an announcement that the game was not over, the field was cleared. The Sooners took a knee to run out the clock in their stunning 24-3 win over the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide on Saturday night. After that, thousands of Oklahoma fans returned to the field and partied for more than 10 minutes as songs such as "Jump Around" by House of Pain and "FE!N" by Travis Scott played.

True freshman Xavier Robinson ran for career highs of 107 yards and two touchdowns as Oklahoma became bowl eligible.

"We finally got the result we want and we put it all together," Venables said. "I just want to thank our players — congratulate our players and the staff for a really tough, challenging season. And I just appreciate their belief, their leadership, their work, their strain, their competitive spirit, the willingness to continue to come back week in and week out and continue to believe and do the things that we've asked them to do."

Jackson Arnold ran for 131 yards on 25 carries and completed 9 of 11 passes for the Sooners (6-5, 2-5 SEC), who won their final home game of the season. It was Oklahoma's first Southeastern Conference home win after leaving the Big 12 this past summer.

"It's huge," Arnold said. "I'll say this would be a signature win in my playing career. You don't have many like this. I don't know if I'll ever have the field rushed again when I play. But it's special, especially on Senior Night with all the seniors and all the other dudes I look up to."

The Sooners dealt a severe blow to Alabama's chances of receiving a College Football Playoff berth.

"Obviously extremely disappointed, frustrated," Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. "We worked, I thought, extremely hard all week. Put a plan together ... Good energy. Excited to come here on the road. We've got to play better. We got to be better in all ways."

Alabama's Jalen Milroe, who had been one of the nation's best players, had his worst game of the season. He completed 11 of 26 passes for 164 yards with three interceptions and gained just seven yards on 15 carries for Alabama (8-3, 4-3, No. 7 CFP). The Sooners held Alabama to 234 yards.

Alabama lost linebacker Deontae Lawson to a lower extremity injury in the second quarter, and he will be evaluated when the team gets home.

Robinson's 18-yard touchdown run with 37 seconds left in the second quarter put the Sooners up 10-3, a score that held up until halftime. Oklahoma outgained the Crimson Tide 242 yards to 97 before the break.

Milroe completed 2 of 7 passes for 62 yards and ran nine times for minus-2 yards before the break. Oklahoma outgained Alabama 118 yards to 15 in the second quarter and kept the ball for just over 11 of the 15 minutes.

Oklahoma's Eli Bowen intercepted Milroe on the third play of the second half and returned it 25 yards to the Alabama 14. Robinson's 1-yard touchdown run increased Oklahoma's lead to 17-3.

On the next possession, Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis intercepted Milroe and ran it back 49 yards for a touchdown to put the Sooners up 24-3 with 8:05 left in the third quarter.

The Takeaway

Oklahoma: The Sooners found out what happens when they don't hurt themselves. They started to find their identity as a run-heavy offense that complements its defense two weeks ago against Maine and stayed true to it against Alabama.

Fabulous Freshman

Robinson, who was listed fifth on the depth chart, got increased action because regular starter Jovantae Barnes was out with an injury and Saturday's starter, Taylor Tatum, fumbled early. His career high before Saturday was 56 yards the previous game against Missouri. Robinson starred for Carl Albert High School in Midwest City, Okla.

One Snap

Casey Thompson, whose father, Charles Thompson, played quarterback for the Sooners in the 1980s, took the final knee on Senior Night. He's a seventh-year player who had previous stops at Texas, Nebraska and Florida Atlantic during an injury-plagued career.