With only a hint of offense, Sooners gloriously prevail over Crimson Tide
Imagine what this team might do when its offensive line grows up, its quarterback can be counted upon and its offensive coordinator learns how to call plays near the goal line and everywhere else.
What a team it might be.
Then, massive turnover margins wouldn’t be required to win big games like this one on the road. Then, we wouldn’t get stat lines like Saturday’s, when No. 11 Oklahoma knocked off No. 4 Alabama despite gaining 194 fewer yards from scrimmage, even scoring fewer offensive points.
OU just knows how to win?
Perhaps, but only when it has the lead in the first place, which is a lot to count on in the nation’s most difficult conference.
Still … THEY WON!!!
Somehow, someway, the Sooners rolled into Bryant-Denny Stadium a near-touchdown underdog and, following Peyton Bowen’s breakup of a Ty Simpson pass intended for Ryan Williams with 47 seconds remaining followed by three John Mateer kneel-downs, walked out 23–21 victors.
It doesn’t feel sustainable.
How on earth could it be sustainable?
Yet, here OU is, favored to win its last two regular-season games — at home against Missouri and at home against LSU — victories that would put it in the 12-team College Football Playoff, a potential state of affairs not thought possible 12 short weeks ago, or maybe just three, following a home-field loss to Ole Miss.
Two plays before Bowen’s breakup, Kip Lewis sacked Simpson for a loss of 11, one of his team-high two sacks and team-high seven solo tackles.
Before that, Alabama went three-and-out to begin the fourth quarter and, prior to that, the Crimson Tide also went three-and-out, but with a twist:
Facing third-and-9 from his own 31, it was Taylor Wein’s turn to sack Simpson, forcing a fumble Kendal Daniels recovered, which led to Tate Sandell’s fourth field goal, the contest’s final points.
They did it, so it counts.
They did it, so it should count.
“We try to create vision for them,” OU coach Brent Venables said after the biggest win of his head-coaching life. “I think it kind of starts with that and then it’s belief. And then you’ve got to be willing to kick the door in and take the action that it requires.”
That vision must have been broad rather than precise, because there’s no way it included what happened Saturday:
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