Grading Alabama football in shocking loss to Oklahoma

Alabama football looked like it didn’t study well enough for this test.

The report card reflets the lack of good preparation and adjustments to challenges in the game against Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide put together its worst performance of the season as it lost 24-3 to the Sooners on Saturday at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.

The game marked the first for Alabama since 2011 that it didn’t score at least one touchdown. The loss also became the Crimson Tide’s third on the season; Alabama hasn’t lost three games in a season since 2010.

As the No. 7 Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC) turns its attention to the Iron Bowl, here’s how we graded Alabama in a game it will quickly want to forget.

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Three points is absolutely unacceptable. Jalen Milroe could get nothing going on the ground with his legs, and Alabama seemed insistent on continuing to try, even when it didn’t work. He ended up leading Alabama with 15 carries for seven yards. Alabama also turned the ball over three times in the form of interceptions. The Crimson Tide trailed only by a touchdown at halftime, but the offense unraveled the first two possessions of the second half via two interceptions. The game got away from Alabama as a result. The passing game was all sorts of out of sync. The running game couldn’t sustain consistent gains. All in all, a forgettable day from an offense that was an utter failure.

Defense: D

The Alabama run defense looked like it had no way to stop Oklahoma’s rushing attack. The Sooners ran with ease right away, tallying over 200 yards on the ground in the first half. Oklahoma didn’t hurt Alabama much in the passing game, but the Sooners didn’t have to. The running game was working so well. The Alabama defense only gave up seven points in the second half, and that was on a short field after an interception. Oklahoma tallied only 83 yards in the second half after 242 in the first half. That somewhat gave the offense a chance that it squandered. The second-half improvement the only thing saving this grade from it being an F as well.

Special teams: B

Graham Nicholson made his only field goal attempt. James Burnip averaged 42.8 yards per punt, but one traveled only 23 yards. Ryan Williams returned three punts for eight yards. One that he fielded, he shouldn’t have touched as it resulted in Alabama having the ball just outside the goal line. Special teams also forced a missed field goal by Oklahoma in the first quarter. There were no major issues, but nothing remarkable either that could have helped a slumping offense and porous run defense.

Overall: F

That trip to Norman, Oklahoma was nothing short of a failure. So Alabama earns an F for the overall team. Alabama was on track to make the SEC Championship Game and likely secure a College Football Playoff spot. It was all lining up well for the Crimson Tide. Then it failed to take care of business against Oklahoma, ending conference championship hopes and putting the CFP hopes on life support.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.