After the ups and downs of today's game, it is hard to say this, but on a positive note, Alabama at least is in a much better spot this year after losing to Oklahoma for a second straight season. This team has been playing with fire the last few games against South Carolina and LSU, and unfortunately, the Sooners burned them.
Brentt Venables' defense did what they needed to do to put Oklahoma in a good position to win. There is not much to dwell on, as a tough loss like this can mess up the energy for the rest of the season.
For a second time, the Tide find themselves backed against a wall, but luckily, this team knows how to respond to adversity, and I am confident they will rebound well in the last two games against Eastern Illinois and Auburn.
Nobody, I am sure, feels worse than Ty Simpson after a pick six, the fumble when up by one, and some miscues in the passing game doomed the Tide from escaping Bryant-Denny Stadium with another win. He is going to have to regain some of the confidence that got him to this point. He seemed to doubt himself more than ever, but that is credit to the OU defense, which gave up some yards but never let Simpson get comfortable or in a true rhythm. He has two weeks to regroup before what will be a wild game in Lee County, and Alabama will need Simpson to be at his best then.
The defense did exactly what they had to do for the Tide to win, and all we can ask is that Kane Wommack's squad continue as they have for two more Saturdays. The running game was far more efficient than the last two games, and we got to see a solid effort from Daniel Hill. I still would love to see AK Dear or Richard Young get some touches, but not going to obsess over that too much, as this is what the running game is. It is a little unsettling that this team's playoff fate depends on the Iron Bowl against a team that has nothing to lose, but with how crazy this entire college football season has been, I am not surprised at all.