Alabama's offense has been flirting with losing a game for weeks. Oklahoma gave them exactly what they wanted.
Miscues were the theme of the game for the Crimson Tide, which outgained the Sooners 406-212 but still found themselves on the losing end of a 23-21 result that now puts Alabama's playoff hopes very much in doubt.
Ty Simpson threw a pick-six in the first quarter that put Oklahoma ahead 10-0. Ryan Williams fumbled on a punt return that directly led to another Sooners touchdown. And despite that, Alabama improbably had a one-point lead late in the third quarter until a third turnover, a Simpson fumble for the fifth straight week, that led to what proved to be the game-winning field goal.
Alabama outgained Oklahoma by nearly 200 yards, but lost the turnover battle 3-0.
Alabama's defense kept it alive all afternoon long. The longest Oklahoma offensive drive went just 41 yards. But 17 points off turnovers was the difference in a two-point game.
Despite that, Alabama had a chance at the end, driving near midfield before Simpson took a fourth sack, and put Alabama way behind the sticks. After a 3rd-and-21 completion to Isaiah Horton for 15 yards, Alabama had a chance on 4th-and-6, but Simpson's pass to Williams was incomplete.
The offense has been trending down for a while. They had luckily avoided being -3 in the TO margin in wins over LSU and South Carolina, where the offense struggled to get much going. A week ago, Alabama managed just 20 points against LSU, but the Tigers' offense had no answers for the Alabama defense.
Two weeks before, Alabama's offense managed just 15 points until under three minutes left in the game when Simpson led a tying touchdown drive, and then Bernard scored the winner after Deontae Lawson forced a fumble.
Hopefully, this is a wake-up call for a team that has flirted with a loss for weeks now. Needing a wake-up call this late in the season is a problem in and of itself.
What this loss means for Alabama's College Football Playoff hopes
Well, it means that everything will be on the line in the Iron Bowl. Fun.
Alabama isn't likely to fall out of the projected playoff field after Saturday's loss to Oklahoma thanks to an impressive resume of wins, including a road win over Georgia in September.
After the obligatory beatdown of Eastern Illinois next week, Alabama will travel to Jordan-Hare Stadium with the entire season on the line. Win, and Alabama not only is heading to the College Football Playoff, but will probably make the SEC Championship Game as well.
Lose, and the Crimson Tide will miss the playoff for the second consecutive season, and the uncomfortable questions about Kalen DeBoer that arose after the season-opening loss to Florida State will be prevalent again.