After getting blown out and utterly dominated by Oklahoma on Saturday evening in a 24-3 loss, it’s most likely over for the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide in terms of their School Soccer Playoff hopes.
The loss drops Alabama to 8-3 on the season, and that’s most likely going to be one too many losses to get into the 12-team discipline.
Particularly when two of these losses have come in opposition to a now 6-5 Oklahoma workforce and a 6-5 Vanderbilt workforce.
Alabama entered the day ranked No. 7 within the newest rankings.
This loss was particularly dangerous, as Alabama by no means gave the impression to be within the sport and had no reply for Oklahoma’s protection.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe performed one in every of his worst video games of the season (and possibly his school profession), finishing simply 11-of-26 passes for under 164 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions.
A type of interceptions was returned 49 yards for an Oklahoma landing within the third quarter to assist put the sport away.
Even worse, Alabama’s protection was shredded by the Sooners’ working sport, permitting a pair of 100-yard rushers. It was an entire, team-wide failure in a sport it needed to have.
There will likely be a number of debate about energy of convention and resumes in terms of the playoff discipline, particularly because it pertains to groups like Indiana, however there isn’t a means a three-loss workforce (even within the SEC) can get into the sphere over any one-loss workforce and even most two-loss groups. You may make an argument for a two-loss Alabama workforce. You cannot make one for a three-loss Alabama workforce. Particularly given the best way this loss occurred.
Apart from what it does to Alabama’s playoff possibilities, it additionally ends a particularly spectacular streak for this system.
That is the primary time Alabama has misplaced greater than two video games in a season for the reason that 2010 season, snapping a streak of 13 consecutive seasons with two losses or much less.
Total it has been a disappointing debut season for first-year coach Kalen DeBoer. Following an all-time nice like Nick Saban was by no means going to be simple, and even when Alabama finally ends up profitable 10 video games this season that’s nonetheless going to be seen as a failure given the expectations this system carries.
