Alabama Football Faces a Late-Season Identity Crisis

 

Is this a good football team? Watching the Crimson Tide struggle on the field at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium—later stormed by celebrating fans—you might think otherwise.

What’s puzzling is that Alabama has looked like a strong team this season. At times, even an elite one. Think back to the first half against Georgia, the shutout of Missouri, or the domination of LSU. Those weren’t flukes—they happened this very year.

But on Saturday, Alabama lost 24-3 to an Oklahoma team that has been unranked, inconsistent, and often unimpressive. This is a Sooners squad better known for giving away games than dominating them. Yet they steamrolled the same Crimson Tide team (8-3, 4-3 SEC) that has beaten some of the SEC’s best, including Georgia, Missouri, and LSU.

Or at least, it was the same roster and coaching staff.

What showed up in Norman was far from Alabama’s best. The offense, once potent, fell apart. Quarterback Jalen Milroe struggled to gain ground, with Oklahoma shutting down his rushing ability and disrupting the passing game.

What happened to the offense that looked unstoppable just two weeks ago against LSU?

The defense didn’t do much better. After an early takeaway, the Tide allowed 205 yards in the first half alone. Oklahoma, ranked No. 86 nationally in rushing offense before the game, ran for 257 yards and two touchdowns.

Where was the defense that held Missouri and LSU to one touchdown across two games and consistently forced turnovers? That version of the Tide was nowhere to be found on Saturday.

This season’s inconsistency has been shocking. Just when you think you’ve figured out Alabama, the team flips the script. Beat Georgia, lose to Vanderbilt. Beat South Carolina, lose to Tennessee. Beat Missouri and LSU, then lose to Oklahoma.

How does that happen?

The loss to Tennessee wasn’t a complete surprise, though it stung. But the defeats to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma? Those feel like a reality check—a reminder of how average this Alabama team can be when it doesn’t perform well.

For fans paying attention, though, it’s not entirely unexpected.

Nick Saban’s teams in his later years didn’t dominate week in and week out like they once did. Even during his final season in 2023, Alabama battled inconsistency. That year, the same team that lost to Texas and barely beat South Florida turned around to defeat ranked Ole Miss, Tennessee, and LSU. Then it nearly lost to Auburn before toppling No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship.

But Saban didn’t lose three games in a season—not since 2010. Now, Alabama has three losses before the end of the regular season.

This might be the new normal for Alabama, in a college football world increasingly defined by parity. NIL deals and the transfer portal have leveled the playing field. Any team can lose on any given Saturday. This weekend alone, unranked Florida, Arizona State, Auburn, Kansas, and Oklahoma knocked off ranked opponents.

Alabama has shown it can beat anyone—there’s proof of that. But it’s also shown it can lose to anyone, too.

That’s why, right now, Alabama isn’t a great team or a terrible one. It’s a team that keeps fans guessing every Saturday. Who will show up next week?

Related Queries:

oklahoma vs alabama football

oklahoma football

auburn vs alabama

auburn vs

auburn vs oklahoma

a&m vs auburn

texas a&m vs auburn

auburn texas a&m

alabama vs lsu

oklahoma sooners vs alabama

oklahoma sooners football

alabama crimson tide football

vanderbilt vs lsu

alabama oklahoma game

oklahoma vs alabama 2024

alabama oklahoma prediction

alabama vs oklahoma prediction

alabama vs oklahoma score

alabama vs oklahoma stats

where to watch alabama crimson tide football vs oklahoma sooners football

army vs notre dame

alabama schedule

alabama vs oklahoma live

warriors vs spurs

ou alabama score

alabama vs oklahoma live

warriors vs spurs

ou alabama score

grizzlies vs bulls

pistons vs magic

auburn tigers football

trail blazers vs rockets

texas a&m aggies football

missouri vs ms state

cincinnati vs kansas state prediction

auburn game today

alabama vs oklahoma highlights

alabam

ala

where to watch auburn tigers football vs texas a&m aggies football

alabama vs oklahoma stats