OU football grades in CFP loss to Alabama is brutal for special teams
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
NORMAN — The roses were smelling pretty sweet. Then they wilted. Fast.
Alabama beat OU 34-24 Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff, denying the Sooners a trip to the Rose Bowl.
The Sooners led 17-0. They were outscored 34-7 the rest of the way.
Let’s get to the grades:
OU special teams: D
The Sooners came into the game with what seemed like a huge advantage in the special teams department.
So much for that.
Tate Sandell went three and a half months without missing a field goal. Then the Lou Groza Award winner missed back-to-back kicks less than two minutes apart.
Sandell’s 51-yarder fell short into the driving wind, but his 36-yard miss was inexplicable. He lingered on the field after both kicks, looking as surprised as the 80,000 looking on.
OU punter Grayson Miller had his share of struggles. He had a punt blocked. Miller secured the snap just fine, but then he dropped the ball. Literally. He was swarmed before he could pick the ball up and kick it. Alabama capitalized off the miscue with a field goal.
Discipline: C-
OU was only penalized five times, but a couple of them were costly.
Offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis and rush end Taylor Wein were both whistled for 15-yard personal fouls for unsportsmanlike conduct.
OU bailed out Alabama on a bad drop by receiver Germie Bernard. Sooner freshman Courtland Guillory was called for defensive holding.
50 Cent timing: B+
There were murmurings Saturday that rapper 50 Cent would perform his song, “Many Men,” in the break between the third and fourth quarters. It’s become an anthem for these hard-to-kill Sooners.
The timing couldn’t have been more awkward. OU trailed 27-17. When 50 Cent came out of the tunnel, Alabama players were way more hyped than their Sooner counterparts.
The surprise appearance seemed to have backfired, but two plays later the Sooners scored on a long touchdown. OU cut the lead to three.
The Sooners are still waiting for 50 Cent to come out for an encore.
OU pass rush: C+
Both of OU’s sacks in the first half came from Ty Simpson’s blindside. OU linebacker Kip Lewis had the first. Then it was Marvin Jones Jr.’s turn.
Owen Heinecke brought down the Alabama quarterback for a nine-yard loss early in the fourth quarter to force an Alabama punt.
The Sooners finished with four sacks, but hand it to Simpson — even when his O-Line had leaks, he was savvy in escaping the pass rush.
Deion Burks: A+
This was the Deion Burks that Sooner fans had been waiting for.
Burks made a pair of the best sideline grabs you’ll see, both leading to third-and-long conversions.
He made a 37-yard touchdown catch on the second play of the fourth quarter.
Burks had a drop early in the third quarter, but the play wasn’t going anywhere.
He finished with seven catches for a season-high 107 yards. It was his first 100-yard receiving game since Michigan in Week 2.
OU first quarter: A+
Sooner domination.
OU outgained Alabama 118-12 in the first quarter en route to a 10-0 lead.
Alabama had zero rushing yards and zero first downs. The Sooners had six first downs.
OU had the ball for 11 of the first 15 minutes. The Sooners ran 22 plays to Alabama’s eight.
John Mateer: C
Mateer, freed from post-surgery tape on his throwing hand, had more zip on the ball.
He completed 26-of-41 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for another score.
He did have one interception, though, and it was a bad one. Mateer and Keontez Lewis miscommunicated, leading to Zabien Brown’s 50-yard pick six. After trailing 17-0, Alabama’s defensive score tied the game 17-17.
A bad drop by running back Xavier Robinson cost Mateer and the Sooners from what would’ve been a chunk play.
Pregame light show: A+
Installing Griswold levels of exterior illumination to light up Owen Field was apparently part of OU’s CFP hosting preparations. Seriously, the Sooners went all out. And it was pretty dang cool.
Beams from the top of the west stands shown down, lighting up each yard line, the midfield logo and creating all sorts of cool images and designs.
It reminded me of the pregame light show in Knoxville. OU’s might have been even better. The Sooners have leveled up when it comes to in-stadium entertainment.
Pageantry: A+
It was a great night of college football.
F-35 fighter jets got the party started with a flyover as the Sooners walked into the stadium. Everyone was treated to a wispy, pink sky as the sun set. It was a mild 50 degrees at kickoff, although the wind chill made it feel 10 degrees colder.
OU and ‘Bama took the field in two of college football’s most iconic looks.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football report card vs Alabama: How Sooners graded out in CFP loss
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos