A look at the all time series between Alabama and Oklahoma
When we look back at the five previous meetings between Alabama and Oklahoma we see that the Boomer Sooners have the edge winning three games, losing one and with one tie in the series.
The first meeting between the Tide and Sooners occurred in the 1963 Orange Bowl at the conclusion of the 1962 season. Alabama entered the game with a 9-1 record and a #5 ranking. Their only blemish came late in the season losing 7-6 to Georgia Tech as Alabama came into that game with a #1 ranking and had not lost since the 1960 season. Alabama scored a late touchdown in the 4th quarter to cut the lead to 7-6. Coach Bear Bryant elected to go for two but missed the conversion or Alabama could have possibly been playing for a second consecutive national championship. Oklahoma entered the contest with a #8 ranking and an 8-2 record with early season losses to Notre Dame and Texas.
Alabama opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 25 yard touchdown pass from Joe Namath to Richard Williamson. Alabama extended their lead to 14-0 in the second quarter on a 15 yard run by Cotton Clark. Alabama extended their lead to 17-0 with a 19 yard field goal by Tim Davis in the third quarter. Neither team was able to score the rest of the way and Alabama came away with an impressive 17-0 victory over the Sooners. Lee Roy Jordan lead the Alabama defense with a monster game recording 31 tackles in the contest.
Alabama and Oklahoma would meet again in the 1970 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. Both teams had down seasons by their standards. Alabama entered the game with a 6-5 record while Oklahoma entered the game with a 7-4 record. Alabama opened the scoring in the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead on a 4 yard pass from Scott Hunter to Randy Moore. The Sooners tied the game 7-7 later in the first quarter on a 2 yard run by Joe Wylie. In the second quarter Oklahoma took their first lead of the game on a 58 yard run by Greg Pruitt to give the Sooners a 14-7 lead. Later in the quarter Greg Pruitt got loose again to score on a 25 yard run to extend the Sooners lead to 21-7. Alabama cut into the lead before halftime on a 5 yard pass from Scott Hunter to David Baily to make the score 21-14 at halftime. The only points scored in the third quarter was by Alabama on a 20 yard field goal by Richard Ciemny to cut the Sooners lead to 21-17 heading into the fourth quarter. Alabama would take a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter after a 25 yard touchdown pass from Scott Hunter to Johnny Musso. Oklahoma battled back to tie the game at 24-24 with a 42 yard field goal by Bruce Derr. Alabama had a chance to win the game but surprise surprise, Alabama missed a 34 yard field goal as time expired ending the game in a 24-24 tie.
These two storied programs would meet for the first time for a regular season contest in 2002 in Norman, Oklahoma. Alabama was enduring sanctions from being on probation while Oklahoma was one of the main contenders for the 2002 national title. Alabama would open the game with a successful surprise on-side kick and would go on to capitalize with a 45 yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Later in the first quarter a special teams mistake would lead to a safety for Oklahoma when a bad snap went out of the back of the end zone on an attempted Alabama punt that narrowed Alabama's lead to 3-2. Midway through the first quarter Jason White hooked up with Mark Clayton for a 32 yard touchdown pass to give Oklahoma a 9-3 lead after the PAT. Midway through the second quarter Alabama fumbled near midfield to give the Sooners good field position. One play later Nate Hybl in for injured Jason White connected on a 51 yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton to give Oklahoma a 16-3 lead. Just before the half Oklahoma drove the ball downfield and scored on a quarterback sneak by Nate Hybl as time expired to give Oklahoma a commanding 23-3 halftime lead. But Alabama came out a different team in the second half completely dominating the Sooners for 28 minutes. Alabama would put together a very impressive drive to begin the second half that took almost six minutes off the clock that ended in a 3 yard touchdown run by Antonio Galloway to cut the Sooners lead to 23-10. Alabama recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff on a little pooch kick giving Alabama great field position. Alabama drove the ball inside the five yard line before missing a 22 yard field goal. Late in the third quarter Alabama would block an Oklahoma punt and recover it for a touchdown to cut the Sooners lead to 23-17. With just over ten minutes left in the game Alabama faked a field goal and the holder Lane Bearden ran the ball in for a score from four yards out to give Alabama a 24-23 lead after the PAT. With just over 3 minutes left in the game Michael Ziifle kicked a 45 yard field goal to give Alabama a 27-23 lead. With 2:11 left in the game Kejuan Jones ran 8 yards for the go ahead touchdown to put Oklahoma ahead 30-27. Alabama would get one last try but Eric Bassey picked up a Tyler Watts fumble and ran it back for a touchdown with 24 seconds left to give Oklahoma a 37-27 victory.
Alabama and Oklahoma would meet again the following year in 2003 in Tuscaloosa as Alabama hosted the #1 ranked Sooners. Oklahoma would control the first quarter and led 6-0 going into the second quarter after a pair of field goals from Trey DiCarlo. Alabama would finally get on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter on a 44 yard field goal from Brian Bostick that cut the Oklahoma lead in half at 6-3. Oklahoma quickly responded as Jason White hooked up with Mark Clayton on a 46 yard touchdown pass to give Oklahoma a 13-3 lead that they carried into halftime. Late in the third quarter Alabama would finally find the end zone as Brodie Croyle connected with Triandos Luke on a 20 yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 13-10. Oklahoma again quickly responded before the end of the quarter as Jason White connected with Brandon Jones on a 47 yard touchdown pass to give Oklahoma a 20-10 lead. All Alabama would be able to do after that was a late field goal by Brian Bostick to narrow the score to 20-13 allowing the Sooners to escape Tuscaloosa with a 7 point victory.
The last meeting between these two powerhouse programs came in the 2013 Sugar Bowl. Alabama came into the game ranked #3 but had their hearts ripped out a month earlier against Auburn on the famous kick six play that ended Alabama's undefeated season and knocked Alabama out of a chance to three peat as national champions. Oklahoma entered the game ranked #11 in the nation and a big underdog to Alabama. Early it looked like Alabama might follow the script expected of them as they drove down the field and scored on a one yard T.J. Yeldon run to give Alabama an early 7-0 lead. After the teams exchanged interceptions Oklahoma scored on a big play to tie the game when Trevor Knight hooked up with Lacoltan Bester for a 45 yard touchdown pass. Alabama would retake the lead after a 27 yard Cade Foster field goal but was short lived as Oklahoma took the lead 14-10 heading into the second quarter when Trevor Knight connected with Jalen Saunders on an 8 yard touchdown pass. Alabama retook the lead 17-14 early in the second quarter when A.J. McCarron connected on a 67 yard touchdown pass to DeAndrew White. After Oklahoma tied the game on a 47 yard field goal turnovers would plague the Tide. T.J. Yeldon fumbled at the Oklahoma 8 yard line which Oklahoma took advantage and drove down the field to take a 24-17 lead when Trevor Knight again connected with Jalen Saunders for a 43 yard touchdown pass. Alabama turned the ball over again on the next possession and Oklahoma returned an intercepted McCarron pass back to the Alabama 13 yard line. One play later Sterling Shepard scored on a 13 yard run to up their lead to 31-17. Alabama would continue their self destruction with a missed 32 yard field goal just before halftime. Alabama scored the only points in the 3rd quarter on a 43 yard run by Derrick Henry that cut Oklahoma's lead to 31-24 heading into the 4th quarter. Oklahoma would open up the 4th quarter with a scoring drive to extend their lead to 38-24 when Trevor Knight hooked up with Sterling Shepard on a 9 yard touchdown pass. Alabama would cut the lead to 38-31 after a 61 yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry. Alabama would cough up the ball late in the game when A.J. McCarron was sacked and Oklahoma recovered the ball for a touchdown that ended the scoring giving Oklahoma a 45-31 victory over Alabama and a 3-1-1 edge in the series.
