Oklahoma certainly does not look like a double-digit underdog in the Sugar Bowl. The Sooners have more than held their own against Alabama in New Orleans tonight and reach the midway point leading the Crimson Tide, 31-17. You read that score correctly. Oklahoma is leading Alabama, a 15-point favorite, by 14 at the half. Considering Alabama has allowed 31 points in a game just five times since 2008, that is rather significant.
Alabama did open up the scoring early in the first quarter with a four-play drive covering 75 yards and ending with a TJ Yeldon touchdown run just under two minutes in to the game, but Oklahoma closed the half with a 24-10 run.
Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight threw three touchdowns in the first half to lead the Sooner charge. The first was to Lacoltan Bester for a 45-yard score to tie the game. Just minutes later the Tide re-gained the lead with a field goal, but Knight struck again with another touchdown pass inside the 10-yard line, this time to Jalen Saunders. Knight and Saunders hooked up again on a deep ball down the right sideline to give Oklahoma their first lead of the game, late in the half. The play was set up by a red zone turnover by Alabama, a Yeldon fumble as Alabama was knocking on the door step for another score.
A late interception tossed by AJ McCarron gave the Sooners time for one more score, and they acted quickly on it. Sterling Shepard took a misdirection wrap around down the right side of the field for a 13-yard touchdown run on the very next play.
Still plenty of football to be played of course, and if any team can manage to make some adjustments, you would think it will be Alabama, but now all of a sudden the tables have been turned. A game that was supposed to be one that saw Oklahoma struggle to keep up now sees Alabama looking to find a way to slow down the Sooners.