Oklahoma’s stunning 23-21 win over No. 2 Alabama was a game-changer for their playoff hopes. The Sooners, now 8-2, snagged their second straight win against ranked teams on the road, adding a top-tier scalp to an already solid résumé with wins over Michigan and Tennessee. This win propels Oklahoma right into the heart of the College Football Playoff conversation, and here’s everything head coach Brent Venables had to say after the game. 

Venables’ opening statement…

“Wow, what a heck of a football game! I would first like to congratulate Coach DeBoer and their staff, their players. So, nobody really deserved to lose that football game. That was a well-played, hard-fought slugfest. And incredibly thankful and proud, pretty sure our players have just landed on the line for four quarters.”

“I’ve been talking and bragging about this team, that this is one of the best teams I’ve been around when it comes to just the brotherhood and the belief in one another. Something special about it. These guys, again, if I’ve said something once, I’ve said it 100 times; they like to work, they like to compete, they like each other, and I think it shows. I don’t think you find a way to win our fourth true road game in the fashion that we were able to against the quality of the opponent we did.”

Reflecting on Alabama’s home dominance

“This is a place that had the nation’s longest winning streak and maybe hadn’t lost an SEC home game since maybe 2019. And again, our highest-ranked win since 2017, road win since 2017, so really special.”

Assessing Oklahoma’s second-half dominance and turnover edge 

“Thought our second half was just much more complimentary than maybe the first half. Even though the first half had some good things, not quite as sloppy. I love the way we struck and put our hands on people; we moved people, and the pile continued to fall in the Sooners’ direction. We got our hands on a lot of balls. I think we forced three fumbles, had maybe three picks, and one of them was called back for an interference. And we blocked a field goal right there before half, Taylor winded, had a strip sack, and again, just some things as a byproduct of that.” 

“We really got into a nice rhythm. We played a little stickier with our coverage and changed up a few of our coverages, and the sheer will of the players at the end of the day.” 

“So they scored seven in the second half, and we scored six. And then a three-point halftime lead, we did what we needed to do to win.”

Venables on the major role of the turnover battle

“The Sooners were up by three going into halftime. And I just really believe the turnovers were a big part of that. We forced some big-time turnovers. Sometimes when it’s said the way it’s said, it’s like, well, if that hadn’t happened, well, it did happen, number one. And number two, we forced them with great pressure up front, guys running the ball, hawking at the football. There are several times we didn’t get the ball, but if you’re paying attention and really kind of lifting up the hood and looking at it for what it is, man, our guys were attacking the football, and they were relentless. And so, yeah, I mean, that’s, again, there’s no more important stat in football than turnovers.”

Venables on Sooners’ special teams

“Our special teams, we went in thinking an opportunity to maybe really separate ourselves, and it held true. Don’t have the final numbers, but the hidden yardage, I felt like we dominated in the hidden yardage. We got some key returns into Dignia, did a great job of possessing the football, not letting the ball hit the ground, our protection, and our coverage units. I mean, we had several tackles for loss on our coverage units. And it’s just really impressive. I’m really impressed with the way this team continually responded over and over and over.”

“Grayson Miller, again, did he make that LaGrosa finalist, or not LaGrosa? Yeah, Ray Guy. But he played like one again tonight. Man, he was just amazing, and then Tate Sandell, again, school record for consecutive field goals made at 21, just big time.”

Responding to a one-score finish

“I mean, who’s it not pretty for? What does that mean? Some people think it’s pretty. I happen to like it. I think it’s a reflection; you’re seeing it in our league. Don’t know what all happened today throughout the league, but that’s, we’re playing really good people. They’re gonna make plays, we’re gonna make plays, we’re gonna get got, they’re gonna get got. Turnover’s gonna be a part of it. Struggle’s gonna be a part of it. Having to overcome bad things is gonna be a part of it. The team that can figure that out is gonna win. So I don’t mind in any way, shape, or form, winning that way. No apologies here. Proud of our guys for their fight.”

Venables on the physicality and the sheer will of Oklahoma

“We got a bunch of young men who were raised right. I think that we’ve recruited a lot of really tough guys who believe in themselves and each other and certainly in how we do what we do. We try to put a lot of stress and pressure on them constantly as we develop our team. And at the end of the day, man, the guts and the will and the edge and the belief that comes from our players. And we try to create a vision for them.”

“I think it kind of starts with that, and then it’s belief, and then you have to be willing to kick the door and take the action that it requires. And be the one that kind of lines up, get nose to nose, and it’s about competing, competing to win. And everything has magnitude, and everything matters. So our players have really bought into that, and they haven’t flinched.”

Breaking down John Mateer’s rushing touchdown: “How big was this moment of touchdown, second straight?” 

“Did he do that last year? It was huge. I mean, you look at the game, it comes down to the one possession there. So yeah, that was a critical, huge play. They’re in an empty set, and we’re kind of showing a double mug look. And a different call from a year ago, but they got the protection wrong, and they threw the ball quickly. Kip was unblocked, and our guys were ready for it. We’re in a zone concept, so they had zone eyes and saw the ball coming. It’s huge.”

Venables on the struggles he faced as a fourth-year head coach at Norman

“I’m so appreciative, and we’ve been talking about some of the foundational guys that this is year four, several that this is year three. There are several guys who weren’t here through last year as well, but they chose to come here maybe when it wasn’t quite as popular. And I just have a great thanks and gratitude for the belief, staff as well. A lot of coaches have lots of opportunities to leave, and these are a group of people who chose to stay and believed. And this is, I’m just, the tree’s judged by the fruit. And again, we’re eight and two, so nobody, there’s no trophies being awarded, and things of that nature, so I just want to be mindful of that.”

“But man, it says a lot. And I’m not surprised by the guys that maybe were here last year and again, where we’re at right now. And we had to do some convincing with several other guys who are part of that in the locker room as well, so just have a great appreciation. We’ve got great support, our administration, none of this is possible without great support and vision by the leadership and our administration as well. And it’s one body, but it’s many parts, and we all need each other.”

Inside the locker room celebration: His stance on the Sooners playing Dixieland Delight in the locker room

“They’ve worked really hard for it. So again, I’m not a boastful or braggadocious kind of guy, but man, I’m gonna brag on our guys, and they deserve it. It’s a hard fight; they’ve put a lot into this opportunity. And we’ve created a vision for that, so I gotta follow through. I’m like, hey man, this is what victory looks like, this is how we’re gonna do it. And I wanna see you guys dancing, carrying on, just having some joy in the moment.”

“I think it’s too easy to kind of go on to the next one, and not have an appreciation for the moment in this world. And maybe all the bad things that show up on the stat sheet, too, we’ll get to that when it’s time. But that was fun to watch them having some fun.”

Venables on defensive adjustments he made after John Mateer’s touchdown lead

“I thought our coverage was a little better. We turned up some pressure a little bit more, some timely pressure. Got them and created some negative plays that really made it hard for them to own a couple of those drives. We just started getting into a rhythm and having some good field position. And again, our special teams were fantastic. And then offense was able to have, excuse me, a few scoring drives there. Had a couple of field goals, excuse me, and that’s all it took.”

Looking ahead to Week 13 vs. Missouri

“So we’re 8-2, and proud of, again, the effort that it took to get to 8-2. But we got some really good quality opponents sitting in front of us, starting with Missouri. And so we’ll celebrate this for a few hours, and get back to Norman, and go right back at it again. Really good Missouri team coming in next week for an 11 a.m. kick. And we’re gonna have to go right back to work, but this is a group that, man, has continued to respond. The leaders on this team, as I said a week ago, have just man, enough’s enough. And no excuses, no easy way out, no hiding in the training room or putting themselves on the sideline.”

With their biggest win of the season now behind them, Oklahoma now turns its focus to Missouri, ready to keep the momentum going.