Oklahoma

PFF notebook: What the numbers say about Alabama's loss to Oklahoma

Published

1 month ago

November 26, 2024

PFF notebook: What the numbers say about Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma

After defeating LSU on the road in Week 11, Alabama looked like a shoo-in for the College Football Playoff and had the inside track for the SEC Championship. However, two weeks later, the Crimson Tide’s momentum came to a halt as the 5-5 Oklahoma Sooners delivered a shocking 24-3 defeat in Norman, turning a trip to the Palace on the Prairie into a nightmare for Alabama.

Alabama couldn’t find its footing in any way, shape or form. The Crimson Tide’s typically potent rushing attack was suffocated by a strong Oklahoma defense, while Sooners quarterback Jackson Arnold carved up Alabama’s defense with his legs, delivering a standout performance that kept the Tide trailing the whole game. Even Alabama’s special teams had their blunders, with typically reliable punter James Burnip having several self-inflicted errors throughout the game.

“Extremely disappointed. Frustrated,” said Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. “We worked extremely hard, I thought, all week putting a plan together all week. Guys had good energy and were excited to come here on the road. We’ve just got to play better. We’ve got to be better.”

Before we turn the page to the now No. 13 Alabama’s matchup with Auburn in the Iron Bowl here’s a look at the Tide’s Week 13 performance through the lens of Pro Football Focus.

TOP PERFORMERS

Offense

(Player, position — offensive grade)

Parker Brailsford, C — 70.5

The Washington transfer finished as the highest-graded offensive player in Alabama’s 21-point loss to Oklahoma. Among each offensive lineman who took at least one pass-blocking snap against the Sooners, Brailsford was the only one not to allow a pressure, although he did chart one penalty for the Crimson Tide.

Josh Cuevas, TE — 69.2

Cuevas finished with 40 receiving yards on two receptions, his second straight game hauling in two catches for at least 40 yards, helping him finish with a 71.6 receiving grade against Oklahoma. Unfortunately for the hybrid offensive piece, Cuevas allowed his first pressure of the season as a QB hit.

Jalen Milroe, QB — 67.7

Although Milroe cracks into the top three, his placement here shows how abysmal Alabama’s offense was against the Sooners. Milroe’s grade was the second lowest of the season for the junior quarterback while simultaneously finishing with his lowest-graded rushing performance this year. In the passing attack, Milroe only charted one turnover-worthy play despite the career-high three interceptions.

Defense

(Player, position — defensive grade)

Tim Smith, DT — 82.5

The fifth-year defensive lineman was Alabama’s most consistent defender in the 24-3 loss to the Sooners, finishing with Alabama’s second-highest run defense grade, 78.0, and charting a lone pressure. Smith finished the day with four tackles on 38 snaps.

DeVonta Smith — 74.1

Smith had a good game against the Sooners, totaling eight tackles and finishing with Alabama’s third-highest tackle rating (83.1). The defensive back allowed one reception for five yards in coverage,

Malachi Moore — 73.9

Alabama’s defensive leader, Moore, is set to play in his final regular season game for the Crimson Tide in the upcoming Iron Bowl, but had a solid performance in his final SEC road game. Moore finished the day with 10 tackles and a team-leading 74.7 grade in coverage.

Qua Russaw, OLB – 73.5

Russaw lands in the top four with a consistent performance across the board. The redshirt freshman finished with four tackles and above a 70.0 grade in each overall defense, run defense tackling and coverage.

TOP BLOCKERS

Pass blocking

Jam Miller — 85.5 (10-pass-blocking-snaps)

Tyler Booker — 83.0 (34-pass-blocking-snaps)

Jaeden Roberts — 78.5 (24-pass-blocking-snaps)

Parker Brailsford — 74.1 (24-pass-blocking-snaps)

Geno VnDeMark — 70.3 (10-pass-blocking-snaps)

Outlook: Alabama’s pass blocking finished with its second-lowest overall grade of the season, 59.0, only behind Alabama’s Week 8 loss to Tennesee. The Crimson Tide blockers allowed 12 pressures in total, with Elijah Pritchett allowing five; this was his fifth time of the season allowing at least three pressures in a game. The unit also totaled four penalties against the Sooners.

Run blocking

Kadyn Proctor — 67.7 (29-run-blocking-snaps)

Parker Brailsford — 66.8 (29-run-blocking-snaps)

Jam Miller — 64.3 (12-run-blocking-snaps)

Outlook: Alabama’s run blocking also turned in its second-lowest grade of the season, 53.9. The Crimson Tide’s run game was abysmal against Oklahoma, only rushing for 70 yards on 30 attempts (2.3 yards per carry)

PASSING DEPTH

Jalen Milroe

Deep (20+ yards past LOS): 2 of 5 for 62 yards, 1 interception

Medium (10-19 yards past LOS): 1 of 3 for 15 yards

Short (0-9 yards past LOS): 6 of 12 for 73 yards, 1 interception

Behind LOS: 2 of 4 for 14 yards, 1 interception

Ty Simpson

Behind LOS: 0 of 1

Outlook: Jalen Milroe delivered his least efficient passing performance of the season against Oklahoma, finishing with an adjusted completion rate of 62.5% and recording his first turnover-worthy play in four games. Despite the interception, Milroe showed flashes in his deep passing game, logging two big-time throws and nearly a third, which was taken away by an illegal touching penalty on Alabama after Ryan Williams caught a fourth-quarter touchdown. Milroe’s passing in the short game was abysmal, finishing with a 50.2 grade on those passes, but three drops from his receivers also impacted his play in the range of the field.

TRUE FRESHMAN SNAP COUNTS

Players with Snaps:

Zabien Brown — 66 snaps (58 wide, 5 FG/XP block, 3 box) — Starter

Ryan Williams — 66 snaps (46 wide, 17 slot, 3 punt return) — Starter

Caleb Odom — 27 snaps (10 wide, 9 slot, 5 kick return, 3 punt return)

Justin Okoronkwo — 14 snaps (5 kick return, 4 punt coverage, 3 punt return, 2 kick coverage)

Zavier Mincey — 13 snaps (5 kick return, 4 kick coverage, 2 punt coverage, 2 kick coverage)

Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. — 10 snaps (5 kick return, 3 punt return, 2 kick coverage)

Red Morgan — 7 snaps (5 kick return, 2 kick coverage)

Jaylen Mbakwe — 7 snaps (4 punt coverage, 3 punt return)

Isaia Faga — 4 snaps (3 d-line, 1 FG/XP block)

Cayden Jones — 3 snaps (3 punt return)

Daniel Hill — 3 snaps (3 punt return)

Players with No Snaps (Alphabetical):

Amari Jefferson

Bubba Hampton

Casey Poe

Jay Lindsey

Jayshawn Ross

Jeremiah Beaman

Joseph Ionata

Kevin Riley

Noah Carter

QB Reese

Rico Scott

Sterling Dixon

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Oklahoma

What will 2025 bring for Oklahoma State athletics? We make 25 bold predictions for Pokes

Published

3 hours ago

December 29, 2024

Press Room

What will 2025 bring for Oklahoma State athletics? We make 25 bold predictions for Pokes

STILLWATER — The new year is always a good time for prognostication.

Oklahoma State enters the 2025 calendar year with a mix of excitement, hope and curiosity — and maybe a hint of anxiousness — depending on the sport you’re following.

So let’s dive into what’s ahead for the Cowboys and Cowgirls with 25 predictions for 2025:

Football

1. A 9-win season for the Pokes

After a dramatic and difficult offseason, coach Mike Gundy and his rebuilt coaching staff turn the Cowboys around. They triple their win total from 2024, posting a nine-win season and contending for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game until the final weekend of the regular season.

2. Rodney Fields Jr. has a breakout year

A native of Wright City and a graduate of Del City High School, Fields becomes a homegrown star, rushing for over 1,000 yards in his redshirt freshman season.

3. Malik Charles is Big 12’s top defensive newcomer

The Cowboy defense’s breakout player will be one who has yet to play a major college snap. OSU fans, familiarize yourself with West Georgia transfer Malik Charles, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end who didn’t fully dedicate himself to football until after high school.

4. Gabe Panikowski contends for another trophy

New OSU placekicker Gabe Panikowski is a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award one year after he won the Fred Mitchell Award as college football’s top kicker below the FBS level.

5. A speedy NFL combine showing for Korie Black

Korie Black runs a top-five time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, helping to boost his draft stock.

6. Ollie Gordon II goes early in the NFL Draft

Also benefiting from a strong performance at the combine, running back Ollie Gordon II is the first Cowboy selected in the NFL Draft, going in the second round.

7. Six Pokes drafted

Receiver Brennan Presley is picked in the seventh round of the draft, making it six former Pokes to be chosen in the three-day event.

Wrestling

8. OSU wrestling back atop Big 12

With several wrestlers making deep runs through their brackets, OSU returns to the top of the Big 12 with a championship at the BOK Center in Tulsa, edging Missouri and Arizona State in the championship session.

9. Four Cowboys reach NCAA wrestling finals

With four wrestlers reaching the NCAA finals, the Cowboys finish second to Penn State in the chase for a national title, announcing themselves as a legit threat to the Nittany Lions’ dynasty.

10. Special recognition for David Taylor

In his first season leading the Cowboys, David Taylor is named college wrestling coach of the year after guiding OSU to a resurgent season that establishes the basis of the program’s expectations going forward.

Women’s basketball

11. A 3-pointer record for the Cowgirls

Cowgirl basketball sets the Big 12 record for 3-pointers in a game with 21 — if not more. They’ve already tied the record of 20 in a game earlier this season, and Micah Gray set the OSU record, making 10 in a game.

12. A ‘W’ in the Big Dance

The Cowgirls get their first NCAA Tournament win under head coach Jacie Hoyt, who gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in mid-December.

Men’s basketball

13. Four league wins on the hardwood

Despite showing notable improvement on the court, the men’s basketball team ends with the same number of Big 12 wins as it did a year ago. The current version of the conference is a murderers’ row, particularly for a program trying to rebuild.

14. Bryce Thompson to the G League

Getting his professional shot the nearly same way former Cowboy and current Golden State Warrior Lindy Waters III did, OSU guard Bryce Thompson lands on the roster of the NBA G League’s Oklahoma City Blue.

Baseball

15. Nolan Schubart drops 30 bombs

Slugging outfielder Nolan Schubart hits 30 home runs on his rise to being a first-round selection in the MLB Draft.

16. A road regional win for Cowboy baseball

The baseball team fails to earn an NCAA Regional host berth as a top-16 seed, but advances to the Super Regional round on the road, falling one win short of a spot in the Men’s College World Series.

17. Happy Holliday goes No. 1

Though he’s committed to OSU, Ethan Holliday never makes it to campus. The nephew of Cowboy coach Josh Holliday follows in the footsteps of older brother Jackson in being selected No. 1 overall in the MLB Draft.

Softball

18. Karli Godwin sets Cowgirl homer record

Softball’s Karli Godwin breaks the program record for home runs in a season with 21. The record of 20 is held by Sam Show. Godwin hit 15 homers last year, setting the OSU freshman record.

19. Cowgirls conquer Big 12

The softball team asserts its dominance over the new-look Big 12 with an overpowering run to win the regular-season title, followed by a Big 12 Tournament championship as well.

20. Sixth straight WCWS trip

For the sixth straight time, OSU earns a spot in the Women’s College World Series, coming in Kenny Gajewski’s 10th season as coach.

Tennis

21. A banner to hang

Cowgirl tennis brings the school its first NCAA national championship in women’s athletics. OSU won the ITA indoor title last season, but that isn’t an officially recognized NCAA championship.

Equestrian

22. An equestrian five-peat

On its way to another strong showing at nationals, OSU equestrian wins the Big 12 Championship for the fifth straight time.

Golf

23. Elite Eight for men’s golf

Relying on a consistently balanced lineup, Cowboy golf advances to the matchplay bracket as a top-eight team in the NCAA Championships.

Olympics

24. Golden going for gold

Once again showing off her broad athletic talents, former OSU women’s basketball and track athlete Bailey Golden qualifies for the 2026 Olympics as part of the USA Bobsled team.

Facilities

25. New facilities on the horizon

OSU announces that it has the funding for an indoor track facility and a new softball stadium, along with breaking ground on the previously announced Boone Pickens Human Performance Innovation Complex.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma State’s Returning Receivers Have Large Voids to Fill

Published

11 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma State’s Returning Receivers Have Large Voids to Fill

Oklahoma State will have to replace some of its top producers from last season, and a few returning players will need to fill those voids.

OSU entered the 2024 season as a Big 12 contender and had one of the most experienced teams in the country. Although OSU went 3-9 and missed a bowl game for the first time in nearly two decades, that didn’t change the status of its roster.

With so many players in their final year of eligibility, almost every position took a hit. Of course, that included the receiver room. With Brennan Presley and Rashod Owens heading onto the next stages of their career and De’Zhaun Stribling transferring to Ole Miss, the Cowboys will be without their top three receivers from 2024.

While the Cowboys could still make some additions to the receiver room through the portal, next season’s top three receivers could simply be players looking to make a leap from their 2024 season. Talyn Shettron, Da’Wain Lofton and Gavin Freeman are all slated to be back in Stillwater in 2025 and could be the stars of OSU’s passing game.

Shettron was the Cowboys’ fourth-leading receiver in 2024 and showed some glimpses of his potential, particularly in a 110-yard performance against Tulsa. He finished the year with 12 catches for 245 yards and a touchdown, playing in nine games before an injury ended his season early. Considering Shettron’s speed and elusiveness, he should be the early favorite to lead the Cowboys in receiving next season.

Meanwhile, a couple of transfers will need to make an impact in their second seasons in Stillwater. With Lofton and Freeman each taking a redshirt in 2024, their usage was limited, but their talent was apparent. With each finishing with six catches in four games, Lofton and Freeman’s contrasting styles could make them a perfect pair alongside Shettron.

Want to join the discussion? Like Oklahoma State Cowboys on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma AG dismisses assault charge against officer who slammed 71-year-old man to the ground | CNN

Published

19 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma AG dismisses assault charge against officer who slammed 71-year-old man to the ground | CNN

Oklahoma City
AP
—

Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general dismissed a felony assault charge Friday against a police officer who slammed a 71-year-old man to the ground, breaking his neck, during an argument over a traffic ticket.

Gentner Drummond announced that he had intervened in the case and dismissed the aggravated assault and battery charge against Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Joseph Gibson, 28.

Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna charged Gibson this month after body-worn camera video released by police showed Gibson throwing Lich Vu to the ground after Vu touched Gibson during the argument following a non-injury traffic accident October 27.

“As attorney general, I will not permit Oklahoma police officers to face criminal prosecution for conduct adhering to their training,” Drummond said in a statement. “While the outcome of this incident is unquestionably devastating for Mr. Vu and his family, I do not believe the officer exhibited criminal intent.”

Prosecutors said Vu suffered a brain bleed and a broken neck and eye socket.

Behenna said in a statement that she was “surprised and disappointed that Attorney General Gentner Drummond took this case away from my office and the citizens of Oklahoma County.”

She said previously that after evaluating the case, prosecutors determined Gibson’s actions were an unreasonable use of force.

Drummond said Vu should not have touched Gibson during the argument.

“No individual is allowed to hit or push an officer, regardless of whether he or she doesn’t understand English well or comes from a different culture,” Drummond said. “The simple truth is, this unfortunate incident never would have occurred if Mr. Vu had kept his hands to himself.”

The use of force prompted outrage in Oklahoma City’s Vietnamese community, particularly since the video shows Vu had difficulty communicating with Gibson during the interaction and appeared not to understand what the officer was telling him.

Gibson’s attorney, former Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, said Drummond’s decision to drop the charge was “well reasoned and correct.”

Mark Nelson, president of the Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police, said no officer wants to see someone injured and he hopes Vu makes a swift and full recovery.

“However, our members often have to make split-second decisions, and they cannot control the outcome of every situation,” Nelson said in a statement. “Unfortunately, when someone resists law enforcement, they increase the risk of harm to themselves or others.”

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