**Oklahoma Stuns No. 7 Alabama in Dominant 24-3 Victory**

The Oklahoma Sooners surprised many on Saturday night with a commanding upset over No. 7 Alabama, triumphing with a 24-3 victory. Despite a challenging season riddled with injuries, the Sooners showcased the resilience and determination their head coach, Brent Venables, has been instilling in the team. This impressive win highlighted Venables' clear vision for the squad, now in his third season in Norman.

The game began on shaky ground for Oklahoma, with early missed opportunities threatening their momentum. In the first quarter, a fumble by Taylor Tatum deep in Alabama territory and a series of offensive missteps, including a dropped pass by Bauer Sharp and a missed field goal by Zach Schmit, painted a grim picture. It seemed the Sooners were poised to repeat their offensive blunders from earlier in the 2024 season.

However, the early setbacks did not define the game. Oklahoma's only turnover was Tatum's first-quarter fumble, and the team managed to overcome these errors, demonstrating the toughness and physicality Venables desires. Trailing 3-0 in the second quarter, the Sooners regrouped and outscored Alabama 24-0 for the remainder of the game.

In a heartfelt postgame interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe, Venables expressed his emotional connection to the team's journey this year. "We finally did the things that winning requires. These guys are amazing. Their guts, their toughness. They punched first, they punched back, and tonight we finally punched back," he said.

Oklahoma's season has been anything but easy, with notable challenges such as halftime leads against Ole Miss and Missouri slipping through their fingers and a narrow last-minute loss to Missouri. Yet against Alabama, they found the resolve to close out the game and secure a victory.

Reflecting on the season's hardships, Venables remarked, "There's not been anything easy about this season for us. I guess the harder it is, the more epic the story. What these guys have had to go through and overcome... What a night. What a performance."

The Sooners, now standing at 6-5, look ahead to a road trip to Baton Rouge and a bowl game to end the season. A few weeks ago, a winning record seemed a distant possibility, but if they can build on their performance against Alabama, they have a chance to end the season on a high note and carry momentum into 2025.