Playing against a struggling Oklahoma team on the road can be risky if Alabama isn’t staying grounded and focused on what has brought them this far.
Nick Saban popularized the term “rat poison” in Tuscaloosa, and this week’s matchup with Oklahoma perfectly illustrates that concept. We’ve watched Alabama climb in the rankings each Tuesday, and with a few more wins, a playoff spot and an SEC Championship appearance are within reach.
Oklahoma, in its first season as an SEC team, has had a tough go of it. They’ve won just one SEC game and need one more victory to become bowl-eligible. On paper, this looks like a straightforward win for the Tide, but that’s only true if they stay focused and avoid distractions.
I originally thought this game could be a trap for Alabama, sandwiched between LSU and Auburn, and now I’m concerned not about the competition but about the team potentially getting caught up in the hype surrounding them. The Tide has been improving each week, and with that improvement comes more media attention, which could cause them to lose sight of the task at hand. In the SEC, any team can pull an upset, and Oklahoma is a proud program that will fight for every win.
The Sooners will do whatever it takes to become bowl-eligible, so if Alabama doesn’t bring its best effort, this could turn into an unexpected upset. We’ve seen plenty of surprises across college football this season, and after already experiencing one upset, I’m confident Alabama’s leaders will have the team prepared and focused for the Saturday night clash in Norman.
Despite the season’s ups and downs, Alabama is in an excellent position, and as long as they focus on what’s ahead and not the noise around them, the rest of the 2024 season will be an exciting ride.
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