Facing a College Football Playoff elimination game , 11th-ranked and two-loss Oklahoma delivered its top performance of the season at fourth-ranked Alabama , swatting the Crimson Tide's eight-game winning streak as the Sooners regained control of their destiny. Brent Venables' defense helped Oklahoma catapult itself ahead of Texas and Notre Dame in the race with a game control and strength of schedule edge over both.

Oklahoma's victory significantly alters this week's bowl projections and playoff lookahead, pushing the Sooners up to No. 9 with a predicted 10-2 overall finish. Alabama needs to beat Auburn during rivalry weekend at the end of the month to lock in a berth. An upset loss to the Tigers would potentially spoil Kalen DeBoer's second campaign and put the Crimson Tide in

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