Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer knew exactly how the Sooners were able to upset Alabama, and it might have included some divine intervention, which OU fans label Sooner Magic.
With their College Football Playoff dreams at stake, the No. 11 Sooners went into Tuscaloosa on Saturday and beat the No. 4 Crimson Tide 23-21 behind a stellar defensive performance while Mateer and his offense did just enough on the other side of the ball to secure the victory. The win improved the Sooners to 8-2 while halting Alabama's 17-game winning streak at Bryant-Denny Stadium, which was the longest active home winning streak in the country.
John Mateer credits defense after Sooners upset Bama
“Yeah, we got two more regular-season games, and we’re going to play our hearts out,” Mateer said during his postgame interview with ESPN. “We know what we have in front of us and we’re going to - tonight we’re going to celebrate this one, but we’ll go back to work.”
After starting the season without a turnover for four games, the Sooners have become turnover machines during the final stretch of the season so far. OU forced two fumbles on Saturday and cornerback Eli Bowen returned an interception for an 87-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
The Sooners began four drives on the Crimson Tide's side of the 50, which ultimately resulted in 13 points, not counting Bowen's pick-6. Late in the third quarter, Taylor Wein sacked Bama quarterback Ty Simpson and forced a fumble, which Kendal Daniels recovered on the Crimson Tide's 28-yard line. That turnover resulted in the field goal that ultimately won the Sooners the game.
“Yeah, I mean, they give us a spark whenever we need it," Mateer said. “They didn’t get a whole lot of turnovers at the beginning of the year, but the football Gods loved them back because of how hard they play. I love those guys and I’m so proud of them.”