NORMAN, Okla. – Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer lamented his team’s “uncharacteristic” mistakes in the aftermath of a 24-3 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday night, a loss that dealt a major blow to the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff hopes.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe threw three interceptions, and the Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC) never shook off a slow start against a Sooners defense that held Alabama to a season-low 70 rushing yards.

Relying on the legs of quarterback Jackson Arnold and freshman running back Xavier Robinson, Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5) gashed Alabama for 257 rushing yards en route to sealing bowl eligibility for the 26th consecutive season.

The Crimson Tide has three losses for the first time since 2010.

Alabama entered Week 13 in line to reach the SEC title game on Dec. 7 with wins over Oklahoma and Auburn over the final two weeks of the regular season. Instead, the Crimson Tide’s stumble helped No. 10 Georgia clinch a spot in the conference championship Saturday night and left Alabama’s path to the College Football Playoff on shaky ground. Even if the Crimson Tide beats Auburn in the Iron Bowl next weekend, Alabama will still need a lot of help from around the world to clinch a spot in the 12-team playoff field.

Coming off the program’s lowest scoring performance since 2004, DeBoer focused on the Crimson Tide’s early mistakes in a game he said “got away” from Alabama after halftime.

“We have to be better in every way,” DeBoer said. “There were some simple things, unusual things that happened early in the game where we didn’t get the momentum on our side, and really it comes down to the end of the first half (where) they scored a touchdown and the turnover was really a a little bit.” changing the momentum of the game there.”

It was a particularly tough night for Milroe. The junior went 11-for-26 for 164 yards passing and managed just 7 yards rushing on 15 attempts. Alabama trailed 10–3 early in the third quarter when Oklahoma cornerback Eli Bowen intercepted Milroe, setting up Robinson’s second touchdown run of the game four plays later. The Sooners’ lead grew to 24-3 on the ensuing possession, after Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis jumped Milroe’s throw to tight end Robbie Ouzts and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown.

Oklahoma’s 21-point lead marked Alabama’s largest deficit against an unranked opponent since 2003. The Crimson Tide picked up just five first downs and 80 total yards on Milroe’s consecutive picks. Milroe became the first Alabama quarterback to throw three interceptions in a game since 2015 on Woodi Washington’s interception with 6:53 remaining.

While Milroe struggled, DeBoer saw bigger problems in an offense that never recovered from a sloppy first half with punts on three of the Crimson Tide’s first four possessions.

“I think it felt like there were several things early on in the game – falls, balls that we lost in the light – several uncharacteristic things,” he said. “Weird things happened. I thought (Milroe) actually put the ball where it needed to be. We just had to help him out a little bit.”

Sooners coach Brent Venables said Oklahoma was the more “physical football team” on Saturday, and its offense proved that with 205 rushing yards in the first half, which was the most Alabama has allowed in a half since 2007. And the Crimson Tide continued to struggle with the Sooners’ rushing attack after halftime missed second-leading tackler Deontae Lawson. Alabama’s second-leading tackler was ruled out for the remainder of the game after leaving in the second quarter with a lower-body injury.

DeBoer did not provide an update on Lawson’s status after the game.

“Anytime you lose a great player like Deontae, it’s going to affect you,” DeBoer said. “His leadership. He’s the guy who makes a lot of decisions on the field. It seems like he’s always in control.”

Saturday’s stunning loss leaves the Crimson Tide’s postseason hopes in a precarious position entering the final week of the regular season. With Alabama no longer in control of those postseason aspirations ahead of an Iron Bowl visit to Auburn, the quarterback focused on moving forward late Saturday night.

“It’s all about the finish,” Milroe said. “We’ve got to get it done. There’s still so much left before the football season. We’ve got to get everyone together so they’re on the same page and can just keep competing. Every opportunity we have, we’ve just got to take it.”