DeBoer, Simpson Discuss Ball Security After Loss to Oklahoma

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - For the fifth consecutive game, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was the victim of a sack-fumble on offense, dating back to Alabama's 27-24 victory over Missouri on October 11. It hadn't cost Alabama a game until Saturday evening against the Sooners, where Alabama was -3 in the turnover category, leading to the Crimson Tide's defeat at the hands of the Oklahoma Sooners, 23-21.

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In addition to his fumble, Ty Simpson threw a pick to Oklahoma defensive back Eli Bowen, who returned the interception 87 yards to give the Sooners a 10-0 lead early in the first quarter. Simpson's turnovers weren't the only ones, with wide receiver Ryan Williams fumbling a punt return inside Alabama's 30-yard line, which set up Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer for a 20-yard score to give the Sooners a 17-7 lead.

Coming into the game, Alabama had only turned the ball over six times this season, and the three turnovers tonight cost the Crimson Tide the game. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and quarterback Ty Simpson both said the Tide needed to do a better job taking care of the football.

"Yeah, it's with the pressure they brought, he's got to get rid of it and be OK with throwing it away. You can only hold on so long and feel like, with the blitz they had, you're gonna get overwhelmed and outnumbered. You just got to understand the situation," DeBoer said after Alabama's 23-21 loss to Oklahoma. "I know it's third down. He wants to stay on the field. You just got to understand, your defense is playing pretty good, too, and you just got to live with punting once in a while."

"They brought some stuff that we hadn’t seen before,” Simpson said. “I got to do a better job of taking care of the ball. I think we all need to do a better job of taking care of the ball on offense because that’s what killed us. I don’t think they had any turnovers. We had three.”

Simpson's interception to Bowen was just the second he's thrown this season. He threw a second interception in the redzone during the second quarter, but a pass interference call on the Sooners wiped it off the board. Alabama would finish the drive with a one-yard rushing score by Daniel Hill.

Alabama fell to 8-2 on the season and 6-1 in SEC play with the loss to Oklahoma. Alabama's next game will be next Saturday, November 22, against Eastern Illinois.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.