No. 8 OU (8-2, 4-2 SEC) finds itself in the thick of the playoff conversation following a win over the No. 10 Alabama (8-2, 6-1).
The upset win over the Crimson Tide, fueled by a relentless defense, elevated OU from No.11 — the first team out due to five highest conference champions earning automatic bids — to No. 8 in the College Football Playoff rankings. With the Sooners fighting for the playoffs, several of their defenders have been put into the national spotlight.
Early on, with the Sooners up 3, Alabama marched down the field only to throw an interception into the hands of sophomore cornerback Eli Bowen. He burst down the sideline and took it the distance for an 87-yard pick-six, setting the tone for a defense-led win for OU.
Eli Bowen’s play contributed to three Sooner turnovers on the day and six in the last two games. With turnovers starting to come in bunches, Eli Bowen feels the flurry of takeaways is not luck.
“I think it’s more being intentional, just emphasizing it more,” Eli Bowen said.
In the past two games, Eli Bowen and his brother, junior defensive back Peyton, have each recorded an interception. Eli Bowen now has two interceptions while at OU, while Peyton has one.
While Eli Bowen is ahead in interceptions he said that the two have a brotherly competition going.
“There’s times when we joke about it,” Eli Bowen said. “I’m trying to stay up.”
Peyton Bowen has stepped into an expanded role his junior seasons, notching his first career interception and achieving the same number of tackles he had all of last year (33) in two less games. He showcased that growth late in the Alabama win, delivering the game-clinching pass breakup with two minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Sophomore Jaydan Hardy also made a big play for the defensive back room when he punched the ball loose on a punt return in the second quarter, stripping one of Alabama’s top receivers, sophomore Ryan Williams, who has 39 catches for 573 yards and four touchdowns on the season. Hardy also stepped into a bigger role against Alabama with a career-high four tackles. He has 10 tackles on the season, one interception and a forced fumble.
Head coach Brent Venables attributes Hardy’s success to hard work and coachability.
“He’s bought into the message,” Venables said. “With both success and some failure, he’s really become a reliable role player for us this year.”
The Sooners’ youth also showed glimpses in the secondary through sophomore cornerback Devon Jordan, who had a sack on Alabama junior quarterback Ty Simpson in the fourth quarter. With 11 minutes left in the game, Jordan blasted through the block of Alabama sophomore running back Daniel Hill and delivered. He has 10 tackles and one sack on the season following the win.
“That was the best play of the game, just (from a) physicality standpoint. … A corner is not supposed to make that play,” Eli Bowen said. “He’s come a long way the last couple games.”
Between Eli and Peyton Bowen, Hardy and Jordan, the Sooners feel proud of their depth in the defensive back room.
“(Venables) says the strength of this team is the team,” Hardy said. “That’s what we try to live by. Whenever (we) get a (chance) to go out there and represent the name on the front or back (of the jersey), (we) go out there and do it.”
Next, the Sooners will face Missouri (7-3, 3-3) at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on ABC.
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.
