Alabama Defensive Coordinator Kane Wommack Highlights Turnover Battle Versus Oklahoma

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama lost to Oklahoma on November 15, 23-21, in a matchup that decided the location of Alabama's first-round playoff game in the College Football Playoff. If Alabama had won that game against Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide would likely host a playoff game in Bryant-Denny Stadium this weekend. Instead, Alabama lost three turnovers (pick-six, strip sack, muffed punt) that gave Oklahoma 17 of the Sooners' 23 points scored against Alabama in November.

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Alabama will now travel to Norman, Oklahoma, for the first round of the College Football Playoffs in a rematch of last month's loss in Tuscaloosa - the first home loss of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama. Defensively, the Crimson Tide is one of the top defenses in the country in forcing turnovers, with 19 turnovers forced on the season (31st in the nation), but did not force any in the loss to Oklahoma. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack emphasized the Tide's desire to force turnovers and help out the offense, which has sputtered over the final month of the season.

"We want to create takeaways. If you look at the game against Oklahoma the first time - really in every marker, we tried to say, hey, we got to go out-play their defense. They do a tremendous job," Wommack said, "and in really pretty much every marker, we were able to do that with the exception of taking the ball off them. They took the ball off us three times, and we didn't take the ball away, and that really was the difference in the game.

"Those are the things we're trying to push and press, and sometimes they come in bunches. I think our players are doing as good of a job as they ever have in trying to create takeaways, trying to punch the ball. We talk about shots on goal. Shots on ball. That's ultimately what's going to create takeaways. It's effort and physicality, and a sense of its different when you approach a ball carrier thinking, OK, let me just get this guy on the ground, versus I'm trying to take the ball off of him. I think we've got a number of guys that are doing that, but it's got to show up on game day. We cannot walk out of that game minus-3 in the turnover margin again."

Safety Bray Hubbard leads Alabama in forced turnovers with four interceptions and three forced fumbles. Linebacker Deontae Lawson and defensive lineman Tim Keenan III lead the way with two fumble recoveries apiece.

Alabama will face Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday, December 19. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT.

Our coverage of the first round of the College Football Playoff between Alabama and Oklahoma is brought to you by Pearl River Resort and the Sportsbook at Golden Moon Casino.

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_.