2014 Sugar Bowl
The previous record of 16½ points was overcome just the day before in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl, won by the UCF Knights 52–42 over the Baylor Bears.
[4] Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight, who completed 32 of 44 passes for 4 touchdowns and 348 yards, was named the game's most valuable player.
However, the SEC champion played in the BCS National Championship Game every year from 2006 onward.
This streak continued when 2013 champion Auburn was selected to play in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game.
In choosing its At-Large participant, the Sugar Bowl committee bypassed #10 Oregon in favor of #11 Oklahoma.
The Sooners went 5–1 in the second half of the regular season, which culminated in a victory over Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Series.
The Sooners lost their previous Sugar Bowl appearance in 2004 in a 14–21 defeat to the Nick Saban coached LSU Tigers.
The Crimson Tide were the two-time defending national champions and had hopes for a three-peat entering the season.
[12] Ranked #1 in the preseason AP Poll, Alabama won their first 11 games of the season before losing to Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
McCarron was a Heisman Trophy finalist and came into the game with a 36–3 record, including two national championships.
On the first two plays of the game, A. J. McCarron completed passes of 15 and 53 yards to Amari Cooper to bring the Crimson Tide to Oklahoma's 6-yard line.
Oklahoma's Trevor Knight then connected with Lacoltan Bester for a 45-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 7-7.
[19] On following Alabama drive, McCarron completed a 63-yard pass to DeAndrew White to bring the Crimson Tide to Oklahoma's 10-yard line.
However, Alabama was unable to score a touchdown and settled for a 27-yard field goal from Cade Foster to make it a 10–7 game.
Oklahoma responded with a 13-play, 78 yard drive that ended in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Knight to Jalen Saunders to give the Sooners a 14–10 lead with 1:53 remaining in the quarter.
On the ensuing Sooners drive, Oklahoma tied the game 17–17 with a 47-yard field goal from Michael Hunnicutt.
Alabama had one more chance to score in the second quarter when the Crimson Tide drove to Oklahoma's 15-yard line.
However, placekicker Cade Foster missed a 32-yard field goal as time expired in the half and the score remained 31-17 going into halftime.
However, on a 3rd and 7 play at Oklahoma's 35-yard line, A. J. McCarron was sacked for a 14-yard loss, thus Alabama was forced punt with 3:19 remaining in the quarter.
Facing a 3rd and 15 situation, Trevor Knight connected with Lacoltan Bester for a 34-yard completion down to Alabama's 9-yard line.
Oklahoma then recovered the ball from a Nick Hodgson squib kick that bounced off an Alabama player, allowing them to run out the clock.
[22] at Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, Louisiana Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight was named the game's most valuable player.
Jalen Saunders was Oklahoma's second leading receiver, catching 5 passes for 75 yards and 2 touchdowns.
