Oklahoma beats Alabama 45-31 in Sugar Bowl

Brett Martel, AP Sports Writer

New Orleans (AP) — Trevor Knight passed for 348 yards and four touchdowns and No.11 Oklahoma took down third-ranked Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, 45-31 on Thursday night.

Knight's completion percentage entering the game was 52.2. He had completed 47 passes all season, and had 32 against Alabama to set a Sugar Bowl record.

The victory was a sweet one for Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who last offseason called talk about the Southeastern Conference being the best league in college football "propaganda."

His team vanquished an Alabama squad that had been ranked No. 1 much of the past three seasons, winning the previous two national titles.

AJ McCarron passed for 387 yards and two TDs, but his two interceptions set up Oklahoma TDs, and his fumble, returned for a score in the final minute, sealed 'Bama's first two-game skid since its Sugar Bowl loss to Utah in January 2009.

The Sugar Bowl's 80th edition marked the first in which both quarterbacks passed for 300-plus yards.

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The Gayly – January 2, 2014 @ 11:30pm