NORMAN, Okla. — In an exciting matchup, Alabama’s Ty Simpson threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns, helping the No. 9 seed Crimson Tide come from behind to defeat No. 8 Oklahoma, 34-24, in the College Football Playoff’s first round. Alabama’s rally from a 17-point deficit highlighted their resilience, a hallmark of their season, noted head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who hadn’t scored during the regular season, stepped up with two touchdowns and a career-high five catches for 79 yards. This was the third game between these two teams in just over a year. Oklahoma had previously bested Alabama 24-3 and 23-21 in their last two meetings.
Alabama’s victory marked DeBoer’s first playoff win since joining from Washington two years ago. With this win, Alabama (11-3) will face No. 1 seed Indiana and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza in the Rose Bowl on January 1.
For Oklahoma, quarterback John Mateer threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns but also had a crucial interception that led to a touchdown for Alabama. Despite a strong performance by Deion Burks, who caught seven passes for 107 yards, the Sooners (10-3) couldn’t secure the win. Coach Brent Venables reflected on the team’s mixed performance, balancing moments of brilliance with critical errors.
Tate Sandell, awarded the Lou Groza Award for the best kicker, tied an FBS record by making his eighth field goal from 50-plus yards with a 51-yarder in the first quarter. This gave Oklahoma a 10-0 lead, and they later extended it to 17-0 with a touchdown pass from Mateer to Isaiah Sategna.
Alabama struggled initially, going three-and-out on their first three drives, but finally found their rhythm. Simpson connected with Brooks for a ten-yard touchdown, narrowing Oklahoma’s lead to 17-7. A pivotal interception by Zabien Brown turned the momentum, tying the game and kickstarting Alabama’s 27-point comeback.
Simpson’s confidence was evident when he stated, “17-nothing is nothing to us. Give us the ball, and we’ll do what we do.” This mindset propelled Alabama into the lead with a 30-yard touchdown pass shortly after halftime.
Oklahoma tightened the score late with a touchdown from Mateer to Burks, but it wasn’t enough to shift the game’s outcome. Sandell faced challenges towards the end, missing two field goals that could have helped his team.
Special teams proved to be a headache for Oklahoma, with punter Grayson Miller struggling after a blocked kick by Alabama. The atmosphere had its lighter moments too, featuring a performance by rapper 50 Cent between quarters, a song that has become a favorite for Sooner fans.
As the playoff progresses, Alabama’s comeback shows the importance of grit and focus, while Oklahoma will learn from these mistakes as they move forward.
AP College Football coverage continues to provide updates on this exciting postseason.
