Norman, Oklahoma — No. 9 seed Alabama erased a 17-point deficit to defeat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 on Friday night, punching its ticket to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals with a resilient road victory.
Quarterback Ty Simpson threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks delivered a breakout performance, scoring twice after failing to find the end zone during the regular season.
Crimson Tide Advance Under DeBoer
The win marked Alabama’s first College Football Playoff appearance under head coach Kalen DeBoer, who arrived from Washington two years ago. The Crimson Tide improved to 11-3 and will now face No. 1 seed Indiana and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in a quarterfinal matchup at the Rose Bowl on January 1.
Oklahoma Dominates Early
Oklahoma looked firmly in control early, racing to a 17-0 lead behind quarterback John Mateer, who finished with 307 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Sooners outgained Alabama 118-12 in the first quarter, setting the tone with an explosive start.
Kicker Tate Sandell, the Lou Groza Award winner, added to Oklahoma’s momentum by drilling a 51-yard field goal into a stiff wind, tying an FBS single-season record with his 24th made field goal of 50 yards or longer.
Mateer then connected with Isaiah Sategna on a 6-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 17-0.
Momentum Shifts in Second Quarter
Alabama finally responded midway through the second quarter when Simpson hit Brooks for a 10-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 17-7. Moments later, the game turned dramatically when Zabien Brown intercepted Mateer and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, tying the game before halftime.
Brooks Sparks Second-Half Surge
Brooks continued his breakout night early in the third quarter, hauling in a 30-yard touchdown reception to give Alabama its first lead of the game. The Crimson Tide extended the margin to 27-17 on a 40-yard field goal by Conor Talty.
Oklahoma briefly clawed back when Deion Burks caught a 37-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, trimming the deficit to 27-24. Burks finished with seven receptions for 107 yards and a score.
Missed Opportunities Seal Oklahoma’s Fate
The Sooners had chances to tie or retake the lead, but Sandell’s remarkable streak ended with a missed 36-yard field goal under three minutes remaining. He later missed again from 51 yards with 1:18 left, allowing Alabama to close out the game.
The Crimson Tide sealed the victory by scoring 27 unanswered points after falling behind 17-0, showcasing composure and discipline in a hostile environment.
Key Takeaways
Alabama: The Crimson Tide stayed poised despite a sluggish start, avoided costly mistakes, and dominated after gaining momentum in the second quarter.
Oklahoma: Mateer played efficiently for much of the night, but his second-quarter interception proved costly and shifted the game’s momentum permanently.
