UPDATE: In a thrilling comeback, the No. 9 seed Alabama Crimson Tide surged past the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners, clinching a 34-24 victory Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff. After trailing by 17 points, Alabama will now face unbeaten No. 1 seed Indiana and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2024.
Quarterback Ty Simpson threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns, leading the charge for Alabama. Freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who had not scored during the regular season, emerged as a star with two touchdowns and a career-high 79 yards on five receptions.
The game marked Alabama’s first playoff appearance under head coach Kalen DeBoer, who joined from Washington two years ago. This win is particularly significant as Alabama had lost to Oklahoma twice in the past 13 months—first in November (24-3) and again last month (23-21).
Alabama’s resilience was on full display after a shaky start. Oklahoma’s John Mateer passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns, but his critical interception late in the second quarter was returned 50 yards for a touchdown by Zabien Brown, tying the game at 17-17. The Sooners had initially surged to a 17-0 lead, with Mateer connecting on a 6-yard touchdown to Isaiah Sategna and kicker Tate Sandell hitting a 51-yard field goal, setting an FBS record for the most made field goals of 50 or more yards in a season.
As the second half unfolded, Alabama took control. Simpson’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Brooks put Alabama ahead for the first time at 21-17. A subsequent 40-yard field goal by Conor Talty extended their lead to 27-17.
Oklahoma fought back, with Burks catching a 37-yard touchdown pass, narrowing the gap to 27-24 early in the fourth quarter. However, missed opportunities plagued the Sooners, as Sandell failed to convert a 36-yard attempt, ending his perfect streak, and later missed a 51-yarder that could have shifted momentum.
“Alabama stayed focused and played mistake-free ball after a rocky start,” an analyst noted. “They scored the next 27 points after falling behind 17-0, showcasing their resilience.”
As Alabama prepares for their upcoming clash with Indiana, fans and analysts alike are eager to see if the Crimson Tide can maintain their momentum against the top-seeded Hoosiers. This matchup promises to be a defining moment for Alabama’s playoff aspirations.
Stay tuned as we continue to provide updates on this developing story and more exciting playoff action.
