By: Ethan Horner (Photo/Sabri Haidar- The Mojo Network)
Oklahoma opened its first-ever home playoff game with complete control, forcing three straight three-and-outs from the Alabama offense while the John Mateer–led Sooners marched down the field on three consecutive scoring drives. All week, the storyline surrounding the game centered on whether Mateer was finally back to full health—and from the opening kick, it was clear he was. Mateer showed zip on his throws, welcomed contact, and made plays with his legs, looking every bit of a quarterback at 100 percent.
Mateer capped Oklahoma’s opening surge with an eight-yard rushing touchdown on a designed quarterback keeper. He was highly effective through the first quarter and a half, throwing for 133 yards and a touchdown as the Sooners raced out to a 17–0 lead.
Alabama finally found its footing midway through the second quarter. Facing a crucial fourth-and-two, Ty Simpson connected with Lotzeir Brooks for a 10-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 17–7. Momentum quickly swung in Alabama’s favor as the Crimson Tide defense forced a turnover on the ensuing possession, then blocked a punt to set up shop at Oklahoma’s 42-yard line. Alabama capitalized with a 35-yard field goal, trimming the lead to 17–10.
The defining moment of the half came just before the break. With 50 seconds remaining, Zabien Brown jumped a pass from Mateer, intercepted it, and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, completing a stunning Alabama comeback and tying the game at 17–17 heading into halftime after trailing 17–0 earlier.
Both offenses stalled on their opening drives of the second half, but a personal foul on an Oklahoma punt return gave Alabama excellent field position on its second possession of the third quarter. Simpson once again found Brooks, this time for a 30-yard touchdown, giving Alabama its first lead of the game at 24–17. The Crimson Tide defense followed with one of its strongest series of the night, sacking Mateer twice to force a three-and-out. Alabama responded with a methodical nine-play, 4:56 drive that ended in a 40-yard field goal, extending the lead to 27–17.
Oklahoma refused to fold. Early in the fourth quarter, Mateer delivered a perfect 37-yard strike to Deion Burks for a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 27–24. The Sooner defense then stepped up, forcing a punt after sacking Simpson on third-and-11.
Once again, Alabama’s defense answered, forcing a three-and-out and giving the offense the ball at Oklahoma’s 40-yard line. Germie Bernard hauled in a spectacular 24-yard catch to set up a six-yard rushing touchdown by Daniel Hill, pushing Alabama’s lead to 33–24 with 7:24 remaining.
Oklahoma attempted one final push, but the comeback hopes were dashed when kicker Tate Sandell missed a 36-yard field goal—his first miss since his opening attempt of the season.
With the victory, Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide secured their first playoff win of the post–Nick Saban era and will advance to the Rose Bowl to face the nation’s top-ranked team, the Indiana Hoosiers. After falling behind 17–0 in a hostile environment, Alabama never flinched, delivering a statement comeback on one of college football’s biggest stages.