Ty Simpson passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns and ninth-seeded Alabama used a 17-point deficit to beat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 on Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
“I just couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “Resilience. That's been kind of the theme all season, but it came out today on the road. Down 17, coming back, we scored one goal at a time – just really stayed the course.”
Alabama freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who didn't score a touchdown during the regular season, scored two times and had a season-high of five catches and 79 yards.
This was the third meeting of the schools in 13 months. Oklahoma crushed Alabama 24-3 last November at home and then beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 last month on the road.
DeBoer earned his first playoff win for the Crimson Tide since arriving from Washington two years ago. Alabama (11-3) advanced to play No. 1 Indiana and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in a quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Oklahoma's John Mateer passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw a costly interception and Alabama's Zabien Brown returned the ball 50 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Deion Burks had seven catches for 107 yards and a score for the Sooners (10-3).
“It was a really good game with some really great moments for the Sooners,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “And obviously there were some really untimely moments as well: the practice, the game, everything that has helped us be successful all year. Tonight, when we needed it the most, we just didn't have what it takes.”
Oklahoma's Tate Sandell, winner of the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker, set the FBS single-season record for field goals of 50 yards or more with his eighth. He kicked it 51 yards into a strong wind to give the Sooners a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter, his 24th straight field goal.
The Sooners outscored the Crimson Tide 118 to 12 in the first period, and the dominance continued into the second quarter. Mateer's six-yard pass to Isaiah Sategna extended Oklahoma's lead to 17-0.
Alabama, which was three-and-out on its first three possessions, finally got its offense going midway through the second quarter when Simpson hit Brooks for a 10-yard score to cut Oklahoma's lead to 17-7. Later in the quarter, Brown's interception return tied the game at 17.
Brooks caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Simpson early in the third quarter to give Alabama its first lead. The Crimson Tide took a 27-17 advantage on Conor Talty's 40-yard field goal, ending Alabama's streak of 27 straight points.
“I had no doubts at all,” Simpson said. “I mean, the guys we have, the players, the coaches. Like, 17 is nothing, I mean, it's nothing for us. Give us the ball, we'll go down, do what we do.”
Burks caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mateer on two plays in the fourth quarter, cutting Alabama's lead to 27–24.
With Alabama up 34-24, Sandell missed from 36 yards out with just under three minutes left to end his run. He missed again from 51 yards with just over a minute to play.
Sandell's missed field goals weren't the only problem the Sooners faced on special teams.
All-SEC punter Grayson Miller fumbled in the second quarter and his putback punt was blocked by Tim Keenan III, setting up the Crimson Tide deep in Oklahoma territory. Talty kicked a field goal to cut Oklahoma's lead to 17–10.
Oklahoma received temporary support from 50 Cent.
Rapper performed his 2003 hit Many Men (Wish Death). between the third and fourth quarter. The Earlyers have used it as a promotional song in recent weeks. Two plays later, Mather connected with Burks for a touchdown.
