NORMAN, Okla. — In a half that felt like two entirely different games, No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma are deadlocked at 17-17 as they head into the locker room at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The first round of the College Football Playoff has already delivered on its promise of high-stakes drama, with the Crimson Tide scoring 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to silence a raucous Norman crowd.
A Dominant Start for the Sooners
For the first 20 minutes of play, it appeared Oklahoma was on the verge of a blowout. Following their regular-season upset of the Tide in November, the Sooners looked like they had Alabama’s number once again.
Quarterback John Mateer opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run, capping off a drive where he consistently found soft spots in the Alabama secondary. Oklahoma’s defence was equally stifling early on, forcing Ty Simpson and the Tide offence into three consecutive three-and-outs. When Tate Sandell drilled a 51-yard field goal late in the first quarter, and Mateer later connected with Isaiah Sategna III for a 7-yard touchdown pass, the Sooners held a commanding 17-0 lead.
The Momentum Shifts
The turning point came midway through the second quarter. Alabama finally found its rhythm on a 75-yard drive, highlighted by a resurgent Ty Simpson. Facing a critical fourth-and-two, Simpson found freshman Lotzeir Brooks for a 10-yard touchdown strike. It was Brooks’ first career touchdown, and it provided the spark the Crimson Tide desperately needed.
The Tide’s special teams and defence then took over, capitalising on back-to-back catastrophic errors by Oklahoma:
- The Blocked Punt: With just over four minutes left in the half, Oklahoma punter Grayson Miller fumbled a snap. Alabama’s Tim Keenan III broke through the line to block the eventual kick, giving the Tide possession at the Oklahoma 30-yard line. This set up a 35-yard Conor Talty field goal to cut the lead to 17-10.
- The Pick-Six: The loudest silence in Norman occurred with 1:18 remaining. On a quick out-route intended for the sideline, Mateer threw behind his receiver. Alabama defensive back Zabien Brown read the play perfectly, jumping the route and racing 50 yards untouched for a game-tying touchdown.
By the Numbers
Despite the tie score, the stat sheet reflects the “up-and-down” nature of the half described by analysts.
| Statistic | Alabama | Oklahoma |
| Total Yards | 100 | 236 |
| Passing Yards | 103 | 186 |
| Rushing Yards | -3 | 50 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Mateer finished the half 16-of-24 for 186 yards, while Simpson rebounded from a 0-for-3 start to finish with 103 yards and a touchdown. The Tide’s rushing attack, however, remains a concern, entering the break with negative yardage for the second consecutive game.
What’s at Stake
The winner of tonight’s matchup earns a trip to face No. 1 Indiana in the next round. Alabama is scheduled to receive the ball to start the second half, looking to complete what would be one of the largest comebacks in CFP history.