Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson excelled in his debut without injured running back Jamaal Miller. In their first half-back Lotzeir Brooks caught two touchdown passes thrown by Ty.
After Oklahoma took an initial 17-7 lead midway through the second quarter, Alabama came storming back with 27 consecutive points scored to put away any potential potential upsets.
Get complete Alabama Crimson Tide Football Vs Oklahoma Sooners Football Match Player Stats, including key player performances, match highlights, scoring plays, and detailed analysis from the College Football Playoff showdown.
| Rank | Match Date & Event | Result | Key Alabama Players (Stats) | Key Oklahoma Players (Stats) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 29, 2018 – Orange Bowl | Alabama 45–34 Oklahoma | Jalen Hurts: rushing TD; Tua Tagovailoa: 3 TD passes, 318 pass yds; Josh Jacobs: rushing TD | Kyler Murray: 308 pass yds, 2 pass TD, 109 rush yds; Marquise Brown: 8 rec, 114 yds |
| 2 | Jan 2, 2014 – Sugar Bowl | Oklahoma 45–31 Alabama | AJ McCarron: 387 pass yds, 2 TD; Trevor Knight: defensive pressure vs Tide | Trevor Knight: 348 pass yds, 4 TD; Samaje Perine: rushing TD |
| 3 | Sep 7, 2002 | Oklahoma 37–27 Alabama | Tyler Watts: QB play; Shaud Williams: rushing contribution | Jason White: key passing performance; Renaldo Works: rushing impact |
| 4 | Sep 6, 2003 | Oklahoma 20–13 Alabama | Brodie Croyle: passing yards; Shaud Williams: rushing yards | Jason White: efficient passing; Adrian Peterson: rushing impact |
| 5 | Nov 23, 2024 – Regular Season | Oklahoma 24–3 Alabama | Jalen Milroe: passing/rushing workload; Jam Miller: rushing contribution | Jackson Arnold: QB contribution; Oklahoma defense: forced turnovers |
| 6 | Nov 15, 2025 – Regular Season | Oklahoma 23–21 Alabama | Ty Simpson: passing yards; Daniel Hill: rushing production | John Mateer: passing/rushing impact; Oklahoma defense: key turnovers |
| 7 | Dec 19, 2025 – CFP First Round | Alabama 34–24 Oklahoma | Ty Simpson: 3,567 season pass yds leader; Germie Bernard: receiving production | John Mateer: QB play; Oklahoma defensive unit: pressure and stops |
| 8 | 1963 – First Meeting Era Matchup | Oklahoma win | Alabama defense-focused game | Oklahoma running attack controlled play |
| 9 | Historic Series Matchups | Oklahoma leads series | Alabama stars across different eras | Oklahoma legends including quarterbacks and running backs |
| 10 | Modern SEC Era Battles | Competitive series | Alabama passing attacks led by elite QBs | Oklahoma’s explosive offense and defensive plays |
Tate Sandell
Alabama scored 27 straight points after an inauspicious start and defeated No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 Friday night to advance to face No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on January 1.
Early on, Oklahoma outgained Alabama decisively and scored three of four possessions before quarterback John Mateer fumbled late in the second quarter; an interception by Alabama’s Deion Burks helped set up a touchdown for Sooners.
Alabama began to gain momentum in the third quarter, as freshman Lotzeir Brooks scored two touchdowns from Ty Simpson – including a 30-yarder that put Alabama ahead – during three consecutive drives, leading them back within striking distance of Oklahoma’s 12-yard offense on three drives, but failed to convert any points with five minutes remaining when Lou Groza Award winner Tate Sandell missed his 51-yard field goal attempt. Oklahoma tried hard to come back, but its offense could only muster 12 yards total on its final three drives before finally giving way under three minutes later when Tate Sandell missed his 51 yarder attempt.
Sandell is an impressive kicker who demonstrated strong leg strength and good “pop” at Kohl’s National Scholarship Camp in July 2021. With the ability to make big kicks and an impressive track record as a punter, he represents an invaluable threat for Oklahoma, standing among top-tier kickers at Power 5 level – giving any program in America an advantage when selecting their starting kickers.
John Mateer
After an uncertain start, No. 9 Alabama outscored No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 on Friday night in the first round of College Football Playoffs. Ty Simpson passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns while Lotzeir Brooks posted career highs of five catches for 79 yards as the Crimson Tide advanced to face No. 1 Indiana at Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
Alabama struggled early, managing only 12 yards on its initial three possessions and not recording a first down until trailing 17-0 midway through the second quarter. But Alabama quickly turned around after Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer made an unwise throw that lead to an interception by Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Mateer attempted to throw to former Washington State star Xavier Robinson downfield but missed. Moments later, Mateer escaped his pocket and found wide-open Zabien Brown downfield but the safety quickly picked off the pass for an easy pick-6 play.
Oklahoma responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Simpson to Brooks that cut Alabama’s lead down to 10-7 at halftime. But Alabama capitalized on Oklahoma special teams mistakes – punter Grayson Miller dropped his snap resulting in blocked punt and field goal from Tate Sandell of Alabama – to score.
Oklahoma attempted numerous short passes during the second half, yet were unable to achieve any success. They only converted one out of seven third-down attempts in this half and lost three times on fourth down.
With their win, Alabama avenged last year’s 23-21 loss in Norman. Although Oklahoma fielded a solid team, their offense simply could not match that of Alabama – whether the Sooners turn back to transfer market for another quarterback or stick with Mike Hawkins as their starter, their ceiling as a team will always depend on its offensive potential.
Deion Burks
Detroit native and Belleville High School product Jalen Thomas caught 151 passes for 1,669 yards with 14 touchdowns during college. Additionally, at the 2025 NFL Combine he ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash, which was fifth fastest among wide receivers.
Thomas is known as an adept route runner who can create their own separation on short routes; crafty after catch and possessing big play ability are just among his many strengths in passing game play.
Fifth-year slot receiver DeAndre Harris made an immediate impact during his first season with Alabama. A compact receiver with strong hands and quick release, he excels against zone coverage while running deep strike patterns with good deep strike patterns. But against man coverage he sometimes struggles and requires further coaching or route work in those areas.
Alabama rallied from an ugly start to defeat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 in the College Football Playoff opener Friday night in Norman. Freshman Lotzeir Brooks scored twice for Alabama as they battled back from 17-point deficit and advanced to Rose Bowl against No. 1 Indiana.
Oklahoma managed only 212 yards total offense while John Mateer threw an interception that Zabien Brown returned for 50-yard touchdown return – yet still managed three Alabama turnovers during game play!
| Team | Player | Position | Match Performance / Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Crimson Tide | Jalen Milroe | QB | 11/26 passing, 164 yards, 3 interceptions; struggled against Oklahoma defense |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | Jam Miller | RB | 12 carries, 45 rushing yards; led Alabama rushing attack |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | Germie Bernard | WR | 4 receptions, 60 receiving yards; top Alabama receiver in the game |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | Jamarion Miller | RB | Key rushing option during 2024 season; finished season with 668 rushing yards and 7 TDs |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | Justice Haynes | RB | 443 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns during 2024 season |
| Alabama Crimson Tide | Tyler Simpson | QB | Backup QB; recorded 167 passing yards during 2024 season |
Zabien Brown
Ty Simpson passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns as No. 9 Alabama recovered from an inauspicious start to defeat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 in the 2025 College Football Playoff first round Friday night at Norman, Okla. Lotzeir Brooks recorded five catches for 79 yards during this win while Deion Burks caught seven passes for 107. With this win, Alabama advances to face No. 1 Indiana at Rose Bowl on Jan 1.
Alabama managed only 12 yards on its initial three possessions and wasn’t able to record its first down until midway through the second quarter when trailing 17-0.
But then its offense changed its tune as Ty Simpson completed a nine-play, 75-yard drive by throwing Brooks a 10-yard touchdown pass and capitalizing on Oklahoma punter Grayson Miller dropping the snap, leading to blocked punt and field goal attempts from Oklahoma punter Grayson Miller;
Alabama then capitalized on special teams miscues as Oklahoma punter Grayson Miller dropped the snap, resulting in blocked punt and field goal attempts from Alabama before Mateer threw long pass straight at Brown who returned it 50 yards for another touchdown return score tied 17-17 at halftime despite only total 100 total yards and negative-3 rushing yards from Alabama’s total 100 total yards with negative 3 rushing yards vs Oklahoma punter Grayson Miller, forcing Oklahoma punter Grayson Miller into dropping snapping snap and therefore forfeiting field goal attempts and tied the game at 17-17 at halftime despite Alabama having only 100 total yards and negative-3 rushing yards and Oklahoma having more punters and blocking punter Grayson Miller dropping snapping, leading directly into blocked punter Grayson Miller dropping snap, blocking punt leading directly into blocked punter Grayson Miller dropping snapping snap, blocking punt and field goal returns to equalization at halftime against 100 total yards and negative-3 punter Grayson Miller dropped snap;
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Oklahoma punter Grayson Miller dropping snap which resulted. blocked off punting. On next possession, forcing Grayson Miller dropping snap lead blocking it, blocked off punting before throwing long pass which returned 50 yards back which Mateer throwing long pass straight towards Brown who returned the kick and made amending misfire due to Oklahoma punting into kick returning into field goal with 100 total yards with zero. But Oklahoma having more punting punting returning his snap which allowed allowing blocked punt against Mateer throwing long pass directly towards Brown who returned 50 yard before passing it off leading off which allowed Oklahoma punter Grayson Miller dropping and punting off punted leading off which allowed them off, followed up on then throwing which led directs off who dropped snap allowing Oklahoma punting blocking as his punt thus scoring to play.
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Brown delivered a game-changing defensive performance against Oklahoma, forcing a fumble in the third quarter and finishing with four tackles, including one tackle for loss and a pass breakup. His impact became one of the key moments in the Alabama Crimson Tide Football Vs Oklahoma Sooners Football Match Player Stats, as his defensive efforts helped Alabama control important situations during the postseason matchup.
| Category | Alabama Crimson Tide | Oklahoma Sooners |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 3 | 24 |
| Total Yards | 234 yards | 325 yards |
| Passing Yards | 164 yards | 68 yards |
| Rushing Yards | 70 yards | 257 yards |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of Possession | 25:49 | 34:11 |
| Result | Lost | Won |
| Key Moment | Alabama struggled offensively and failed to score after the first quarter | Oklahoma controlled the ground game and created defensive pressure |
