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Initially off to a sluggish start, momentum seems to be favoring Alabama now.
In Friday’s opening round of the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide staged an impressive rally, overturning a 17-point deficit against Oklahoma. They completed their first-half resurgence with a crucial pick-six just before the halftime whistle.
Alabama’s defensive back, Zabien Brown, snagged an interception at midfield off a pass from Sooners’ quarterback John Mateer and sprinted to the end zone, scoring with a little over a minute remaining in the second quarter.
Oklahoma started the game with intensity, as Mateer rushed for a touchdown late in the first quarter, putting the Sooners on the board first.
The Sooners extended their lead with a 51-yard field goal, followed by a touchdown pass from Mateer to wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III. Their defense managed to keep Alabama scoreless until the midpoint of the second quarter.
Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson then finally broke through for Alabama, throwing a short TD pass to Lotzeir Brooks with just under seven minutes left in the half.
Alabama scored again five minutes later after a 35-yard field goal kick.
Mateer was strong for Oklahoma in the first half, completing 16-of-24 passes with 186 yards, and Sooners receiver Deion Burks led all wideouts with 68 receiving yards on five catches.
The 21-year-old quarterback has had a roller-coaster season for Oklahoma, starting the season in the Heisman Trophy conversation, then undergoing hand surgery — and later returning from that surgery in just a month.
Ahead of Friday’s game, Mateer said he was able to reflect a lot on his season, having a mental reset before the CFP.
“It’s been a lot of self-scout,” Mateer said, per News 9. “A lot of looking at stuff we were good at, stuff that we struggled at, stuff other teams know.
“Just getting better every day.”
