Alabama Rally Tops Oklahoma to Reach CFP Rose Bowl Against Indiana

Alabama came from 17 points down to defeat Oklahoma 34-24 in the College Football Playoff semifinal, earning a spot in the Rose Bowl against No. 1 Indiana in Pasadena next week. The game opened with a long Oklahoma surge, and Alabama’s offense struggled to gain traction in the first half, but the Tide staged a dramatic comeback to keep its title hopes alive.

Oklahoma sprinted to a 17-0 lead behind quarterback John Mateer, but the Tide answered as the game progressed. Alabama mounted a late first-half push with Ty Simpson connecting with Lotzeir Brooks for a touchdown and Conor Talty adding a 35-yard field goal to trim the deficit. The turning point arrived when Mateer threw a poorly read pass that Alabama defensive back Zabien Brown returned 50 yards for a pick-six, tying the game at 17-17 just before halftime. Alabama, which had -3 rushing yards in the first half, used the momentum to carry into the second half.

The Tide continued its surge after halftime. Alabama took the lead in the third quarter when Brooks caught his second touchdown, and Talty added another field goal to push the advantage to 27-17 by the end of the period. Deion Burks provided Oklahoma’s remaining hope with a late touchdown, drawing the Sooners within three, but the ensuing Oklahoma drive stalled, and Alabama pulled away as the Sooners misfired on several late chances.

Oklahoma had outgained Alabama by more than 100 yards, but it was the turnovers and failed late chances that doomed the Sooners. Mateer finished with 307 passing yards and two touchdowns, yet the costly interception and the stalled late drives loomed large. Sandell, the Lou Groza Award winner, missed two late field goals, a 36-yarder that sailed wide left in windy conditions and a 51-yarder that came up short on the final drive.

Alabama’s offense found a spark in the second half, with Simpson directing efficient drives and the Tide’s run game finding traction as the clock wore down. Simpson completed a productive night with 232 passing yards and two touchdowns, and Daniel Hill broke a late long run after several Sooners missed tackles, helping seal the victory.

The win advances Alabama to the Rose Bowl, where it will face Indiana, a team that has yielded 24 or fewer points in every game this season and allowed only 20 points across its past three contests. The victory also adds a bit of CFP history to the season: it marks only the second time a team has climbed back from a 17-point deficit to win in CFP play. Oklahoma, which has now appeared in the playoff five times without a win, saw its bid end despite a strong statistical outing.