Alabama Stuns Oklahoma With Historic Comeback, Eyes Rose Bowl Clash With No. 1 Indiana
The Alabama Crimson Tide just reminded the college football world why you never count them out-especially in December.
Down 17-0 on the road in Norman, Alabama looked like it was headed for an early playoff exit. But instead of folding, the Crimson Tide roared back to life, piecing together one of the most remarkable comebacks in College Football Playoff history.
The result? A 34-24 win over the Oklahoma Sooners that not only kept Alabama’s title hopes alive but also etched their name into the record books once again.
With the victory, Alabama became the first road team to win a College Football Playoff game. Sure, this is only the fifth time first-round games have been hosted on campus, but leave it to the Tide to be the ones to break through. That’s just what they do-make history when the lights are brightest.
For Oklahoma, the loss adds another chapter to a frustrating postseason narrative. The Sooners are now 0-5 all-time in the CFP, a tough pill to swallow for a program that’s consistently found itself in the playoff conversation over the last decade but has yet to break through.
But the story here is Alabama-and what comes next.
Tide Turning at the Right Time
This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.
Alabama didn’t just survive-they imposed their will in the second half against a team that had already beaten them earlier this year. And while the Tide didn’t look like themselves in their SEC Championship loss to Georgia, this performance in Norman felt more like the Alabama we’re used to seeing in December and January.
They’ve got momentum. They’ve got confidence. And they’ve got a roster built to make a deep run.
That’s where things get interesting.
Next Stop: Pasadena
Alabama now advances to face the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl on January 1. And while Indiana has been in the playoff picture before, this is their first time entering as the No. 1 overall seed-uncharted waters for a program that’s still relatively new to this level of national prominence.
The Rose Bowl will be a neutral-site showdown, but make no mistake: Alabama has been here before. The Tide know how to navigate the postseason.
Indiana? We’re about to find out.
Can the Tide Keep Rolling?
If Alabama pulls off another upset and knocks off Indiana, they’ll move on to the Peach Bowl to face the winner of Texas Tech’s quadrant. That could mean a matchup with the Red Raiders, the Oregon Ducks, or the James Madison Dukes.
And here’s where recent history might work in Alabama’s favor.
Last season, every team that won a first-round playoff game went on to beat a higher-seeded opponent in the national quarterfinals. Oregon, Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State all fell in that round-each of them coming off a first-round bye. It’s a trend that suggests momentum might matter more than seeding in this new playoff format.
A New Season, A Familiar Threat
Alabama entered the playoff as the No. 9 seed, but they don’t look like an underdog anymore. They look like a team that’s playing its best football at the right time. And in a tournament where every game is win-or-go-home, that’s often the most dangerous kind of team.
Yes, the top four seeds-Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech-earned their spots. And yes, the road ahead for Alabama is steep. But they’ve already proven they can win on the road, against a team that had their number earlier in the year, in a hostile environment.
Now they get a shot at the No. 1 seed on one of college football’s grandest stages.
One thing’s for sure: Alabama isn’t just happy to be here. They’re coming for more.