Alabama’s Ground Game Faces Tall Task vs. Oklahoma - So It’s Time for Simpson to Take the Wheel
Don’t expect Alabama’s run game to suddenly find a second gear against Oklahoma. The numbers from their last meeting tell the story: 33 rushing attempts, just 80 total yards. That’s a grind-it-out 2.4 yards per carry - and not the kind of production you hang your hat on in December football.
Daniel Hill and Jam Miller combined for 24 of those carries, managing 87 yards between them. That’s a 3.1-yard average, which isn’t disastrous, but it’s also not the kind of efficiency Alabama typically leans on in big games.
Lotzeir Brooks chipped in one carry for two yards. And that was that.
Still, there’s no shortage of optimism coming out of Tuscaloosa. Head coach Kalen DeBoer and center Parker Brailsford are both talking like the run game is close to clicking. Brailsford pointed to how the offensive line handled Oklahoma’s movement up front, and he believes the backs can get to the second level - the kind of detail that shows confidence in the unit’s ability to adjust.
“There’s gonna be some things that we have to work on,” Brailsford said. “But definitely looking back at that game, I feel like we did a good job of handling the movement up front. And just being able to get up to the second level with our backs.”
If Brailsford’s right and Alabama’s backs start breaking through the first wave of defenders, that could be the difference. But that’s a big “if.”
Because if the run game stalls again, Alabama can’t afford to be stubborn about it. That’s where offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb comes in.
This Game Might Come Down to Simpson’s Arm
We’ve seen this script before. Ole Miss beat Oklahoma while averaging just 2.8 yards per carry - not exactly lighting it up on the ground. But the Rebels had two things going for them that Alabama doesn’t: tempo and a true dual-threat quarterback.
Ole Miss ran 87 plays in that game, keeping the Sooners’ defense on its heels. And quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was a problem on the ground, rushing for 4.4 yards per carry.
Alabama doesn’t run tempo often, and Jalen Milroe isn’t walking through that door. Simpson doesn’t bring the same threat with his legs, which means the Tide will need to win this game through the air.
Tennessee tried the ground-and-pound route against Oklahoma and came away with just 63 rushing yards - a 1.8-yard average. They still nearly pulled it off, losing 33-27, but turnovers killed them.
Oklahoma turned those mistakes into 13 points. That’s the margin right there.
So what does this mean for Alabama? It means the Tide can absolutely beat Oklahoma without cracking 100 yards on the ground - but only if Grubb gets creative.
Predictability is the enemy. If Oklahoma’s defense, led by Brent Venables, gets a read on what’s coming, they’ll tee off.
And with that home crowd behind them, they can turn one-dimensional offenses into quick three-and-outs.
This is where Grubb earns his paycheck. He’s not just calling plays - he’s playing chess with one of the sharpest defensive minds in the college game.
If he can scheme up enough wrinkles to keep Venables guessing, Alabama has a real shot to punch through. But if the Tide try to force the run game when it’s clearly not working, they’ll be playing right into Oklahoma’s hands.
Bottom line: Alabama doesn’t need to dominate on the ground to win this game. But they do need to be smart, flexible, and willing to let Simpson sling it if that’s what the defense gives them. Because against a team like Oklahoma, stubbornness isn’t just a bad habit - it’s a recipe for going home early.