As Alabama gets set to take on Oklahoma tonight in a high-stakes College Football Playoff showdown, the rivalry is heating up well beyond the field-and into the barbecue pits.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey tossed the first playful jab this week, offering up a plate of Dreamland BBQ in a friendly wager with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. “But sooner or later you’ll learn, don’t bet against Bama,” Ivey said in a video posted Friday. “You go ahead and send us that good old Oklahoma BBQ because the Tide is rolling towards revenge in Norman.”
Not to be outdone, Stitt fired back with his own confident prediction, saying Oklahoma is ready to welcome Alabama to town-and hand them a beatdown in the process. The Sooners and Crimson Tide will settle the score tonight under the lights at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. CT on ABC and ESPN.
This matchup is more than just a battle of elite programs-it’s a clash of postseason hopes and pride. Alabama’s got plenty riding on this one.
A win sends them to the Rose Bowl and one step closer to a national title. A loss?
That’s the end of the road.
Governor Ivey made it clear she believes in this squad, backing head coach Kalen DeBoer and quarterback Ty Simpson to lead the Crimson Tide to victory. And there’s good reason for that confidence. DeBoer has brought a sharp offensive mind to Tuscaloosa, and Simpson has shown flashes of poise and playmaking ability when it matters most.
But make no mistake-this is no walk in the park. Playing in Norman is never easy, especially against a Sooners team with plenty of firepower and a fan base that turns up the volume. Oklahoma’s physicality up front and ability to stretch the field make them a dangerous draw for any opponent, especially in a playoff setting.
So while the governors are trading barbecue bets, the players will be trading blows on the gridiron in a game that could define their season. Alabama’s playoff path is clear: win and move on. Lose, and the curtain falls.
And for fans of both programs, the stakes couldn’t be higher-or tastier.