Alabama’s Offense Looks to Rediscover Its Swagger Ahead of CFP Clash with Oklahoma
Alabama’s offense knows it hasn’t looked like itself lately. The same unit that once rolled through a midseason gauntlet of Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee now finds itself searching for rhythm - and answers - heading into a high-stakes College Football Playoff showdown with Oklahoma.
Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb isn’t sugarcoating it. The Tide’s recent struggles, especially on third down and in the run game, have been glaring.
In the SEC Championship loss to Georgia, Alabama converted just 3 of 13 third-down attempts and mustered only 17 rushing yards on nine carries before halftime. That’s not the kind of efficiency you want heading into a playoff matchup against a defense as unpredictable and aggressive as Oklahoma’s.
“We just weren’t effective at all,” Grubb said, reflecting on the first-half performance against the Bulldogs. “We’ve got to get in rhythm early in the football game. We’re capable of that.”
Alabama’s offensive identity this season has been built on explosive plays and timely conversions - especially on third down. During that four-game win streak in the heart of the season, the Tide converted 50% of their third-down chances, turning 30 of 60 into fresh sets of downs. That consistency allowed them to control tempo, wear down defenses, and keep their quarterback upright.
But lately, that rhythm has been harder to find. In their November loss to Oklahoma, Alabama started strong on third down - 4 of 7 in the first half - before fading to just 1 of 6 in the second. That drop-off cost them dearly.
Grubb knows the fix starts up front. Communication along the offensive line has been a recurring issue, and it’s led to protection breakdowns and drive-killing sacks. Quarterback Ty Simpson has taken some hits that could’ve been avoided with cleaner pre-snap recognition and line calls.
“Elite communication,” Grubb said. That’s what he’s demanding from his offensive line. That, and a quicker tempo at the line of scrimmage.
Left tackle Kadyn Proctor didn’t dodge the criticism.
“It’s all about us and how much we take care of the ball,” Proctor said. “We didn’t take care of the ball. We had some mental errors that led to some sacks, so that’s what we need to clean up at the end of the day.”
Grubb wants his offense to get to the line faster - not just for speed’s sake, but to give Simpson a better look at the defense. Oklahoma thrives on disguising coverages and bringing pressure from unexpected places. That makes it all the more important for Simpson to have time to assess the field and get his guys in the right play.
“It wouldn’t matter if they went Mach 4 to the line of scrimmage. It wouldn’t be fast enough,” Grubb joked. But behind the humor is a serious point: the Tide need to be ready to snap the ball at any moment, keeping defenses honest and reactive.
Wide receiver Germie Bernard echoed that urgency. “We know that they bring a lot of different coverages,” he said. “So we want [Simpson] to be able to see everything and be able to make the change to get us in the right position.”
The good news for Alabama? There’s still belief inside the locker room - and plenty of talent to back it up.
Simpson remains confident, calling this the “best offense in the country,” even after a one-touchdown showing in the SEC title game. And with key contributors like tight end Josh Cuevas and running back Jam Miller trending toward full health, there’s reason to think this group can recapture the form that made them dangerous earlier in the year.
The Tide know what they’re capable of when the pieces fall into place. Now, it’s about putting it all together - communication, tempo, third-down execution - in time for Friday night’s playoff clash in Norman.
Kickoff between Alabama and Oklahoma is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN and ABC.
The lights will be bright, the stakes even brighter. And if Alabama’s offense can rediscover its edge, we might just see the version of the Tide that steamrolled its way into the playoff conversation in the first place.