Zabien Brown’s Pick-Six Sparks Alabama Comeback in CFP Clash with Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. - When Alabama needed a spark, Zabien Brown lit the fuse.
With just over a minute left in the first half, the Crimson Tide trailed Oklahoma 17-10 in the opening round of the College Football Playoff. The Sooners had momentum, the crowd was buzzing, and Alabama’s defense needed to flip the script. That’s exactly what Brown did.
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer dropped back and looked for a window that simply wasn’t there. Brown, reading the play like a seasoned veteran, jumped the route, snagged the interception, and immediately turned defense into offense.
What followed was a 50-yard sprint that showcased not just his speed, but his vision and instincts. He danced past would-be tacklers, found a crease, and turned on the jets - end zone, touchdown, tie ballgame.
Just like that, Alabama erased a 17-0 hole and went into halftime knotted at 17-17.
For Brown, this wasn’t just a big moment - it was a reminder of what he’s capable of. The sophomore had only one interception on the season before this game, but it was a memorable one: a 99-yard pick-six against Tennessee back in October. That play turned heads, and Friday’s return against Oklahoma only added to his growing highlight reel.
Brown now has five career interceptions, with three of them coming during his breakout freshman campaign in 2024. But none may have been bigger than this one - a momentum-shifting, game-tying play on college football’s biggest stage.
Alabama’s defense, which looked stunned early as Oklahoma jumped out to a 17-0 lead, suddenly found its footing. And with the pick-six, the Crimson Tide didn’t just get on the scoreboard - they got their swagger back.
Now, with the game tied and everything to play for, Alabama has its eyes on the next step: a trip to Pasadena to face Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
But first, they had to claw their way back - and it all started with Zabien Brown reading the play, trusting his instincts, and taking it to the house.