In a game filled with momentum swings and defining moments, Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard had both a low point and a highlight-reel redemption that helped push the Crimson Tide past Oklahoma in a 34-24 College Football Playoff opener Friday night.
Let’s rewind to the third quarter. Alabama was up 24-17 and facing a 3rd-and-2 from its own 46-yard line - a prime chance to take control of the game with a two-possession lead.
Ty Simpson spotted Bernard wide open downfield after a busted coverage by Oklahoma. It was the kind of look quarterbacks dream about.
But the throw, off Simpson’s back foot, came up short. Bernard had time to adjust and wait for it - and then lost it in the lights.
The ball slipped right through his hands. What should’ve been a walk-in touchdown instead became a missed opportunity.
Now, to be fair, it wasn’t a perfect throw. But Bernard, one of Alabama’s most dependable targets all season, would be the first to say he should’ve brought it in. That’s the kind of accountability that defines players who make big-time plays in big-time moments.
And Bernard didn’t have to wait long for his chance at redemption.
Thanks to an Oklahoma penalty, Alabama’s drive stayed alive, and Conor Talty eventually capped it off with a field goal to extend the lead to 10. But that wasn’t the end of Bernard’s story - far from it.
After Oklahoma clawed back to make it a three-point game in the fourth quarter, Alabama needed an answer. They needed a play. And Ty Simpson, showing the kind of trust that’s grown throughout the season, went right back to Bernard.
“I missed one early, and he told me he was going to come back to me,” Bernard said after the game, standing next to Simpson during their postgame interview.
That moment came on a 2nd-and-4 inside the Sooners’ 30-yard line. Simpson saw Bernard lined up one-on-one and didn’t hesitate. He lofted a pass toward the sideline, giving his receiver a chance to make a play - and Bernard delivered one that will live in Alabama highlight reels for years.
Leaping over the defender, Bernard made a circus catch on the defensive back’s back - shades of Tyrone Prothro’s legendary grab against Southern Miss. It was the kind of play that doesn’t just move the chains - it sends a message. Alabama had first-and-goal, and two plays later, Daniel Hill punched it in to restore a 10-point cushion.
It was a full-circle moment for Bernard, and a testament to the trust Simpson has in his guys - even after a costly drop. That kind of resilience, both from the quarterback and his receiver, is exactly why Alabama is still standing in the College Football Playoff.
Simpson’s season hasn’t been flawless. He’s had to navigate injuries, inconsistency, and a rotating cast around him.
But he’s never flinched. He’s grown into the role, showing poise and leadership when the lights are brightest.
And in this game, he embodied the identity of this Crimson Tide team - not perfect, but relentless.
Alabama doesn’t always dominate wire to wire. They’ve had to scratch and claw their way through more than a few close calls.
But when it’s time to make a play, they find a way. Whether it’s Simpson making the right read or Bernard making a jaw-dropping grab, this team has developed a knack for rising to the moment.
And that’s what playoff football is all about.