Alabama Rallies Past Oklahoma, Validates CFP Spot in Statement Win
Down 17-0 in the first quarter. On the road.
In the College Football Playoff. Most teams would’ve folded.
Alabama? They found another gear.
The Crimson Tide stormed back to stun Oklahoma 34-24 in Friday night’s first-round CFP matchup, flipping what looked like a Sooners rout into a statement win that echoed all the way back to the selection committee’s war room. It was a classic case of Alabama doing what Alabama does - responding to pressure not with panic, but with precision.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a comeback. It was a takeover.
After spotting Oklahoma a 17-point lead, Alabama outscored the Sooners 34-7 the rest of the way. The Tide didn’t just claw their way back - they controlled the game from the second quarter on, imposing their will in every phase.
And while the final margin was double digits, the game had its moments of tension. For a stretch, it looked like we were in for a rare first-round thriller in the new 12-team format. But just like last year - with the exception of Texas and Clemson - this one ended up falling in line with the trend: a double-digit margin and a clear winner.
Alabama Answers the Critics
This win does more than punch Alabama’s ticket to the next round. It gives them something even more valuable in the short term - validation.
There was plenty of noise leading up to this game about whether Alabama truly deserved their spot in the playoff. Notre Dame and BYU had strong cases of their own, and some fans and analysts argued the Tide were beneficiaries of reputation over resume.
But after walking into Norman and handing Oklahoma their only home loss of the season, Alabama made a loud, clear statement: *we belong. *
Now, Crimson Tide fans have a legitimate counter to the critics. Could Notre Dame or BYU have done what Alabama just did - beat the Sooners in Gaylord Memorial Stadium, in December, with everything on the line? That’s a tough hypothetical to answer, and after Friday night, it might not matter.
Implications for the Group of Five
Alabama’s win also sets the stage for Saturday’s matchups involving Tulane and James Madison - the two Group of Five teams carrying the weight of proving they belong.
Both enter as heavy underdogs against Ole Miss and Oregon, respectively, and the pressure is real. The narrative that G5 teams can’t hang in the playoff has been simmering since the format expansion, and lopsided losses could reignite the debate about whether they deserve inclusion at all.
The first-round results from last season didn’t help that perception, and Alabama’s performance - while impressive - only sharpens the spotlight on Tulane and JMU. If either team gets overwhelmed, expect the usual arguments to resurface, questioning the wisdom of giving G5 teams a seat at the table.
But for now, the story is Alabama. A team that looked down and out in the opening quarter, turned the tide - literally and figuratively - and reminded everyone why you never count them out in December. They’ve earned their place in this playoff, and they’re not done yet.