Missed tackles, dropped passes, fumbled punts and an epic collapse decided the College Football Playoff Game between Alabama and Oklahoma. The Sooners led 17-0 with 3:57 to play in the second quarter, outgaining the 10-3 Tide 181-12 before imploding completely, outscored at home the rest of the way 34-7 to suffer elimination from the playoffs.
Bama will face Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. The game was so sloppy and inept that it naturally led some to ask, is this the SEC everybody's bragging about? Neither team could run the football. OU quarterback John Mateer tossed a pass directly to Alabama cornerback Zabien Brown for a 50-yard Pick Six 50 seconds before half.
Maybe the G5 should have its own playoff. These guys stink! pic.twitter.com/K9o9XeqAQ5
— JMU Sports News (@JMUSportsNews) December 20, 2025
On 3rd and 3, 37 seconds to play Mateer rolled left with room to run, threw downfield to Xavier Robinson who dropped the ball. Instead of a first down and a big gain the Sooners had to punt, but punter Grayson Miller missed his foot on the drop and go his kick blocked, setting up an Alabama field goal to make it 17-10.
This play right here is where the game was lost for Oklahoma
— Sharp🍻 (@SharpSportsLLC) December 20, 2025
Argue with a wall, I don’t care.
Full head of steam you pick up the first down keep the drive going waste clock into half
“He was open sharp” so was about 10 yards. Next play, blocked punt🤢 pic.twitter.com/vNvp04Ytts
SEC rematch turns into a comedy of errors and ineptitude
Neither team could run the football, 58 carries for 83 yards between them, while the offensive lines gave up nine sacks.
This looks a little fishy to me 🧐 pic.twitter.com/E34p3BXVdO
— Clemson Superfan (Mr. Summertime) (@SuperfanClemson) December 20, 2025
Trying to come back late in the fourth quarter OU kicker Tate Sandell, who had been 24-25 on field goal attempts, sprayed one wide of the uprights and missed short on another, ending chances of a miracle comeback.
After a collapse by the home team and execution of fundamentals so glaring, it falls on the Ducks and the Dukes to save the playoff. This debacle in Norman was a clown show.