alabama Comes Back to Defeat Oklahoma 34-24

NORMAN, Okla.(AP) – Ty Simpson threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns, leading No.9 seed Alabama to a comeback victory over No. 8 Oklahoma, 34-24, on Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “They showed a lot of resiliency. It’s been a theme all season, and it really showed tonight on the road. Being down 17 points and coming back the way we did,one score at a time – they just stayed focused.”

Alabama freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who hadn’t scored a touchdown during the regular season, scored two touchdowns and had a career-high five catches for 79 yards.

This was the third time these teams have played in the last 13 months. Oklahoma won the previous two matchups: 24-3 last November in Norman, and 23-21 last month in Alabama.

DeBoer secured his first playoff win with the Crimson Tide since joining the team from Washington two years ago. Alabama (11-3) will now face No. 1 seed Indiana and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza in a quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on January 1.

Oklahoma’s John Mateer passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns,but he threw a crucial interception that Alabama’s Zabien Brown returned 50 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Deion Burks had seven catches for 107 yards and a score for the Sooners (10-3).

“It was a really good game with some great moments for the Sooners,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “But we also had some really poorly timed mistakes, both in coaching and playing.”