Alabama was limping in the College Football Playoff, and that’s how the first round started in Norman, falling behind the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners 17-0, before rallying to a 34-24 win.
Ty Simpson also wasn’t playing his best for the Crimson Tide since their Week 12 loss to Oklahoma at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and was coming off his worst outing of the year in the SEC Championship Game. That’s how things started, with three straight three-and-outs against the No. 1 defense in the SEC and just 12 yards of offense until he settled in to lead a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter.