The game couldn't have started much worse for Alabama on Friday night against Oklahoma. The much-maligned Tide offense started the game with three consecutive three-and-outs, and by the time they got the ball for the fourth possession, it was 17-0 Sooners.
Not only was the offense struggling, but Kane Wommack's defense had few answers for John Mateer and the Oklahoma offense. And, as had been the case in the regular-season meeting, special teams had swung wildly in favor of the Sooners, too.
Oklahoma led the total yardage 181-12, and the game was looking like a complete and total mismatch.