The Alabama Crimson Tide didn't wilt and overcame a 17-0 first quarter deficit to defeat the Oklahoma Sooners 34-24 in their first-round College Football Playoff matchup on Friday night in Norman.
What seemed like an easy OU blowout turned into a one-way Tide domination. At the end of the day, though, the CFP's tradition of first-round matchups in the 12-team format, outside of the Texas Longhorns and Clemson Tigers last year, being uncompetitive continued in the 2025/2026 tournament's first contest.
The Athletic's Matt Baker reminded everyone of that fact ahead of Saturday's action, where the Group of 5's Tulane Green Wave and James Madison Dukes enter the day as heavy underdogs against the Ole Miss Rebels and Oregon Ducks.