Here is a long, human-style English article on the Oklahoma vs. Alabama College Football Playoff (CFP) opener, written as if for a quality sports website and optimized for natural readability:
Alabama Completes Stunning Comeback to Defeat Oklahoma in CFP Opener After Sooners Blow
17-Point Lead
In a dramatic first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff, the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide delivered one of the most memorable comebacks in recent CFP history, rallying from a 17-0 deficit to defeat the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners 34-24 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. What began as a commanding performance by Oklahoma rapidly transformed into a night of frustration and unforced errors, ultimately allowing Alabama to seize control and advance to the Rose Bowl quarterfinal against No. 1 Indiana on January 1, 2026.
From the opening kickoff, the Sooners looked every bit a team ready to make a deep playoff run. Oklahoma controlled the line of scrimmage early, converting on three of its first four possessions and building a commanding 17-0 lead by the middle of the second quarter. Quarterback John Mateer was sharp in the early going, connecting with wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III for a touchdown and orchestrating a balanced offensive attack that kept Alabama’s defense on its heels. At that point, Oklahoma had outgained Alabama by a wide margin and appeared poised to cruise into the next round.
However, momentum in college football can shift in the blink of an eye, and Alabama began to claw its way back after tightening up on defense and finding its rhythm on offense. The turning point came midway through the second quarter when Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson found freshman wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks for a touchdown, cutting the Sooners’ lead to 17-7. Soon after, Oklahoma committed a pair of critical errors that altered the trajectory of the game. A dropped punt by Oklahoma’s special teams gifted Alabama favorable field position, leading to a field goal. Shortly thereafter, Mateer threw a pass that was intercepted by defensive back Zabien Brown, who returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, tying the game just before halftime.
Entering the second half with the score level, Alabama carried newfound momentum into the locker room and never looked back. The Crimson Tide dominated the third quarter, with Simpson and Brooks connecting again for a long touchdown that gave Alabama its first lead. A successful field goal extended the advantage, and despite a brief Oklahoma rally early in the fourth quarter when Deion Burks hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mateer to narrow the gap to 27-24, Alabama regained control with a late touchdown run by Daniel Hill.
Oklahoma had opportunities to stage a comeback in the final minutes, but missed chances proved costly. Tate Sandell, one of the most reliable kickers in the nation and a Lou Groza Award winner, missed two late field goal attempts — from 36 and 51 yards — that could have cut the deficit further or tied the game. Sandell’s uncharacteristic misses, combined with the earlier turnover and special teams miscue, underscored a night where small errors compounded into a season-ending defeat for the Sooners.
The loss was particularly bitter for Oklahoma not only because of the blown lead, but also because it marked another frustrating chapter in the Sooners’ CFP history. Oklahoma now owns the two largest blown leads in CFP history, having twice lost games after holding 17-point advantages, and remains without a playoff victory since 2015. The 2025 campaign, which had shown so much promise, ended in heartbreak in front of a home crowd that saw its team squander a historic start.
For Alabama, the comeback victory was a testament to resilience and belief. Down early on the road in a hostile environment, the Crimson Tide refused to fold, patiently chipping away at Oklahoma’s lead before overtaking them in the second half. Simpson’s performance — including two touchdown passes — highlighted his growth and poise under pressure, while Alabama’s defense made key stops when it mattered most. With the win, Alabama advances to face top-seeded Indiana in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal, keeping its national championship hopes alive.
In the end, the 2025 CFP opener between Oklahoma and Alabama will be remembered not for how it began, but for how it ended: a stunning comeback by a veteran program and an agonizing collapse by one that had dreamed of a playoff breakthrough. The game encapsulated the unpredictable nature of college football, where momentum can shift in moments and where no lead — no matter how large — is truly safe.