John Mateer

Alabama (11-3, No. 9 CFP) defeated OU (10-3, No. 8 CFP) 34-24 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Live updates

OU's Tate Sandell misses late field goal

Redshirt junior kicker Tate Sandell, the 2025 Lou Groza Award winner, misses a 36-yard field goal, as the Sooners are down 34-24 with 2:53 to go in the game. Sandell had made 24 straight field goals before the miss.

Alabama's Daniel Hill deepens scoring gap

Alabama sophomore running back Daniel Hill completes a 6-yard rush into the end zone to make the score 34-24 with 7:24 left in the game.

Deion Burks scores 4th-quarter touchdown

OU redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer finds redshirt senior wide receiver Deion Burks for a 37-yard touchdown with 14:45 to go in the fourth quarter.

Rapper 50 Cent performs 'Many Men'

Rapper 50 cent performs "Many Men" before the fourth quarter, which the Sooners made a tradition late in the 2025 regular season.

Conor Talty expands Alabama lead with field goal

Alabama redshirt sophomore kicker Conor Talty makes a 45-yard field goal to extend the Crimson Tide's lead to 27-17 with 4:30 remaining in the third quarter.

Alabama takes lead with Lotzeir Brooks' touchdown

Alabama redshirt junior quarterback Ty Simpson connects with freshman wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks for a 30-yard touchdown to make the score 24-17 with 11:21 to go in the third quarter.

Halftime update 

The Sooners are tied 17-17 with Alabama at the half despite having a 17-0 lead to start the game. 

"Our guys will respond," OU head coach Brent Venables said on ABC at halftime. "They've fought and overcome all season long."

Alabama DB Zabien Brown scores pick-six

Alabama sophomore defensive back Zabien Brown intercepts OU redshirt junior quarterback John Mateer and returns it 50 yards for a touchdown to make the score 17-17 with 1:18 to go in the first half.

Alabama's Conor Talty with field goal

Talty completes a 35-yard field goal to bring the score to 17-10 with 2:08 remaining in the second quarter.

Alabama's Lotzeir Brooks cuts into OU lead

Simpson connects with Brooks for an 11-yard touchdown as 6:52 remains in the second quarter.

OU's Isaiah Sategna extends lead

OU redshirt junior wide receiver Isaiah Sategna scores off Mateer's 7-yard pass, bringing the game to 17-0 with 10:51 remaining in the second quarter.

Tate Sandell converts 1st-quarter field goal 

OU redshirt junior kicker Tate Sandell nails a 51-yard field goal to bring the lead to 10-0 with 45 seconds remaining in the first quarter. He now is tied for a Football Bowl Subdivision record for most kicks from at least 50 yards with eight, breaking a mark that has stood since 1982.

"This guy is amazing," former OU head coach Bob Stoops said on OU's radio.

Alabama QB Ty Simpson changes helmet

The ABC broadcast notes that Simpson is making a helmet change during a first-quarter timeout because he is struggling to hear.

OU's Kip Lewis sacks Alabama QB Ty Simpson 

OU redshirt junior linebacker Kip Lewis sacks Simpson for a loss of 8 yards with 4:39 to go in the first quarter.

This comes after Lewis was talking trash with Alabama players pregame.

OU's John Mateer gives Sooners early lead

Mateer rushes into the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown with 5:29 to go in the first quarter.

Alabama fails to score in its 1st drive

Simpson throws an incomplete pass on 3rd and 5 to close the Crimson Tide's first drive.

OU scoreless in 1st drive

OU's first drive ends with Mateer throwing an incomplete pass on 3rd and 10 that was intended for freshman running back Tory Blaylock.

Kirk Herbstreit praises John Mateer's early throws

Kirk Herbstreit said on ESPN that the ball is coming out of Mateer's hands very differently than it was the past few weeks.

This comes as he is in game without thumb tape for the first time since suffering an  injury against Auburn on Sept. 20. He was first seen practicing without tape on Monday.

'He's not pain free': OU head coach Brent Venables on John Mateer's thumb injury ahead of playoff

OU light show before kickoff

The Sooners put on a light show before kickoff.

Former OU QB Kyler Murray in attendance

Former Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray is in attendance for the College Football Playoff game against Alabama.

Pregame availability

OU redshirt junior offensive lineman Jake Maikkula is officially ruled out.

Pregame preview

The calm before the storm: College Football Playoff game kickoff nears before the Sooners take on Alabama Crimson Tide.

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