OU-Alabama College Football Playoff photo essay

Despite a 17-point lead early in the game, No. 8 OU made too many mistakes that led to No. 9 Alabama leaving Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium with a 34-24 victory. 

The Sooners scored on three of their first four possessions, with a John Mateer touchdown, a 51-yard field goal from kicker Tate Sandell and a touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna III in the second quarter.

John Mateer seemed to play his best and worst during Friday’s game. He had an arm that gained the Sooners the early lead. Despite his early success in the game, he made decisions and mistakes that inevitably led to Alabama’s victory. His biggest mistake was when he threw a pick six to Zabien Brown in the second quarter.

At one point in the game, former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops was yelling at Mateer from the sidelines. 

"Come on John, let's go!"

Alabama responded with late first-half momentum to pull them to 17-17 at halftime before taking control in the second half. Mateer finished the night completing 26 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns. Deion Burks led with a season-high 107 yards, Jer'Michael Carter and Javonnie Gibson added 46 and 41 receiving yards, respectively.

Sandell went into Friday night’s game against Alabama making field goals from 50 yards and above. 

Sandell, who in the first half tied the record for most 50-plus-yard field goals in a single season, couldn’t connect on his last two kicks.

Oklahoma briefly made a switch in the fourth quarter behind a 37-yard touchdown reception from Burks on the Sooners' second play of the period. However, it wasn’t enough to seal the deal. 

During warmups before the game started, OU football associate head coach Todd Bates was in the defensive player's face.

"If they are in the way, we got to move them!"

Sooners were led by redshirt junior Owen Heinecke, who posted a game-high seven tackles along with a sack. Redshirt junior linebacker Kip Lewis and senior edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr. each sacked Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in the first half. OU finished with four sacks and limited Alabama’s rushing attack to just 28 yards. 

As the Alabama alma mater rang through the stadium, players were seen all over the field crying. Some were Alabama players who were ecstatic about their win, and others were Sooners who had just closed their season. 

OU defensive lineman Damonic Williams said to his teammates, "You can be upset, you can even cry, but never let your head down — always have it up."

While the Friday night lights are over in Norman, Alabama advances to face No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. 

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