Alabama clash with Indiana set for 2026 Rose Bowl after victory over Oklahoma

no. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide advances to quarterfinals with 34-24 win over No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners on Friday in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Gaylord-Family Memorial Stadium in Norman. The Crimson Tide overcame a 17-point deficit to make history by becoming the first team in the CFP’s on-campus era to win a road playoff game, now set to face undefeated no. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 Rose Bowl..

The Sooners got off to a fast start, building a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter as quarterback John Mateer threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Satine III to set up a 51-yard field goal by kicker Tate Sendel. At halftime, Oklahoma led 236-100 in total yards and 12-4 in first downs, while Alabama was held to minus-3 yards.

The Crimson Tide’s turnaround began on a 75-yard, nine-play drive that quarterback Ty Simpson capped with a 10-yard touchdown pass to freshman running back Lotzeir Brooks, followed by a short field goal after a muffed Sooners punt. Moments later, Zabien Brown intercepted Mateer and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 17-17 at halftime.

Alabama turned things around after halftime, scoring 17 unanswered points. Simpson again connected with Brooks for a 30-yard touchdown and Connor Talty added a 40-yard field goal. Deion Burks’ 37-yard touchdown run brought Oklahoma within three, but the Crimson Tide answered with a 6-yard run by Daniel Hill, who made an incredible catch by Germie Bernard, extending the lead to 34-24 with seven minutes left. With two missed field goals late in the game, Sandell ended any chance the Sooners had to close the gap.

Alabama had 264 total yards, 232 passing on Simpson’s 18-of-29 throws for two touchdowns, along with five sacks and a Brown pick-six. Meanwhile, Oklahoma gained 362 yards and 18 first downs but managed just seven points after halftime, ending the season 10-3 and losing its fifth straight CFP game.

The Crimson Tide (11-3) will now take on the Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 4pm ET in Pasadena, California. Indiana, led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, finished 13-0 and leads the nation in scoring offense (41.9 points per game, fifth overall) and ranks fifth in defense, allowing just 10.8 points per game. The Hoosiers clinched the No. 1 seed in the CFP after defeating No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes and won the Big Ten Championship. This will be the first meeting between Alabama and Indiana in history, and the Hoosiers have a record of 27-23-1 against SEC teams in history.