CFP FIRST ROUND: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ALABAMA AT OKLAHOMA

College Football Playoff First Round
No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2)
Friday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m. ET
Norman, Okla.
Consensus odds: Oklahoma -1.5, Total 41.5

Oklahoma and Alabama square off in the first round of the College Football Playoff, but the Southeastern Conference rivals need no introduction.

The eighth-ranked Sooners and ninth-ranked Crimson Tide meet Friday in Norman, Okla., in the opening game of the first-ever 12-team CFP bracket, but it’s the second time they’ve played in five weeks.

The winner will take on top-ranked Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Oklahoma comes into the game with momentum, having won four consecutive games to close the regular season, including a 23-21 victory over Alabama on Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“I want our guys to be fully immersed in the moment,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said. “… The enormity of the challenge is real. We’re going to have to be an improved version of ourselves.”

Getting into the 12-team playoff settles as a pretty strong statement from two teams entering fall camp with questions — or at the very least, uncertainty — at quarterback and beyond.

The Sooners have been playing with no margin for error since the beginning of November, winning out after an Oct. 25 loss to Ole Miss.

Alabama has struggled some beginning with the meeting against Oklahoma, dropping both that game and the SEC championship game to Georgia, 28-7, and going down to the wire before beating Auburn 27-20.

The Crimson Tide also have been dealing with speculation over Kalen DeBoer and his future at the school after the coach was mentioned prominently regarding the open Michigan job. DeBoer said he hadn’t talked to anyone about another job and didn’t plan to.

“Our guys, if there’s any distraction, I haven’t seen it, haven’t felt it,” DeBoer said. “And so, I’m really proud of the way they’ve handled whatever noise that’s out there.”

Oklahoma is in the CFP for the first time since 2019 and is looking for its first playoff victory after losing in the semifinals in each of its four appearances in the four-team playoff era.

The Crimson Tide are in the playoff for the ninth time and the first time since 2023. Alabama is 9-5 in CFP games and emerged as champion in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

FILM-ROOM FOCUS: A matchup between Oklahoma’s secondary and Alabama’s wide receivers highlights the elite position group crossover on Friday night.

Sooners cornerback Eli Bowen has two interceptions over the past three games, including an 87-yard pick-six against the Crimson Tide. Germie Bernard leads the Crimson Tide with 57 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bowen said beyond the one-on-one matchups, he’s expecting a better showing from the OU defense.

“We caused turnovers, which saved us. We didn’t have a highly detailed and executed game from the defensive side,” Bowen said. “I feel like we’re focusing on fixing those mistakes and having a better game overall instead of just the matchup.”

HEALTH WATCH: Oklahoma got better news than Alabama early this week regarding top defensive linemen. The Sooners’ R Mason Thomas missed the past three games after suffering a quad injury while returning a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown Nov. 1 against Tennessee. However, he was listed as fully available for this week’s game on Tuesday.

Alabama defensive end LT Overton, whose father played for Oklahoma, won’t be available on Friday due to an illness. He also missed the SEC championship game because of the ailment.

PRO DAY: Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor widely is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen available in the 2026 NFL Draft and might work into conversations as a top-five draft pick.

He’s massive and moves with the ease of a skill-position player, the foundation for why he allowed just four sacks over the last four seasons. The game against the Sooners will be a prime opportunity for Proctor to showcase his talents.

Oklahoma features one of the deepest defensive lines in all of college football, even if Thomas remains out. Taylor Wein and Marvin Jones Jr. on the outside and a deep group of interior defensive linemen will give Proctor plenty of opportunities to put (more) good film in the hands of scouts and further solidify his first-round status.

FUTURE IS HERE: Oklahoma redshirt freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis (6-foot-3, 314 pounds) has played a significant role for the Sooners’ offensive line late in the season as one of three freshmen to break into the starting lineup.

True freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje are the others. Pierre-Louis has started the last four games and not only performed well in his own rite, but has added an aggressive edge to the group. Pierre-Louis figured to continue to carve out a bigger role after being one of the top guard prospects in the 2024 class. While the Sooners lose Febechi Nwaiwu and Derek Simmons up front, the trio — led by Pierre-Louis — have a chance to help anchor Oklahoma up front for the next couple of years.

NOTEWORTHY: DeBoer is 19-5 all-time against AP Top 25 opponents and only once active FBS coach has more wins over ranked teams (Kirby Smart, Georgia, 26). DeBoer is 6-2 against top-10 opponents.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: OKLAHOMA VS. ALABAMA

SOONERS NOTES:

u No. 8/8/8 Oklahoma (10-2, 6-2 SEC) hosts No. 9/11/11 Alabama (10-3, 7-1) in the College Football Playoff First Round on Friday at 7 p.m. CT at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The game will be televised by ABC and ESPN with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge announcing. u OU is making its fifth College Football Playoff appearance (as is Georgia), trailing only Alabama (nine), Clemson (seven) and Ohio State (seven). The next most is three by Michigan, Notre Dame and Oregon. Three programs have qualified for two CFPs and 16 for one. u Oklahoma owns a 5-2-1 record against Alabama, including a 4-0 mark at campus sites (2-0 in Norman), and has won four of the last five meetings. The Crimson Tide owns a 2-1-1 edge in bowl games. u The Sooners beat Alabama 24-3 in Norman last season (Nov. 23) and 23-21 in Tuscaloosa this year (Nov. 15). The only team to beat the Crimson Tide twice in one season or three times over a two-season span was Birmingham Athletic Club in 1893 and 1892-93. 1892 was Alabama’s first year playing varsity football. u Oklahoma and Alabama are tied for the all-time national lead with their 27 seasons each of 11-plus wins. UA ranks first nationally with its 44 seasons of at least 10 wins, while OU ranks second with 43. u Friday’s game will mark the latest home contest in the calendar year in Oklahoma’s 131-year history. The previous latest home game came in 1985 when Barry Switzer’s Sooners beat SMU 35-13 on Dec. 7. OU went on to beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl to claim the program’s sixth AP national title. The Sooners are 8-3 all-time in December home games. u OU is making its 27th consecutive bowl/postseason appearance, by far the longest streak in school history (the previous record was eight from the 1975-82 seasons under Switzer). Beginning in Bob Stoops’ 1999 debut season as head coach, it is the second-longest active streak in the nation (Georgia; 29). u The 2025 season marks the 131st in OU football history. The Sooners lead the nation with their 50 all-time conference titles, 27 11-plus-win seasons (tied), 33 AP top-five finishes and five No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks (tied). They rank second with their seven Heisman Trophy winners (tied), third with seven AP national titles, their 101 weeks as the AP’s No. 1 team and 432 total weeks in the AP Top 5, fourth with their 419 NFL Draft picks and fifth with their 59 bowl/postseason appearances. u Friday’s contest will mark the 1,364th in OU history. The Sooners rank fifth nationally with their .724 all-time winning percentage (960-350-53 record), trailing Ohio State (.737), Alabama (.733), Notre Dame (.733) and Michigan (.733). Since the end of World War II (1946 season to present), OU leads all programs with 716 wins (28 more than Alabama, the program with the next most).

u Oklahoma and Georgia are the only teams that have posted at least five wins this season against opponents ranked in the AP Top 25 at the time of competition, and OU is the only one to do it in the regular season. The last time OU won five or more regular season games against AP-ranked teams was 2015. u Friday’s contest represents OU’s school-single-season-record eighth against a team ranked in the AP and/or coaches poll at the time of competition. The 1973 Sooners went 6-0-1 vs. ranked teams under first-year head coach Barry Switzer and finished 10-0-1 overall. u Oklahoma had a November to remember, going 4-0 against SEC opponents and posting three straight wins over AP-ranked foes for the first time since the last four games of the 2016 season. The Sooners won 33-27 at No. 14 Tennessee, 23-21 at No. 4 Alabama, 17-6 vs. No. 23 Missouri and 17-13 vs. LSU. u The Sooners have enjoyed tremendous late-season success at home. They have won 48 of their last 51 November home games (going back to the 1998 season) and are 8-3 all-time in December home contests. u Friday’s game will pit an Oklahoma squad that has converted all 32 of its red-zone opportunities into points this season (the only FBS team with a 100% conversion rate) against an Alabama team that ranks 19th nationally by allowing opponents to score just 76.5% of the time once they reach the red zone. OU has 23 touchdowns and nine field goals in its 32 red-zone trips. u Statistically, Oklahoma’s defensive unit is one of the best in the country, and probably the best in the SEC. The Sooners rank seventh nationally in scoring defense (13.9 ppg), ninth in total defense (273.6 ypg), fifth in rushing defense (81.4 ypg) and 31st in passing defense (192.2 ypg). OU also ranks first nationally in tackles for loss per game (9.6; next most is 8.7 by Texas A&M) and sacks per game (3.4), No. 3 in touchdowns allowed (16), No 5 in rushing TDs allowed (six) and passing TDs allowed (nine), No. 6 in opponent third-down conversion percentage (29.0) and No. 7 in opponent yards per play (4.3). u Forty-one percent of OU’s opponents’ offensive plays this season (320 of 773) have gone for zero or negative yards. An additional 47 plays have resulted in a one-yard gain, meaning 47% of opponent plays have yielded one or fewer yards.

u The Sooners have held eight opponents, including six of eight foes in SEC play, to 85 or fewer rushing yards, including Alabama (80 on 33 carries) on Nov. 15. The Crimson Tide ranks 116th nationally with its 116.2 rushing yards per game. u OU had no takeaways over its first four games but has 13 over the last eight (nine over the last four). u Since the start of the 2023 season, OU is 18-0 when it wins the turnover battle (5-0 this year) and 7-10 when it loses it (5-2). u Despite not starting in five of OU’s 12 games, redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Taylor Wein ranks fourth in the SEC with his 14.0 tackles for loss. Six Sooners rank in the top 22 of the 16-team SEC in TFLs. Joining Wein are redshirt junior linebacker Owen Heinecke (11th; 10.0), senior lineman R Mason Thomas (13th; 9.5 in nine games), redshirt senior linebacker Kendal Daniels (17th; 9.0), redshirt junior linebacker Kip Lewis (20th; 8.5) and sophomore lineman David Stone (22nd; 8.0). Redshirt senior lineman Gracen Halton ranks 31st with 7.0 and redshirt junior linebacker Kobie McKinzie 42nd with 6.5. u Redshirt junior wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III, earned first-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press after ranking first in league play with his 716 receiving yards and 89.5 yards per game, second in receptions (48) and tied for third in receiving touchdowns (five). On the year he has 65 catches for 948 yards and seven TDs. His career highs entering the season were 37 catches and 491 yards last year at Arkansas.

ALABAMA NOTES:

Overall: Ninth Meeting (Alabama trails, 2-5-1) In College Football Playoff: Second Meeting (Alabama leads, 1-0) Current Streak: Alabama, Lost 2 Last Meeting: Nov. 15, 2025 – Tuscaloosa (L, 21-23) Series Notes: Alabama and Oklahoma will meet for the second time this season and just the ninth time in history on Friday evening inside Memorial Stadium. The Crimson Tide trails, 2-5-1, all-time in the series, but is tied at 2-2 in postseason meetings with the Sooners. The first round game of the 2025 College Football Playoff will be the second meeting between the two schools in the CFP with the last instance coming in the 2018 Orange Bowl, a 45-34 win for the Tide. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is 0-2 all-time against the Sooners, while Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is 2-0 in matchups with the Crimson Tide.

RANKED ON RANKED: Head coach Kalen DeBoer owns a 15-4 (.789) record in 19 career games as a head coach in ranked-versus-ranked matchups at the Division I level. DeBoer’s .789 winning percentage stands as the best winning percentage among all active head coaches that have appeared in at least 10 ranked-versus-ranked matchups. AGAINST THE TOP 10: Alabama owns an 87-81-1 (.517) all-time record against teams ranked in the top-10 of the Associated Press Poll, including the Tide’s 24-21 win at then-No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 27. Since the start of the 2008 season, the Crimson Tide has posted a 38-15 (.717) overall record against top-10 teams, including a 23-9 (.719) mark versus the top 10 since the inception of the College Football Playoff. TIDE TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS: Alabama produced four consecutive victories over Associated Press Top 25 conference opponents in as many weeks following the Tide’s 37-20 win over then-No. 11 Tennessee on Oct. 18. UA’s streak of ranked wins over SEC foes also included a 27-24 win at then-No. 14 Missouri on Oct. 11, a 30-14 win over then-No. 16 Vanderbilt on Oct. 4 and a 24-21 victory at then-No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 27. The Crimson Tide is the first team in SEC history to defeat four straight ranked opponents with no open dates. Alabama also became the fourth team in SEC history to defeat four consecutive ranked opponents including open dates, with the Tide also accomplishing the feat in 2016. 10-WIN PLATEAU: Alabama secured its 10th win of the 2025 season following the Tide’s 27-20 victory at Auburn on Nov. 29, marking UA’s 17th 10-win season over the last 18 years. In the 16 previous 10-plus win seasons, the Crimson Tide finished with a 12-2 record in 2008, 2014 and 2023; 14-0 in 2009; 10-3 in 2010; 12-1 in 2011; 13-1 in 2012 and 2017; 11-2 in 2013, 2019 and 2022; 14-1 in 2015, 2016 and 2018; and 13-0 in 2020. ALABAMA IN THE AP POLL: The Crimson Tide’s No. 11 ranking in the Week 16 edition of the Associated Press Poll marked the 294th consecutive week that the Crimson Tide has appeared in the poll. That streak is the longest active streak in college football. The 294 weeks more than doubles second-place Georgia with the Bulldogs appearing in the poll for 148 consecutive weeks. Alabama’s 294 straight weeks tops the Crimson Tide’s previous program-long streak of 105 consecutive weeks under head coach Gene Stallings in the mid1990s.

ALABAMA IN THE AP SINCE 2008: Alabama began the 2008 season at No. 24 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll. The Crimson Tide opened the year with a dominant 34-10 win over then-No. 9 Clemson in Atlanta, and since that win over the Tigers, UA has not exited the 293 polls that have followed. According to the College Poll Archive, the Tide is the only team to be represented on all 294 editions of the poll from the start of the 2008 season to the current week. The next closest team is Ohio State with 279 appearances followed by Oklahoma at 260. Alabama has spent 91.5 percent of the 18-plus years ranked in the top 10. A whopping 76.2 percent of that time Alabama has been ranked in the top five. The Crimson Tide has also been ranked No. 1 a total of 110 times since 2008. Only 16 other teams have earned the No. 1 ranking over that time, with the second-most appearances coming from Georgia at 40, while Ohio State owns the third-most appearances at 27. ALABAMA HAS THE MOST WINS SINCE 2008: Dating back to the start of the 2008 season, Alabama has won 218 games, which is the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. That sum is 14 more than Ohio State, who owns the next-closest win total over that stretch at 204.

OFFENSIVE NOTES:

SIMPSON’S STATS: Ty Simpson has shined in his role as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback. Through 13 starts, Simpson has completed 275-of-428 passes (64.3 percent) for 3,268 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 81 carries for 98 yards and two scores. The redshirt junior is one of only five Division I quarterbacks with 26-plus passing touchdowns and five-or-less interceptions Below is a look at where Simpson stands in the SEC and nationally among signal-callers.

QB1 A FINALIST FOR MANNING AWARD: Ty Simpson was named a finalist for the Manning Award, the Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Dec. 4. Simpson is one of 10 finalists for the Manning, an award that honors the top quarterback in the country and is the only award that takes into consideration a candidate’s postseason performance. The winner of the 2025 Manning Award will be announced following the conclusion of the College Football Playoff National Championship in January. The Crimson Tide has garnered two Manning Award winners, including Mac Jones (2020) and Bryce Young (2021). TY TAMES THE TIGERS: Quarterback Ty Simpson was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in Alabama’s 27-24 win at then-No. 14/14 Missouri on Oct. 11. Simpson led the Tide to its third consecutive AP Top 25 win, finishing 23-of-31 through the air with three touchdown passes. He completed at least one pass to nine different targets while also converting all three of the Tide’s fourth down attempts. The weekly SEC accolade stands as the second in three weeks for Simpson, who was also named the East-West Shrine Bowl’s Monday Morning Quarterback that same morning following the road victory over Mizzou. WEEKLY HONORS FOR SIMPSON AFTER UGA: Quarterback Ty Simpson garnered numerous weekly honors following Alabama’s 24-21 victory at then-No. 5/3 Georgia on Sept. 27. The Tide’s starting signal-caller completed 24-of-38 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns through the air, adding 12 rushing yards and a touchdown on four carries in the road win. Simpson’s week began by being named the SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 29. That same day, Simpson earned Panini Senior Bowl Player of the Week honors while also being chosen among eight quarterbacks as one of the Manning Award’s ‘Stars of the Week’. On Sept. 30, the Martin, Tenn., native picked up additional accolades, including being recognized as the Maxwell Player of the Week as well as the Davey O’Brien National Player of the Week. PERFECT FROM THE POCKET: Ty Simpson finished a perfect 17-of-17 for 226 yards and three touchdowns in Alabama’s 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6. Simpson became just the third quarterback in SEC history to manage a perfect 100 percent completion percentage following a minimum of 10 passing attempts, as his 17 completions on as many attempts are the most by a quarterback in league history. Simpson surpassed LSU’s Rohan Davey, who completed 11-of-11 passes against Western Carolina in 2000.

MR. RELIABLE: Germie Bernard was one of the most consistent wideouts in college football a season ago and has maintained his form in 2025. After leading all Tide receivers in receptions (50) and finishing second in receiving yards (794) last season, Bernard currently paces UA wideouts in receptions (57) and receiving yards (762) while ranking second in receiving touchdowns (7). The Nevada native has also produced 101 rushing yards on 17 carries with two rushing scores while completing two passes for 15 yards on his only two attempts. The senior’s seven receiving touchdowns are tied for fourth in the SEC while his nine total touchdowns are tied for eighth among all SEC players. Additionally, Bernard leads all Tide pass-catchers with a 63.5 receiving yards per game mark. HORTON KEEPS SCORIN’: Isaiah Horton has turned into an impact player for the Tide after transferring from Miami this summer. In 13 games, Horton has accumulated 35 receptions for 430 yards with a team-leading eight touchdowns. The Tennessee native’s eight touchdown catches are third-most among SEC pass-catchers and rank 22nd in the nation. Horton managed three touchdown receptions at Auburn on Nov. 29, becoming the first Alabama player since Jameson Williams in 2021 to reel in three receiving scores, while also becoming just the third player in the last 30 seasons to produce three receiving touchdowns in the Iron Bowl, joining Jaylen Waddle (2019) and Amari Cooper (2014). SOPHOMORE STANDOUT: Ryan Williams was one of the most impressive freshman players in the country a season ago and has continued to create big plays for the Alabama offense this season. In 2024, Williams led the Tide in receiving yards (865) and receiving touchdowns (8) while finishing second in receptions (48). In his 12 games this season, the Mobile native is second among all Alabama wideouts in receptions (42) and receiving yards (631) while his four receiving touchdowns are tied for third-most. Williams’ 52.6 receiving yards per game mark is second among Alabama pass-catchers, with his 15.0 yards per reception average sitting as the highest rate among UA wideouts. A SWISS ARMY KNIFE: Josh Cuevas earned a more prominent role at tight end for the Crimson Tide in 2025 and has delivered in more ways than one. Cuevas has totaled 30 catches for 341 yards and four touchdowns in his 10 games this season, with his four receiving touchdowns tied for the third-most among the Tide’s receiving corps.

ANOTHER ONE FOR BRAILSFORD: Alabama’s Parker Brailsford was named the Southeastern Conference’s Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week, the league office announced Nov. 10. The honor was the second of the 2025 campaign for Brailsford, who picked up identical honors following Alabama’s 30-14 win over then-No. 16/17 Vanderbilt on Oct. 4. Brailsford provided key blocks in the Crimson Tide’s 20-9 win over LSU on Nov. 8, playing all 64 snaps at center. The redshirt junior did not allow a sack or quarterback pressure against the Tigers’ defensive front, registering six knockdown blocks in the win. The weekly honor is the second of Brailsford’s Alabama tenure. NO BETTER CENTER: Center Parker Brailsford was named to The Sporting News’ Midseason All-America Team, the outlet announced on Oct. 15. At the time of the announcement, Brailsford had yet to allow a sack across 245 pass blocking snaps according to Pro Football Focus, in addition to providing key blocks for an offense that was averaging 126.5 rushing yards per game. BRAILSFORD NAMED SEC O-LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Parker Brailsford was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week on Oct. 6 following the Tide’s 30-14 win over then-No. 16/17 Vanderbilt on Oct. 4. Brailsford played all 69 offensive snaps against the Commodores without surrendering a sack, pressure or quarterback hit in the victory. The weekly SEC honor was the first in the collegiate career of the Arizona native. THE BIG GUY: Alabama left tackle Kadyn Proctor has been among the most impactful offensive lineman in the country so far in 2025. Since Week 2, Proctor has allowed just two quarterback hits over his last 480 passing snaps while manning Ty Simpson’s blind side. The intimidating left tackle has amassed an 84.9 overall grade from PFF, the second-highest grade among all SEC offensive tackles and the eighth-best grade among all Division I tackles. Proctor has also managed five carries for 16 yards, with three of the five runs converting Tide first downs.

RAIDING THE AIR: The Alabama quarterback room is averaging 273.2 passing yards per game over its first 13 contests, the fourth-highest average in the SEC and the 21st-best figure in the nation. BORN TO RUN: The Crimson Tide produced eight rushing touchdowns en route to a 56-0 win over Eastern Illinois on Nov. 22. Alabama’s eight rushing scores were the most in a single game since producing nine rushing touchdowns at Vanderbilt in 1979. AERIAL ASSAULT: Alabama saw three different quarterbacks produce seven touchdown passes in the Tide’s 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6. The seven touchdowns through the air matched UA’s program record for touchdown passes in a single game previously set against Southern Miss on Nov. 11, 1950. 400+ YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE: Alabama has gained 400-plus yards of total offense in 78 of its last 109 games, dating back to the start of the 2018 season. The Crimson Tide produced 400-plus yards of total offense for the fifth time this season against Eastern Illinois, posting 539 total yards on Nov. 22. Earlier this season, the Tide managed 406 yards of offense against then-No. 11/11/10 Oklahoma, 486 yards of offense against then-No.16/17 Vanderbilt on Oct. 4, 454 yards against Wisconsin on Sept. 13, as well as finishing with 583 total yards against ULM on Sept. 6. In the 31 instances where the offense did not go over 400 yards, Alabama is 22-9.

500+ YARDS OF OFFENSE: Alabama has eclipsed 500 yards of offense in 62 games since the start of the 2015 season, including twice in 2025. The Tide managed 539 yards of offense in a 56-0 win against Eastern Illinois on Nov. 22, having also produced 583 yards of offense in the 73-0 win over ULM on Sept. 6. The 62 instances include three games in 2024 when UA went for 500-plus against Western Kentucky (600), Georgia (547) and Mercer (508). The Crimson Tide accumulated 500-plus twice in 2023 along with seven times apiece in both 2022 and 2021. Additionally, the Tide went for 500-or-better eight times in 2020 and nine times in 2019, with the 2018 roster setting the Alabama single-season record with 500-ormore yards in 12 contests. 600+ YARDS OF OFFENSE: Alabama totaled 600 yards of offense in the 63-0 win over Western Kentucky to open the 2024 campaign. The 600-plus yard performance marked the 15th instance in program history that the Tide has been at or above 600 yards.

DEFENSIVE NOTES:

THIS IS THE BRAY: Bray Hubbard has been a force for the Tide defense through 13 games so far in 2025. The junior safety owns 66 total tackles, including three tackles for loss (-12 yards), to go with a team-high four interceptions, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, one sack (-9 yards) and a quarterback hurry. Hubbard’s 66 tackles are third-most among all Alabama defenders, while the Mississippi native’s four interceptions are tied for the SEC lead and 16th nationally. Additionally, Hubbard owns an 86.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the third-highest grade among SEC safeties and the NCAA’s 12th-highest figure at the position. PFF has also commended Hubbard’s success near the line of scrimmage, with his 91.0 run defense grade placing him second among the league’s safeties while ranking fifth in Division I. IRON BOWL REWARDS: Bray Hubbard was named the SEC’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 1 as the result of his impactful showing at Auburn on Nov. 29. Hubbard recorded just two tackles, but provided an interception late in the third quarter as the Tigers drove deep into Alabama territory. The hard-hitting safety then forced a fumble with just under 40 seconds left in regulation, stalling the AU drive and allowing time for the Tide to bleed the clock on the way to the eventual win. He was later named the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week on Dec. 4 for his efforts in the Iron Bowl. HUBBARD NAMED SEC DEFENSIVE POTW: Bray Hubbard was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 15 following his standout performance against Wisconsin on Sept. 13. Hubbard collected five total tackles and two interceptions against the Badgers, helping limit Wisconsin to just one offensive score and only 209 yards of total offense. The league honor was the first of Hubbard’s Alabama career. Hubbard was also named the Panini Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week as well as the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Defensive Back of the Week for his efforts against Wisconsin. LAYING DOWN THE LAW: Deontae Lawson has returned to form in 2025, serving as one of leading producers on the Crimson Tide defense once again. In 13 starts, Lawson has posted a team-leading 75 tackles, including three for loss (-5 yards), to go with three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one quarterback hurry. At Auburn on Nov. 29, Lawson recovered a key fumble with under 40 seconds left in regulation, allowing the Tide to bleed the clock en route to its sixth consecutive Iron Bowl victory.

LAWSON A SEMIFINALIST FOR COMEBACK POTY: Deontae Lawson was named a semifinalist for the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year Award, as announced by College Sports Communicators in conjunction with the Associated Press (AP) and the Fiesta Sports Foundation on Dec. 3. Lawson is among 15 semifinalists up for the Comeback Player of the Year Award, which recognizes college football student-athletes for overcoming injury, illness or other circumstances. At the conclusion of each season, in a vote by a panel of college football writers, editors, and sports information directors, three college football student athletes are honored as Comeback Player of the Year Award winners. The 2025 recipients will be announced on Dec. 17 and recognized at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8, 2026. Lawson would represent the first winner of the Comeback Player of the Year Award in Alabama program history. BROWN ON LOCKDOWN: Zabien Brown has developed into one of the nation’s most dependable cornerbacks. During his sophomore season, Brown has totaled 30 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss (-4 yards), while also contributing one interception return for a touchdown (99 yards), five pass breakups and one forced fumble in his 13 games. According to PFF, Brown has also provided important help at the line of scrimmage. The California native is responsible for a 90.2 run defense grade by Pro Football Focus, the best grade among SEC cornerbacks and the sixth-highest grade among all corners in Division I. WHAT A WEEK FOR ZB: Zabien Brown earned various league and national honors after his game-changing performance against then-No. 11/11 Tennessee on Oct. 18. Highlighted by his 99-yard interception return for a touchdown just before halftime, Brown also contributed a career-high seven tackles while limiting the Volunteers’ receiving corps to just 16 yards on six targets, equating to an allowed passer rating of 2.8 per Pro Football Focus. Brown was first named the SEC’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 20 before garnering national honors including Bronko Nagurski Player of the Week, Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week and the Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week.

PIERRE BRINGS PRESSURE: Yhonzae Pierre has evolved into one of the Tide’s most impactful defenders. Through 13 games, Pierre has totaled 44 tackles while leading all Alabama defenders with 11.5 tackles for loss (-85 yards), six sacks (-67 yards) and nine quarterback pressures. Pierre’s three forced fumbles are also tied with Bray Hubbard for the top mark among the Tide’s defensive unit. The Eufaula native is one of only 11 SEC defenders with at least 6.0 sacks, including five sacks over his last seven games, while his -67 sack yards are the 13th-most in the country. BIG PLAY YHONZAE: Yhonzae Pierre was named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week along with Zabien Brown on Oct. 18 for his efforts against then-No. 11/11 Tennessee. Pierre matched his career high with six tackles against the Vols, including a career-best three sacks (-31 yards), one of which led to a Tennessee safety. Pierre’s three sacks were the most by an Alabama player since 2021 and came against a UT offensive line unit that had only allowed four sacks through six games entering the Third Saturday in October. In addition to earning his first-career SEC weekly honor, the Eufaula native was also named the Chuck Bednarik Player of the Week for his showing against the Vols. MOVIN’ ON UP: Linebacker Justin Jefferson has taken on an elevated role at the second level of the Crimson Tide defense in 2025. Jefferson enters the matchup with Oklahoma owning the second-most tackles on the team with 73, including 4.5 tackles for loss (-26 yards) and two sacks (-20 yards). He has also contributed five pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, one interception and a forced fumble in his 13 games.

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