Alabama linebacker Kelby Collins (17) celebrates a play against Oklahoma during the second half in the first round of an NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)

NORMAN, Okla. — Ty Simpson passed for 232 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 9 seed Alabama rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24 on Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Alabama freshman Lotzeir Brooks, who did not score a touchdown in the regular season, scored two and had season highs of five catches and 79 yards.

It was the third meeting between the schools in 13 months. Oklahoma defeated Alabama 24-3 last November at home, then beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 last month on the road.

It was the first playoff for the Crimson Tide since coach Kalen DeBoer arrived from Washington two years ago. Alabama (11-3) advanced to play No. 1 seed Indiana and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in a quarterfinal game at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Oklahoma’s John Mateer passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw a costly interception that Alabama’s Zabien Brown returned 50 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Deion Burks had seven catches for 107 yards and a score for the Sooners (10-3).

Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell, the Lou Groza Award winner for the nation’s best kicker, tied an FBS single-season record for most made field goals of 50 or more yards. He drilled a 51-yarder into a stiff wind to give the Sooners a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter, his 24th consecutive made field goal. The Sooners outgained the Crimson Tide 118 yards to 12 in the opening period.

Mateer’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna early in the second quarter pushed Oklahoma’s lead to 17-0.

Alabama, which went three-and-out on its first three possessions, finally got its offense going midway through the second quarter when Simpson hit Brooks for a 10-yard score to trim Oklahoma’s lead to 17-7. Later in the quarter, Brown’s interception return tied the score at 17.

Brooks caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Simpson early in the third quarter to give Alabama its first lead. The Crimson Tide took a 27-17 advantage on a 40-yard field goal by Conor Talty.

Burks caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mateer two plays into the fourth quarter to cut Alabama’s lead to 27-24. Oklahoma had chances to stay in the game, but Sandell missed from 36 yards with just under three minutes remaining to end his streak. He missed again from 51 yards out with 1:18 to play.

Pribula in portal

Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula is entering the transfer portal for the second consecutive year, and Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said that freshman backup Matt Zollers would start in the Gator Bowl against No. 20 Virginia on Dec. 27.

Pribula had transferred last season from Penn State, where he was blocked by returning starter Drew Allar. He led the No. 25 Tigers to a 6-1 start to the season, but then dislocated his ankle in a 17-10 loss to Vanderbilt the final weekend of October.

Pribula return for a 17-6 loss to Oklahoma before playing in a 31-17 win over Arkansas in the Tigers’ regular-season finale. He wound up throwing for 1,941 yards with 11 touchdown passes and nine interceptions, and he ran for 297 yards with six more scores.

Zollers started the two games Pribula missed, a loss to Texas A&M and a victory over Mississippi State.

Meanwhile, Duke quarterback Darian Mensah announced Friday that he would return to the Blue Devils next season. He had briefly explored entered the NFL draft after leading his team to a victory over Virginia in the ACC title game.

NC State wins

TAMPA, Fla. — CJ Bailey threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and scored another on the ground as NC State took down Memphis 31-7 in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday.

The Wolfpack concluded their season at 8-5 (4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) and won a bowl game for the first time since the 2017 Sun Bowl.

Jayden “Duke” Scott racked up 108 rushing yards to pace the NC State offense.

Broncos triumph

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Jalen Buckley ran for 174 yards, and Western Michigan scored on a fumble recovery and a pick-6 on its way to rolling Kennesaw State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

The Broncos finished their season at 10-4.