Alabama Rematch Against Oklahoma In CFP First Round
Tide fell to Sooners in mid-November, will play again Dec. 19 in Norman, OK
Despite Saturday’s 28-7 routing by the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship, Alabama’s season is far from over. The Crimson Tide, ranked No. 9 in the final CFP standings, will travel to face No. 8 Oklahoma in a first-round playoff rematch of their narrow early season contest. CFP Selection Committee Chairman Hunter Yurachek defended Alabama’s placement in the field, highlighting the strength of the Tide’s body of work over 12 games, including key wins and overall strength of schedule.
“Regardless of Alabama’s performance yesterday, their body of work … deserved to stay in that nine spot,” Yurachek said in a Sunday interview.
Alabama goes into the playoffs with a 10-3 record, including a 23-21 loss to Oklahoma earlier this year.
The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff now extends the postseason well past traditional bowl season. Georgia, along with Indiana, Ohio State and Texas Tech, will enjoy first-round byes. The toughest early test for SEC teams will come in Norman, where Alabama meets the Sooners Dec. 19. Other first-round games include Texas A&M hosting Miami, Ole Miss facing Tulane and Oregon welcoming James Madison.
- No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama — Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
- No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami — Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. (ESPN/ABC)
- No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane — Dec. 20 at 2:30 p.m. (TNT/HBO MAX)
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison — Dec. 20 at 6:30 p.m. (TNT/HBO MAX)
The CFP semifinals are set for Jan. 8 and 9, with the National Championship to be played Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
