NORMAN — Oklahoma built an early 17-0 advantage, but Alabama outscored the Sooners 34-7 over the final two-and-ahalf quarters to claim a 34-24 victory Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The Sooners (10-3, 6-2 SEC) opened the game with scores on three of their first four possessions, highlighted by a John Mateer rushing touchdown, a 51-yard field goal from Tate Sandell and a second-quarter touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna. Alabama (11-3, 7-1 SEC) responded with a late first-half surge to pull even at halftime before taking control in the second half.

Mateer finished the night completing 26 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding a score on the ground. Deion Burks led the receiving corps with a season-high 107 yards, while Jer’Michael Carter and Javonnie Gibson added 46 and 41 receiving yards, respectively.

Oklahoma briefly closed the gap in the fourth quarter behind a 37-yard touchdown reception from Burks on the Sooners’ second play of the period, but Alabama answered on its ensuing drive to extend the margin and seal the outcome.

Defensively, the Sooners were led by redshirt junior Owen Heinecke, who posted a game-high seven tackles along with a sack. Peyton Bowen added five stops and a pass breakup, while four different Sooners recorded a sack, as Heinecke, Kip Lewis, Taylor Wein and Marvin Jones Jr. all finished with tallies.

“As far as I’m concerned, this season was a success,” Heinecke said. “It didn’t end how we wanted. Obviously, our goal at the beginning of the year was to win the national championship, but I’m super proud of the team.”

However, in the College Football Playoff, effort and production were not enough. The timing of penalties and extended passing drives ultimately defined the game’s outcome. OU’s defense, which had been the backbone of the team all season, could not save the Sooners when the stakes were highest.

“It’s hard to just say what the defense did as a whole team; we didn’t get the job done,” OU senior defensive lineman R Mason Thomas said. “End of the day, it doesn’t really matter at this point if we don’t come out with the W.”

After Friday’s loss, Mateer reflected on his first season at Oklahoma. The signal-caller is a redshirt junior, and has one more season of collegiate eligibility left, if he chooses to use it. Understandably, Mateer said he hadn’t thought much about the decision to stay in school or go pro yet instead choosing to reflect on the 2025 season.

“I love these guys,” Mateer said. “And we all hate that it’s over. And that’s all I’m really thinking about right now. I wish we could just have one more day together ... We did a lot of things people didn’t expect. And it’s just because of the group of guys we had.”

“It means a lot,” Mateer said. “I think sometimes I sit back and still see the logo on my chest or on my head and it kind of freaks me out. Oklahoma versus Alabama, and I just played in that game. It’s all God’s grace and I’m grateful for where I’m at and how it all went, even though it didn’t go how we wanted it to, and it ended up short.”

Mateer will weigh his options now that the off-season has arrived for the Sooners, and Arbuckle and head coach Brent Venables would very likely welcome him back as QB1 if he decides to forgo the NFL Draft. It’s still somewhat unclear what Mateer will decide to do, but he expressed his gratefulness for the opportunity he had this year with the Sooners.

The Oklahoma Sooners finished the 2025 football season with a 10-3 overall record, including a 6-2 record in the SEC, reaching the College Football Playoff (CFP) as an 8th seed and a historic first time hosting a firstround playoff game.