We had to take a break last week from our magic, all-powerful A.I. machine (aka College Football 25 on my PS5). There aren't FCS teams on the game outside of the generic FCS East and whatnot, but that wouldn't have felt authentic.
This week, however, Alabama football is back to take on a real opponent. The Crimson Tide are traveling to face off with SEC newcomer Oklahoma in Norman, just the second trip out there for Alabama in program history.
We can prognosticate further about what we think is likely to happen, but we all know we're better off asking the A.I. machine to give us a peek into the future and let us know what's going to happen on Saturday night in Alabama's penultimate regular season matchup.
The scoring started early in a way I've rarely seen in a video game simulation, which makes me think the game is trying to tell me that Saturday night in Norman is going to get weird. Buckle up.
Jeremiah Alexander blocked an Oklahoma punt out of the back of the endzone for a safety. It was 2-0 Alabama just like that. A Qua Russaw sack backed the Sooners up to the 15-yard line, which led directly to the safety.
Alabama took advantage of some good field position off the Oklahoma free kick, and Jalen Milroe connected on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Germie Bernard to put Alabama up 9-0.
The Sooners got on the board in the second quarter with a 44-yard FG, but Alabama put together a drive that was capped by Justice Haynes punching in a touchdown from two yards out to give the Crimson Tide a comfortable 16-3 halftime lead.
Jackson Arnold led the Sooners down the field at the end of the half, but he was intercepted in the endzone by Domani Jackson to end the threat.
The Sooners would not go down quietly, and an Alabama fumble on its first possession of the third quarter allowed the Sooners to get into the endzone. Arnold hit tight end Bauer Sharp to cut Alabama's lead to 16-10.
Late in the third quarter, Graham Nicholson put Alabama back up by two possessions with a 36-yard field goal to make it 19-10.
Alabama finally put Oklahoma way in the fourth quarter when Milroe hit freshman phenom Ryan Williams for a 30-yard touchdown to give Alabama a 26-10 lead that was ultimately the final score.
Milroe threw for 175 yards on 12/18 passing. He added 40 yards on the ground. Haynes and Jam Miller combined for 83 yards on 23 attempts. Williams was the leading receiver with 69 yards on four catches and a touchdown.
Alabama sacked Arnold three times. It was one a piece for Russaw, LT Overton, and Deontae Lawson. The Tide forced one turnover, the interception by Jackson at the end of the first half.
It wasn't always pretty, but any win will do for the Crimson Tide this late in the season.