Germie Bernard had what could have been a critical drop in the third quarter of Alabama's comeback 34-24 win over Oklahoma in Friday night's College Football Playoff opener.
With Alabama leading 24-17, it faced a 3rd-and-2 from its own 46-yard line as it looked to take a commanding two-possession lead. Ty Simpson threw the ball to Bernard down the field, and the senior WR lost the ball in the lights and watched it go straight through his hands.
It wasn't a perfect throw by any means. It was an immediate coverage bust by Oklahoma that left Bernard streaking wide open for what should have been a touchdown. Simpson saw it late and then threw the ball off his back foot, well short. Bernard had to wait for it, but he'd be the first to tell you he should have hauled it in.
An Oklahoma penalty extended the Crimson Tide's drive, which ultimately finished with a Conor Talty field goal that stretched the Alabama lead to 10.
Bernard has been as reliable as it gets for Alabama this season. There was no question in Simpson's mind that he was going to go back to Bernard in another pivotal moment.
Ty Simpson went right back to Germie Bernard in a critical situation
"I missed one early, and he told me he was going to come back to me," Bernard said in his on-field interview with Simpson after the game.
In the fourth quarter, on the ensuing Alabama drive after Oklahoma had scored to cut the lead to just three, Alabama needed a touchdown to put some separation back between the two. On a 2nd-and-4 inside the Sooners' 30-yard line, Simpson saw the look he wanted with Bernard one-on-one against an Oklahoma defensive back.
Simpson put the ball in the air to give Bernard a chance, and it led to a play that will be remembered for a long time.
Bernard made a Tyrone Prothro vs. Southern Miss catch on the defender's back, climbing the ladder and hauling it in to set Alabama up with a first-and-goal. Two plays later, Daniel Hill punched in a touchdown to put the Crimson Tide back ahead by 10.
All the angles of the INSANE catch from Alabama WR Germie Bernard.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 20, 2025
It set up a Crimson Tide TD and 10-point lead over Oklahoma in the fourth quarter.
Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit have the call for ESPN. 🏈🔥🔥🔥🎙️ #CFP pic.twitter.com/756dXecNCW
Simpson hasn't been perfect this season, but he has been much better than most figured. He's overcome a lot of adversity around him on offense, which is a perfect microcosm of this Alabama football team.
Nothing about this team has been perfect. But they just keep winning games and making plays in critical moments when plays have to be made.
Simpson has been the driving force behind it, taking a cue from his head coach and injecting confidence into everyone around him.