Despite Connor Talty's roller coaster go of things during the 2025 regular season, Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football's belief in their redshirt sophomore kicker hasn't wavered. The same can't be said for the Alabama fanbase, but fortunately, the leash with the coaching staff was a little bit longer.
That trust factor was put to the test on a windy night in Norman last Friday during the opening round of the College Football Playoff. Talty rose to the occasion when the Crimson Tide needed him most, going a perfect 2 for 2 on field goals against Oklahoma in Alabama's 34-24 victory.
This redemption comes after Talty was booed by his own fanbase after missing a series of chip-shot field goals against Oklahoma and Eastern Illinois nearly a month ago in Alabama's final two home games.
Talty drew the ire of Alabama fans not just for his struggles, but for showing up his longsnapper after missing the short field goal against Oklahoma in the regular season matchup in Tuscaloosa.
Conor Talty came up big for Alabama against Oklahoma
Since being booed, Talty has responded by going a perfect 4 for 4 on attempts and successfully outkicking Sooners kicker and Lou Garza award winner, Tate Sandell, who went 1-3 against the Tide Friday night.
Talty's resurgent performance drew praise from Alabama's head coach afterwards.
"Obviously, Talty making his field goals, windy, it was kind of swirling," Kalen DeBoer said to reporters in Norman postgame. "You stand on one end, it's going one way, it kind of gets inside the stadium, goes the other. Just didn't really feel like he was affected by it... Really proud of him, the way he's continued to just stay the course, get the team to support him by just continuing to work. The guys have done that. Again, no finger-pointing ever, and just love the way these guys come together."
Talty and Alabama now look to build upon his recent success moving forward this postseason, as the Tide prepare themselves to face off as the No. 1-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in Pasadena, California at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2026.