These 5 plays changed everything for Alabama in comeback win over Oklahoma in CFP

The game couldn't have started much worse for Alabama on Friday night against Oklahoma. The much-maligned Tide offense started the game with three consecutive three-and-outs, and by the time they got the ball for the fourth possession, it was 17-0 Sooners.

Not only was the offense struggling, but Kane Wommack's defense had few answers for John Mateer and the Oklahoma offense. And, as had been the case in the regular-season meeting, special teams had swung wildly in favor of the Sooners, too.

Oklahoma led the total yardage 181-12, and the game was looking like a complete and total mismatch. Plenty in the national media felt comfortable firing off ridiculous takes.

And then everything changed. Alabama delivered a counterpunch, scoring 27 unanswered points en route to a 34-24 win in Norman to become the first team in College Football Playoff history to win on the road.

Let's take a look at the sequences that shaped the Crimson Tide's comeback win.

The most important plays that shaped Alabama's comeback win over Oklahoma

1. Ty Simpson hits Lotzeir Brooks for Alabama's first first down

Through Alabama's first three offensive possessions, the Crimson Tide didn't muster a single first down. Alabama went three-and-out three consecutive times and was in real danger of doing it a fourth straight time.

Facing a pivotal 3rd-and-5 and trailing 17-0, Alabama desperately needed a spark. It found it thanks to impressive freshman WR Lotzeir Brooks, who had his coming-out party on the national stage.

On the critical third down, Ty Simpson trusted the freshman Brooks down the field, delivering a 29-yard strike that Brooks made a nice adjustment on to haul in the catch:

Simpson hit Josh Cuevas for a big play a couple of plays later to finally generate some momentum for an offense stuck in the mud.

2. Lotzeir Brooks' impressive effort gets Alabama on the board

On the same drive, Brooks came up with another huge play to finally get the Crimson Tide on the scoreboard.

On a 4th-and-2 in the redzone, Simpson never hesitated in getting the ball to Brooks, who then shook off multiple tackles and fought his way into the end zone to cut Oklahoma's lead to 17-7:

3. John Mateer misses a deep ball/Tim Keenan blocks a punt

We're going to loop two plays into one here. On Oklahoma's ensuing drive, and Alabama looking to build some momentum, the defense got off the field in just four plays, but got a big assist from Oklahoma.

On a 3rd-and-3 near midfield, Mateer evaded Alabama pressure and, with plenty of room to run for a first down a lot more, decided instead to loft the ball deep downfield to an open Xavier Robinson, who couldn't haul it in.

Instead of a first down - or maybe even a touchdown - Oklahoma had to punt instead.

It was a pivotal break for Alabama. Oklahoma lined up to punt, and punter Grayson Miller dropped the ball as he went to kick it away. He picked it up, but Alabama nose tackle Tim Keenan blocked it and recovered it, giving the Tide excellent field position.

Alabama couldn't cash in with a touchdown, but did get a Conor Talty field goal to cut into the Oklahoma lead.

4. Zabien Brown's pick-six ties the game

Something about pick-sixes right before halftime for sophomore CB Zabien Brown.

On Oklahoma's next offensive drive, Brown baited Mateer into a throw into the flats that Brown jumped and took back for a 50-yard touchdown to miraculously tie the game before halftime:

It was Brown's second pick-six of the season, and both came in clutch moments. He intercepted Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the first half of the Third Saturday in October.

This one was even more pivotal, tying the game at halftime and letting Alabama start from scratch in the second-half.

5. Lotzeir Brooks scores to give Alabama the lead for good

The comeback wouldn't have been complete without Alabama taking the lead. On Alabama's second possession of the third quarter, Simpson hit Brooks for a 30-yard touchdown to cap a quick, three-play, 60-yard TD drive.

Daniel Hill got things started with a 30-yard run, and after an incomplete pass on first down, Simpson found the standout freshman for a touchdown to give the Crimson Tide a 24-17 advantage. They wouldn't give the lead back.