Sugar Bowl: Instant Analysis
* Josiah St. John is not dressed out for this one. That's the third offensive linemen Brennan Clay was talking about this week.
* The Sooners warmed up with the lineup we've been talking about all week on the offensive line. Daryl Williams at left tackle and Bronson Irwin at right guard.
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* This place is pretty jacked. The fans go nuts when just about anything happens.
* You can tell OU is jacked to be here and Alabama just looks very calm and confident. Maybe they aren't jacked to be here, but I think they just know they are badasses.
* I don't think there is any doubt there are a few more Alabama fans here, but place is far from packed to the rafters. Both crowds are loud so far.
* Hearing a lot of people still stuck outside the Superdome with just 6:00 before kickoff. Players have yet to come out of the locker room. Getting ready to start quickly.
* Both teams come out to fairly cool fireworks. Now it's foggy in the Superdome.
* Trey Millard walks out with the captains for the coin toss. He told us he just started walking without crutches a few days ago.
* Alabama will receive to start the game.
* We'll see if OU comes out big with Lindley in the game and keeps him out there a lot today. My guess is they will.
ALABAMA STARTS ON TE 25-YARD LINE
* Lindley replaces Julian Wilson in the starting lineup.
* Bama hits Cooper twice and is down to the OU7 yard line. A 53-yard pass to Cooper. Bama just hitting OU early with screens to the outside. Pretty much was OU used to do with Landry Jones against teams like Florida State.
OU just doesn't get out to the edges fast enough.
Very simple but effective play-calling by Alabama.
* Alabama: 4 plays 75 yards in 1:49 and they go up easily 7-0.
13:11 remaining in the first half.
OKLAHOMA 0 ALABAMA 7
* Roy Finch gets smoked on the return. Bama bringing the physical now defensively.
OU STARTS AT THEIR OWN 14-YARD LINE
* Knight comes out throwing. Completes to Bester for 8 yards.
* Clay tripped up, falls down on 2nd-and short. Makes it 3rd-and-1.
* OU gets a push on Bama's DL. Then Clay runs over a Bama DB. OU pushing back a bit.
* Sooners are huddling a little bit.
* Trevor Knight came to play. Pass to Saunders on 3rd-and-5. Sooners then pull a K-State option pass for 9. Sooners now out to midfield on a run.
* This offense looks good!!!
* Bama gets a big interception when Jalen Saunders can't haul in a wide open pass. Landon Collins makes a great pick and Alabama takes over at their own 24-yard line.
* Bama fans chanting S-E-C. Bob pissed them off. haha.
ALABAMA TAKES OVER ON THEIR OWN 24
* Important for OU to show some resistance on defense here. Obviously.
* Gabe Lynn intercepts A.J. McCarron on the very next play. McCarron made a terrible pass into triple coverage.
OU TAKES OVER ON THE BAMA 45-YARD LINE
* Huge play for OU defense.
TD OU. Knight to Lacoltan Bester for a 45-yard TD on the very next play. What a first quarter!
* Refs will review the TD.
* I don't see how refs can overturn it from all the angles we're seeing.
* Ruling stands
OKLAHOMA 7 ALABAMA 7
* That remade offensive line is also giving Trevor Knight good pass protection early.
ALABAMA TAKES OVER AT 25-YARD LINE
* Sooners go big with Lindley again. TJ Yeldon stopped for a short gain on first down.
* Zach Sanchez beat on a back shoulder play and then loses the receiver resulting in a 65-yard pass.
* Sooner defense stiffens to force a short field goal by Alabama much maligned kicker.
* 27-yard field goal by Cade Foster. Could have been worse after Sanchez gave up that 65-yard pass.
OKLAHOMA TAKES OVER AT THE 22-YARD LINE
* Roy Finch bottled up again.
* Trevor Knight just keeps Trevor Knight'n. 1st down Oklahoma.
* Keith Ford runs for 12. The zone read offense is clicking on all cylinders. OU down to teh Bama 39-yard line.
* Oklahoma's tempo has been furious. I've barely been able to keep up.
* Trevor Knight just became the quarterback OU thought he would be. 8-yard TD play to Saunders.
13 plays 78 yard drive from Oklahoma. 5:09 drive. 8-yard TD pass to Trevor Knight.
OKLAHOMA 14 ALABAMA 10
ALABAMA TAKES OVER
* Tide rush twice for a first down. You get the feeling they are trying to put the hammer down now.
* Their defense has to be tired after theat last drive by OU.
* Grissom sacks AJ McCarron.
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
Trevor Knight is 11-of-14 for 111 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT.
Oklahoma is 4-of-4 on third downs.
START OF SECOND QUARTER ALABAMA 2ND-AND17 ON 24-YARD LINE
* AJ McCarron with a huge TD throw. 67 yards. Mike Stoops sold out at the line of scrimmage and they couldn't get there.
* Bama retakes the lead.
OKLAHOMA 14 ALABAMA 17
OKLAHOMA STARTS AT OWN 45 AFTER ROY FINCH KICKOFF RETURN
* Oops. Triple option gets obliterated. 4 yards loss.
* Oops. Illegal formation on OU. Now 2nd-and-19
* Derrick Woods comes in to make a spectacular grab for a first down.
* Drives stalls at 30-yard line and Hunnicutt in for a 47-yard FG attempt.
It's good.
OKLAHOMA 17 ALABAMA 17
ALABAMA TAKES OVER AT THE 25-YARD LINE
* Radio broadcast has announced Sterling Shepard to the locker room. I didn't see him leave the field.
* Sanchez makes a special play and then can't wrap up Cooper again for another big gain. Alabama to the OU 31-yard line.
* Bama calls a timeout with 3rd-and-inches awaiting.
* Bama got it but a great push by the OU defensive line.
* Geneo Grissom recovers a Yeldon fumble, caused by Dominique Alexander, and OU takes over at the 34-yard line. Another huge play by the Sooners.