Oklahoma football beat Texas to sneak into the College Football Playoff. Alabama was in all along setting up compelling storylines in the 2018 Orange Bowl?
We all knew that Alabama would be in, but the No. 4 spot was up for grabs until the very last second. There will surely be quite a bit of argument on if the Sooners truly earned that spot or if Georgia and Ohio State were shafted as the committee made their decisions. Of course ,all of that is neither here nor there now, so let’s get to the Sooners and why you should tune into the Orange Bowl to see them take on the Tide.
3. A Big Time Challenge for Oklahoma
Oklahoma is the king of the Big 12 . That is now officially undisputed after they took down the Texas Longhorns for the title. There is no one questioning that title or how good this team has been to get where they are. However, the big question now is this: can they keep up with the Crimson Tide?
Oklahoma has had one massive bugaboo this season, their defense. It helps they play in a conference in which defense seems to be optional, so it hasn’t caused them too much of an issue. However, Alabama does play defense, and their offense is pretty impressive, too.
Simply put, this is the biggest challenge that Oklahoma has faced this season. If that isn’t enough of a reason to tune in to this one, though I have two more for you, I truly don’t know what is. It’s finally time to see what Oklahoma is made of.
2. Kyler Murray vs Tua Tagovailoa (or Jalen Hurts)
These two kids are special to watch, no one is going to argue that. We are sure that we will see Murray play in this one. Him and his happy feet will be live from Hard Rock Stadium on December 29. He has had quite a bit of an adventure to get to where he is from Allen to MLB Draft to Texas A&M to Oklahoma to MLB Draft and back to Oklahoma. Now, the Heisman hopeful prepares for the fight of his life- the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Can Murray overcome what has been a horrid defense to take down the Tide? Will the fact that Tua Tagovailoa just had ankle surgery and will be out for about two weeks change the fight at all? Can Jalen Hurts carry his team over the Oklahoma Sooners?
To answer that question, let’s talk about Alabama’s two quarterbacks. After an ankle injury suffered at the SEC Championship, Hesiman hopeful Tua Tagovailoa will be sidelined for at least two weeks. This doesn’t take Tagovailoa out of the Semifinal game by any stretch of the imagination, but each injury is different and it very well could happen.
Without the sophomore phenom, the Tide is left with Jalen Hurts. What has Hurts done? Oh just take his team to the National Championship a season ago and then come in late in the SEC Championship to lead the Tide on a game winning drive to defeat Georgia.
Wether it is Tagovailoa or Hurts that takes on Murray, this quarterback fight is one that you are going to want to tune into.
1. Could this lead to yet another Clemson vs. Alabama face off?
For the last three seasons, we have seen the same match up either in the Semifinal or in the National Championship: Alabama vs. Clemson. Right now the score is 2-1 in favor of Alabama as they have wins in 2016 and 2018. In 2016, the Tide won the National Title over Clemson. In 2017, revenge was achieved as the Tigers claimed the National Title. Of course as we all know, the 2018 win sent the Tide on a crash course with Georgia for the National Title in a game that became an instant classic.
For this matchup to happen yet again, Clemson has to get past Notre Dame and Alabama has to get past Oklahoma. So why should you tune into this one? The answer is easy. If it does lead to yet another matchup between Dabo and Saban at least enjoy the semifinals that will not be that exact matchup.
In this one, we are going to watch two high-powered offenses put on a show. Many think this will be a battle of who has the ball last. Of course, the question of how Oklahoma’s defense will fare is a big one. We discussed that already. It also doesn’t help Oklahoma that this is likely the best Alabama team we have seen in years and that is saying something seeing as they have been on a tear in the last decade or so,
Whether it leads to another repeat of the Alabama Clemson saga or not, tune in to this one on December 29. You won’t regret it.