Under the Hood: Alabama

After a week off it’s time for almost undoubtedly the biggest test of the Sooners season. After last year’s shocking win over Alabama the Sooners head to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to try and make it two in a row over the No. 4 ranked Crimson Tide. As another top 25 matchup it’s time for us to go Under the Hood and look at Alabama’s 37-20 win over Tennessee on Oct. 18.

Alabama 1st And 10 Offensive Percentages

2nd Down Offensive Percentages

3rd Down Offensive Percentages

Long (7 yards or more)	Medium (4-6 yards)	Short (1-3 yards)
Run – 14-percent (1 times)	Run – 0-percent (0 times)	Run – 20-percent (1 times)
Pass – 86-percent (6 times)	Pass – 0-percent (0 times)	Pass – 80-percent (4 times)

Alabama Offensive Formations

1st Down	2nd Down	3rd Down
One-Back with Tight End – 11-percent (1 run, 2 pass)	One-Back with Tight End – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	One-Back with Tight End – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)
One-Back with Double TE – 4-percent (0 run, 1 pass)	One-Back with Double TE – 5-percent (1 run, 0 pass)	One-Back with Double TE – 8-percent (0 run, 1 pass)
One-Back with Double TE and Double H-Back – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	One-Back with Double TE and Double H-Back – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	One-Back with Double TE and Double H-Back – 8-percent (1 run, 0 pass)
Pistol with TE and H-back – 7-percent (2 run, 0 pass)	Pistol with TE and H-back – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	Pistol with TE and H-back – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)
Pistol with Tight End – 11-percent (0 run, 3 pass)	Pistol with Tight End – 11-percent (2 run, 0 pass)	Pistol with Tight End – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)
Shotgun Empty – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	Shotgun Empty – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	Shotgun Empty – 8-percent (0 run, 1 pass)
Shotgun Empty with H-Back – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	Shotgun Empty with H-Back – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	Shotgun Empty with H-Back – 8-percent (0 run, 1 pass)
Shotgun One-Back – 19-percent (2 run, 3 pass)	Shotgun One-Back – 32-percent (1 run, 5 pass)	Shotgun One-Back – 23-percent (1 run, 2 pass)
Shotgun One-Back with H-back – 11-percent (2 run, 1 pass)	Shotgun One-Back with H-back – 48-percent (4 run, 5 pass)	Shotgun One-Back with H-back – 15-percent (0 run, 2 pass)
Shotgun One-back with Tight End – 19-percent (2 run, 3 pass)	Shotgun One-back with Tight End – 5-percent (1 run, 0 pass)	Shotgun One-back with Tight End – 15-percent (0 run, 2 pass)
Shotgun One-back with Tight End and H-back -19-percent (4 run, 1 pass)	Shotgun One-back with Tight End and H-back – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	Shotgun One-back with Tight End and H-back – 8-percent (0 run, 1 pass)
Shotgun One-Back Double TE – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	Shotgun One-Back Double TE – 0-percent (0 run, 0 pass)	Shotgun One-Back Double TE – 8-percent (0 run, 1 pass)

Offensive Thoughts:

Against the Volunteers, Alabama rushed for 120 yards on 32 attempts (3.8 yards per carry) and completed 19-of-29 passes for 253 yards (8.7 yards per attempt).

There’s no question how Alabama’s offense succeeds – the passing game. That is led by quarterback Ty Simpson who is playing at a Heisman-winning level and a pair of receivers that are doing some heavy lifting for the Tide’s offense.

In this one Simpson was solid but not at the level that we’ve seen him in some other games. The bottom line though is in a year full of some promising quarterbacks, Simpson is a new level of test for the Sooners defense.

The thing that sticks out most notably is how calm Simpson is under pressure. He largely has time but when things break down in front of him he shows a lot of skill in knowing where he has room to move in the pocket. Simpson slides around, sometimes knowing where the heat is coming before it arrives, all while keeping his eyes down field.

And when he chooses to throw it downfield he shows real touch and an ability to layer throws between defenders.

Unlike some quarterbacks the Sooners have faced, he’s not dynamic with his feet but he’s capable of picking up first downs and is a tough runner when he puts his head down.

This may all sound flattering but there was one truly bad moment through the game when Simpson made a scary decision to throw on a third down late in the fourth quarter. Beyond that, he’s a guy that defenses worry about every time he drops back.

Catching those balls was, almost exclusively, the pairing of Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. The way that Alabama uses both plays well to their talents but shows how different the two are.

Williams, who has had a few ups and downs in 2025, made some outstanding catches in this one. When you mix in his speed and open-field ability he’s a truly dangerous player. The sophomore is somehow both smooth and explosive simultaneously. He’s one of the best receivers the Sooners have faced this season.

While Williams has long been known and had a lot expected of him, Bernard was actually the Tide’s leading receiver in 2024 and hasn’t missed a beat in 2025. He’s a big and physical outside receiver that Alabama will line up in the backfield and frankly all over the field. Bernard uses his size and quickness to create a lot of run after the catch yardage.

While the passing game is loaded with talent the backfield has been a bit more of a lackluster source of production so far. Senior Jam Miller is a solid back who does a lot of things well but hasn’t shown a lot of ability to pop big runs in this year’s offense.

The player who is kind of interesting? Sophomore Daniel Hill who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 244-pounds and looks it on tape. He’s a hammer looking for a nail but has great feet and can make some guys miss when needed. Hill is the kind of player you bring in for the second half and he just takes chunks from a worn down defense.

Against the Volunteers, the run game just looked different when he was on the field.

The Tide offensive line has been part of some of the run game problems but it’s a group that has had to play some musical chairs with its lineup. That being said, the unit has some pieces that flashed real strength against Tennessee.

Left tackle Kadyn Proctor is almost certainly the nation’s most well-known offensive lineman. And there are certainly plenty of times it’s easy to understand why. He’s massive and when he locks onto a defender it’s game over just about every time. He can still struggle with speed at times but his growth from 2024 to 2025 is undeniable and has him in line to be a high-level draft pick next spring.

At center may be the best player in the country at his position, Parker Brailsford. He’s an outstanding athlete and makes impressive blocks at every level. He’s not the dominant physical presence that some are, in fact he can get beaten in initial contact, but once he sets his base and starts driving his defender he has surprising strength.

Right guard Geno VanDeMark has been in and out of the lineup and showed a few flashes of struggle with a power rush. But when he is sliding and moving well, he’s got power in his hands and can move defenders.

Speaking of players who flashed some ability to move bodies? Right tackle Wilkin Formby is a promising guy and when he kept his pad level down, he was overwhelming defenders.

Defensive Thoughts:

Against the Crimson Tide, Tennessee rushed for 142 yards on 33 attempts (4.3 yards per carry) and completed 28-of-44 passes for 268 yards (6.1 yards per attempt).

This isn’t an Alabama defense loaded with names we’re all familiar with. That’s not to say there isn’t plenty of talent though. And in this one the standout was undoubtedly sophomore defensive end Yhonzae Pierre. He’s a physical pass rusher that had success running right at blockers. Building upon those power rushes, once he gets inside a blocker does a good job not getting knocked off his pass rush lane.

Pierre had his game of the season in this one but against the Volunteers he showed off good activity – several times tracking plays down field – and is clearly physical.

Joining him on the defensive line the Tide may not have their usual dominant force but are very solid all around. On the inside Tim Keenan is a fire hydrant with some burst. He’s tough to move off the spot if he gets off the ball well. His partner, James Smith is a bit twitchier as a pass rusher but at a listed 297-pounds, he can get pushed around a little in the run game.

LT Overton had one of the plays of the season for Alabama in their big win over Georgia but against Tennessee was fairly quiet. He’s a long defensive lineman who is capable of making difference-making plays but does seem to be at his best when he’s chasing plays from the backside rather than being a point of attack player.

At linebacker the Tide have a pair of quality players but it was Justin Jefferson who caught the eye against the Vols. He’s a sideline to sideline linebacker that also showed some comfort dropping into coverage. He’s not wildly flashy with his game but he’s very, very steady.

His partner in crime is Deontae Lawson. He’s been in lock step with Jefferson statistically this season but against the Vols had a game where it felt like you kept waiting for a moment in which he took over and made a big play.

In the secondary the Tide have been one of the SEC’s best pass defenses all season.

In this one it was Zabien Brown who stole the show with his electric 99-yard interception return for touchdown that was back-breaking for Tennessee. Beyond just that play though he is a corner who competes well and challenges everything. He did a solid job against Chris Brazzell all night.

Opposite of Brown, true freshman Dijon Lee Jr. has taken the job in place of veteran Domani Jackson. Lee has great size and actually shows a good feel in zone coverage particularly for such a young player. Of the two Jackson, who does get plenty of snaps, looked a little more comfortable coming up and being physical when the play required it.

In this game the Tide had some trouble with the matchup of Braylon Staley on senior safety DaShawn Jones to the point they put Red Morgan in the game who did a pretty solid job where Jones had a few hiccups in man coverage. Both players are physical and want to get their hands on you to reroute a receiver. But it was Morgan who accomplished it more frequently in this game.

Matchups to Watch:

Kadyn Proctor vs. R Mason Thomas

Who knows if this is a matchup we’ll get to see but it’s hard to imagine a much better ‘good on good’ battle anywhere on the field. To forget that the two contrast each other so completely. Proctor is a walking mountain while Thomas is a smaller EDGE with elite burst.

Jayden Jackson vs. Parker Brailsford

If there is another clear battle between a couple of no doubt NFL guys, this is the spot. Jackson is a nasty point of attack player with impressive strength. Meanwhile Brailsford is among the best centers in the country and does as good a job of any blocker you’ll see of turning defenders where he needs them to go.

Ryan Williams vs. Eli Bowen

This one is something of a rematch after Bowen did a very solid job dealing with his fellow true freshman last year. The explosive Bama receiver has been coming on as of late while Bowen himself has been rounding into form since missing much of the early season.

If I’m the Sooners I…

…I am going to be myself defensively. The Sooners on defense have a defensive line capable of giving a talented, if surprisingly erratic, Alabama offensive line some problems. Against Tennessee they had a few problems with some twists and stunts – something the Sooners love to do.

Oklahoma will have to be prepared for some unbalanaced looks, particularly on hurried first downs. In this one, a few times Alabama would pick up their pace a bit and add an extra offensive tackle to one side of the line to try and create some angles they liked.

Similarly they’ll use a lot of pre-snap movement to give Simpson a look at the defense as well as trying to set up some advantageous angles. It’s an incredibly smart offense that will challenge the Sooners in a lot of different ways. But the bottom line is the Sooners have got to apply pressure to Simpson, if he’s given time to find his receivers, it’ll be a long day for Oklahoma’s defense.

Offensively, it’ll be interesting to see if the Sooners try and go at DaShawn Jones a bit, Tennessee had some success doing so and, eventually, saw him come off the field for Red Morgan. It would be interesting to see if the Sooners can create some matchups between Jones and Isaiah Sategna.

And whether it’s Morgan, Jackson, Lee, Brown, Keon Sabb, or anyone else this is an Alabama secondary built from a Nick Saban mold. In short, they are going to live with a few pass interference calls to grab, pull, and be as physical as humanly possible with receivers. Oklahoma’s got to be prepared for a dog fight outside.

Oklahoma can run the ball here if they stay away from some of the traps that got them early in the year. The lighter this box is, the more likely the Sooners are to find running lanes for Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock. And one player Oklahoma football might look to attack is defensive end Jordan Renaud. I thought he struggled a bit in run blocking and got turned a few times. It will be interesting if Oklahoma tries to isolate him a bit.

All in all, this feels like a really good Alabama team that is fully capable of beating the Sooners but it has to be said that a lot of things that have given the Sooners trouble this year, don’t seem to be the Tide’s primary strengths.