Kalen DeBoer Responds to Critics After Oklahoma Win/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer fired back at critics after his team’s dramatic comeback win over Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff. Facing questions about Alabama’s inclusion in the field and his own future, DeBoer stayed focused. The Crimson Tide rallied from a 17-point deficit to defeat the Sooners 34-24 and advance to the Rose Bowl.
Kalen DeBoer Playoff Victory Quick Looks
- Matchup: Alabama vs. Oklahoma, College Football Playoff
- Location: Norman, Oklahoma
- Date: December 19, 2025
- Final Score: Alabama 34, Oklahoma 24
- Comeback: Alabama overcame a 17-0 deficit
- Next Game: Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana in Rose Bowl quarterfinal
- Coach in Focus: Kalen DeBoer
- Controversy: CFP selection debate, Michigan coaching rumors
- Key Players: QB Ty Simpson, LB Deontae Lawson
- Motivation: Media criticism post-Georgia loss
Kalen DeBoer Responds to Critics After Oklahoma Win
Deep Look
NORMAN, Okla. — Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer had heard it all in the days leading up to the Crimson Tide’s College Football Playoff matchup against Oklahoma. The noise was loud: criticism about Alabama’s inclusion in the playoff field, skepticism after a humiliating loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship, and speculation about DeBoer possibly leaving for Michigan. But when the whistle blew in Norman, Alabama delivered a resounding response.
The Crimson Tide rallied from a 17-point second-quarter deficit to stun the Sooners 34-24 in front of a stunned Oklahoma crowd. The win secured Alabama’s place in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal, where they will face top-seeded Indiana.
In the postgame press conference, DeBoer made it clear that he and his team had been paying attention to the outside noise.
“The doubt piece — there’s enough confidence within our group to where we can see the doubters, we can see the naysayers and just go still play our game,” DeBoer said. “This group is tight enough to where there’s never been any finger pointing. There’s never been anything like that.”
Despite the controversy surrounding their playoff spot—particularly the exclusion of a strong Notre Dame team—DeBoer and his squad used the criticism as motivation. Their resilience was on full display after a disastrous start in which Oklahoma scored 17 unanswered points and appeared to have full control.
But Alabama didn’t panic. Instead, they recalibrated, adjusted their defensive schemes, and started chipping away at the Sooners’ lead. A methodical offensive push led by quarterback Ty Simpson turned the tide, as Alabama put up 27 straight points to reclaim dominance.
Simpson, speaking with a hint of irony, acknowledged the motivation that came from the media doubting the Crimson Tide.
“I guess we can thank you guys for that,” he said. “I mean, y’all kind of wrote us off in a nice sort of way. So, appreciate that.”
Simpson wasn’t alone in expressing that sentiment. Linebacker Deontae Lawson also pushed back against the post-SEC Championship narrative, saying it helped ignite the team’s best performance.
“That’s when we’re at our best,” Lawson said.
The magnitude of the comeback was not lost on anyone. Alabama had dropped its last two meetings with Oklahoma and appeared to be heading toward a third straight loss early on. But DeBoer remained calm even when the Crimson Tide were trailing by three scores.
“You can’t go score a 17-point touchdown,” DeBoer said. “You’ve got to score one score, even if it’s three points. And that’s what our guys did.”
The win was a statement—not just to the College Football Playoff committee that had taken criticism for Alabama’s inclusion, but also to fans, media, and even potential future suitors like Michigan. Rumors had swirled in recent weeks that DeBoer could be headed to Ann Arbor, strong enough that he issued a formal statement reaffirming his commitment to Alabama.
“I’m happy here,” DeBoer reiterated after the game, aiming to end the speculation.
From a strategic standpoint, Alabama’s performance was a masterclass in adjustments. The defense tightened after Oklahoma’s early explosion, neutralizing their run game and forcing turnovers in the second half. Offensively, Simpson took control, spreading the ball efficiently and exploiting Oklahoma’s coverage breakdowns.
With this victory, Alabama now finds itself just two wins away from yet another national championship, a remarkable turnaround considering where the program stood just weeks ago. After a crushing 38-10 loss to Georgia, few expected this version of the Crimson Tide to still be standing in late December.
“We’re not done yet,” Simpson said. “That’s all I got to say.”
Alabama will now prepare for its quarterfinal matchup at the Rose Bowl against undefeated and top-ranked Indiana, a team that has surprised many this season. The matchup presents another opportunity for the Crimson Tide to prove their doubters wrong and move one step closer to college football glory.
As the postseason continues, one thing is clear—Kalen DeBoer and Alabama are not listening to outside voices. They’re too busy winning.
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