Tide advances in CFP; NFL awaits on Sooners’ QB Mateer … For those that went to bed early last night, Alabama overcame an early 17-0 deficit and went on to to defeat Oklahoma 34-24 in the opening game of the CFP playoffs. Alabama will now advance to play against top-ranked Indiana in a CFP quarter-final game in the Rose Bowl on January 1st. And that will set up a potentially fascinating QB dual between the Hoosiers’ Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson of Alabama, arguably the two top-rated prospects at the position for the 2026 draft, although technically neither has actually declared for the draft. Meanwhile, the NFL is waiting to hear from Oklahoma QB John Mateer, who is probably QB3 this year, after last night’s loss. Mateer, though, was largely non-committal after the game saying the usual he needs to talk with his family and look at all his options etc. before making a decision.
