Alabama vs. Oklahoma results: Crimson Tide outpace Sooners in Orange Bowl

Dan Bernstein

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Alabama vs. Oklahoma results: Crimson Tide outpace Sooners in Orange Bowl image

Alabama was relentless in its first-half mauling of Oklahoma on Saturday night, and its early-game dominance proved the difference in a 45-34 College Football Playoff semifinal win over the Sooners.

The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 28-0 lead, their renowned physicality showing up in moments like running back Josh Jacobs steamrolling a defender on the way to the end zone and Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray appearing frustrated on the sideline after being hindered by a constant pass rush.

While Oklahoma's offense got going midway through the second quarter and kept things interesting most of the way, it could never catch Alabama, which finished with 528 total yards. Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa finished 24 of 27 passing for 318 yards and four touchdowns.

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Murray, recently named the Heisman Trophy winner, tossed two second-half touchdowns, including a 49-yard heave in the third quarter. He was forced to sit on the sideline, though, as Alabama ran out the final five minutes through the same bruising running that put it ahead in the first place.

The Crimson Tide will face Clemson in the title game for the third time in four years. This clash is scheduled to take place Monday, Jan. 7,  at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Alabama will also be making a fourth consecutive appearance in the national championship game.

Alabama vs. Oklahoma: Score, recap, highlights

Sporting News provided live updates and highlights from the Orange Bowl CFP semifinal between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Oklahoma. Here's how the Crimson Tide won:

Final: Alabama 45, Oklahoma 34

11:47 p.m.: Tagovailoa takes a knee, and the clock runs out. Alabama is headed to the national championship.

11:43 p.m.: There are less than three minutes left, and Alabama continues to run the ball down Oklahoma's throat. This one looks over.

11:40 p.m.: Oklahoma's onside kick does not travel 10 yards. Alabama ball.

11:35 p.m.: Touchdown. Oklahoma benefited from a personal foul on Alabama, and Murray caps a lightning-quick drive with a touchdown run. Alabama leads 45-34.

11:29 p.m.: Touchdown. Alabama may have just put this game away, now leading 45-27 with about six minutes remaining. Tagovailoa now has four touchdown passes.

11:22 p.m.: Alabama recovers an onside kick attempt.

11:18 p.m.: Touchdown. Oklahoma isn't dead yet, as Murray throws for his second touchdown. Alabama is up 38-27 with 8:31 left to play.

11:12 p.m.: Oklahoma converts a fourth-and-5 from its own territory.

11:07 p.m.: Murray takes a brutal hit from Williams. It was ruled clean, but that had to hurt.

11:01 p.m.: Touchdown. Tagovailoa responds with a score. He connected with Smith on a slant pattern. Alabama leads 38-20.

11 p.m.: Alabama has put its foot back on the gas pedal early in the fourth quarter. The Crimson Tide are in the red zone.

End of third quarter: Alabama 31, Oklahoma 20

10:49 p.m.: Touchdown. Murray airs it out, releasing the ball on the run, and finds Charleston Rambo for a 49-yard score. That throw had some big-time arc to it. Alabama's lead is now 31-20.

10:47 p.m.: Wide receiver Marquise Brown has been hobbled throughout the game, and it really seems to be impacting his play. He doesn't have a catch.

10:39 p.m.: On a crucial third down, Tagovailoa makes an incredible throw deep down the sideline to Jeudy. Upon further review, however, the receiver stepped out of bounds before securing possession. That forces Alabama to punt.

10:31 p.m.: Alabama linebacker Christian Miller has been ruled out with a left leg injury.

10:27 p.m.: Field goal. After driving into the red zone, Oklahoma opts to kick a field goal on fourth-and-6 from the 9. Alabama is up 31-13.

10:19 p.m.: The Sooners move past midfield, picking up another first down on a Murray scramble. They could really use a touchdown on this drive.

10:15 p.m.: Alabama gets flagged for a horse-collar tackle on Murray, giving Oklahoma a quick first down.

10:13 p.m.: The second half is underway.

Halftime

9:54 p.m.: Here are some halftime stats:

Total yards — Alabama 318, Oklahoma 191.

QB comparison — Tua Tagovailoa 15 of 17 passing, 224 yards, two touchdowns; Kyler Murray 6 of 13 passing, 168 all-purpose yards, one rushing touchdown.

Third down — Alabama 5 for 7, Oklahoma 0 for 5.

Time of possession — Alabama 19:51, Oklahoma 10:09

End of second quarter: Alabama 31, Oklahoma 10

9:49 p.m.: Halftime.

9:47 p.m.: Quinnen Williams is back on the field for Alabama. He'd been in the tent earlier with an apparent hand injury.

9:45 p.m.: Field goal. A long, grueling Alabama drive ends in three points. Saban appeared extremely frustrated by penalties on the offensive line that stalled the forward match. The Crimson Tide are up 31-10.

9:38 p.m.: A first-down run by Jacobs leaves an Oklahoma defender in the dust.

9:31 p.m.: Oklahoma safety Robert Barnes has been ruled out with a right hamstring injury.

9:57 p.m.: Field goal. Oklahoma seems to have found its footing, at least for the time being. Alabama is up 28-10 following the Sooners' kick.

9:25 p.m.: Alabama defensive lineup Quinnen Williams is in the injury tent. He was holding his wrist.

9:20 p.m.: Murray runs for a first down after a flea flicker breaks down, and he got a huge block from a receiver on his way past the first-down marker.

9:09 p.m.: Touchdown. The Sooners get one back. Murray ran it in himself. Alabama leads 28-7.

9:03 p.m.: Oklahoma safety Robert Barnes was injured on the Crimson Tide touchdown. He was helped off the field by trainers.

9:01 p.m.: Touchdown. Alabama is absolutely crushing Oklahoma. Tagovailoa connects with Josh Jacobs to put the Crimson Tide ahead 28-0. 

End of first quarter: Alabama 21, Oklahoma 0

8:56 p.m.: End of first quarter.

8:54 p.m.: The Sooners go for it on fourth down around midfield, but Murray's pass is incomplete.

8:50 p.m.: Touchdown. Damien Harris reaches the end zone again. It's now 21-0, Alabama.

8:48 p.m.: Sheesh. Tagovailoa throws another long-range dart, this time for 40 yards to Jerry Jeudy.

8:45 p.m.: Oklahoma is forced to punt again.

8:39 p.m.: Oklahoma's Tre Brown appeared to have suffered some sort of leg injury on the ensuing kickoff. We'll keep an eye on it.

8:32 p.m.: Touchdown. Tagovailoa finds Henry Ruggs on third-and-6 for another score. If Oklahoma isn't careful, this game could get away from it fast. The Crimson Tide are up 14-0.

8:24 p.m.: Oklahoma goes three-and-out. Rough first drive for its vaunted offense.

8:21 p.m.: Touchdown. Alabama pounds the ball into the end zone with Harris. The Crimson Tide are up 7-0.

8:14 p.m.: After initially ruling running back Damien Harris fumbled near the goal line, officials determine the Alabama ballcarrier was down. That could have been a huge break for the Sooners.

8:11 p.m.: Alabama's first play is a 50-yard pass to DeVonta Smith. He caught the game-winning touchdown in last year's title game.

8:10 p.m.: Kickoff. Alabama receives.

Related Alabama-Oklahoma links

— Alabama-Oklahoma preview, betting trends
— SN's College Football Playoff picks
— Three Bama starters out for rest of Playoff
— Tua Tagovailoa says he won't be '100 percent' for Oklahoma
— Tagovailoa vs. Murray has makings of all-time classic duel
— Murray says he feels better after battling illness
— Riley's Oklahoma success more than 'being smarter than everybody else'

Dan Bernstein