NORMAN, Okla. — The man emerges from Oklahoma Memorial Stadium’s southeast tunnel, slowly emerging from the shadows, through thick fog and into the bright lights of the arena.
There was no doubt on his face: it was 50 cents.
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On Saturday, one of America’s most famous rappers strolled onto the football field during halftime between the third and fourth quarters, microphone in hand, donning a sweater emblazoned with Oklahoma State’s motto for the season: difficult to kill.
In the end, this sentence is more fitting for the Sooners’ opponents.
In a hostile environment where the team trailed 17-0 on the road, the season was in jeopardy and even the head coach’s future was in doubt, Alabama survived.
Is Hart going to kill someone? This is the 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide — a 34-24 victory over Oklahoma State on Friday night that capped off an unprecedented comeback in the storied history of this storied football program.
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Many times throughout the season we thought they were dead. Cooked. fried. complete.
How about the Tide’s loss to Florida State, which was ranked No. 8 in the preseason? What about when they were blown away at home against this Oklahoma team in November? Then came the 21-point loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Finally, in the 19th minute on Friday night, they trailed by three points and looked sluggish, sad and completely out of character.
What followed was a 75-yard touchdown, a blocked punt, six catches and 27 consecutive unanswered scores, a late defensive stand on a three-point play, and then Germie Bernard’s incredible catch to break open and seal the victory.
Players were pouring off the court, “We’re going to L.A.! We’re going to L.A.!”
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Rose Bowl officials handed out a rose and players celebrated by grabbing it between their teeth in the locker room. The ninth-seeded Tide (11-3) is the second-to-last team in the tournament, taking on top-seeded Indiana (13-0) in Pasadena.
“You all gave us a thumbs up. Appreciate that,” smiled Ty Simpson, the hero of this unconscionable comeback.
Think about it: With Oklahoma leading 17-0, Simpson and the Alabama offense gained 12 yards on nine carries and forced three punts.
The tide looked disoriented. It looks like the Jekyll version of Yo-Yo from the season before Hyde arrived. And, boy, did he do it.
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Bama scored on five of its next seven possessions — a shocking turn of events considering the 18 drives leading up to the Iron Bowl. Alabama scored twice on those 18 attempts.
“I’m trying to get guys to believe there’s only one score, one score. Just point by point,” Alabama coach Karen DeBoer said. “Resilience has been a theme all season. It was outstanding tonight.”
The brief off-stage moment after the postgame press conference even showed the coach’s surprise. DeBoer leaned toward Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne and said, “Phew! Never been 17 behind!”
Alabama’s Keon Keeley celebrates his team’s win over the Oklahoma Sooners on Friday. (Stacey Revere/Getty Images)
(Stacey Revere via Getty Images)
DeBoer and Byrne walked briskly out of the press conference room and embraced each other in a joyful moment that could very well translate into a new contract for the coach in the near future. With the Michigan State head coaching job up in the air, the two sides have been trying to reach a deal.
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How is Ann Arbor now? Many in the industry believe the Wolverines are awaiting the results of Friday night’s game. Alabama’s loss may pave the way for more serious conversations with coaches about Michigan’s vacancy.
The search is now expected to shift away from DeBoer and toward a range of other candidates, most notably Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham.
If the Tide’s 17-point deficit holds, would DeBoer really be leaving one of the best teams in the country if they lose? If that’s the case, it’s not because of a lack of support from the Tide, former coach Nick Saban said on “College GameDay” in Norman on Friday.
“Karen DeBoer has the full support of the University of Alabama,” Saban said. “They want him to be the coach at Alabama. Maybe they can let him go to Michigan, I don’t know.”
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Now, after the victory, it’s going to be a logistical hurdle. When the Tide take on the Hoosiers, the Wolverines are not expected to wait any longer, certainly not for another two weeks.
Beyond that there are two rounds of action, which Simpson is expected to take part in.
“We’re not done yet. That’s all I’m saying,” he said.
The Alabama quarterback has led the Tide back to life, lifting them out of their coffins and digging them out of the dirt.
Is it difficult to kill? These guys are talented, skilled, and have five-star signees.
“The game will come back to us,” DeBoer said. “We have too many good players. That’s what happened tonight. The game came back to us.”
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The stars shined during this stunning 17-point rally.
Simpson had completions of 23 and 29 yards to start a nine-touchdown comeback. Tim Keenan blocked a punt that resulted in a field goal. Zabien Brown intercepted OU quarterback John Mateer and returned the ball 50 yards to tie the game.
After Daniel Hill rushed for 30 yards after halftime — the Tide’s longest run since Week 2 — Simpson fired a 30-yard score to Lozelle Brooks.
Finally, with about eight minutes left, and with a three-point lead, Bernard made a 24-yard scramble behind a defender, somehow grabbing the ball and then falling to the turf to seal the game.
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Is it difficult to kill?
That’s Alabama.
Minutes after 50 Cent’s surprise performance, Bernard caught the ball. As the players huddled together for the fourth quarter, the rapper quickly took to the court to sing his hit song “Many Men.”
When they heard the tune and saw the familiar face on the stadium’s big screen, Bama players huddled from the sidelines and walked up to the rapper to sing along with him. As it turns out, the group has a tradition of listening to the tune every Friday. This fuels their enthusiasm.
“It gives us some momentum,” linebacker Deontae Lawson said, glancing at Simpson during the postgame press conference.
Simpson smiled and turned toward the press room.
“I’ll tell the truth,” he said. “I didn’t know it was 50 Cent, but I did know that song.”