The Oklahoma State football team makes a splash in the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff home game against Alabama State on Friday, December 19 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
That includes 50 Cent — yes, that 50 Cent — appearing at a college football game.
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Must read: Oklahoma vs. Alabama scores, live updates: Crimson Tide leads CFP game
The rapper, who is rumored to be in attendance for the first-round game, walked out of the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium tunnel at the start of the fourth quarter to the opening lyrics of “Many Men.” The Sooners then broke their scoring drought on John Mateer’s 37-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the quarter to take three points against the Crimson Tide.
Here’s why 50 Cent is in the Oklahoma-Alabama College Football Playoff:
Check out the best photos from Oklahoma State vs. Alabama in the CFP First Round
Sooner Schooner takes the field before the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on December 19, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma.
Check out the best photos from Oklahoma State vs. Alabama in the CFP First Round
A panoramic view of the stadium interior prior to the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Oklahoma Sooners during the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoffs at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on December 19, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma.
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Check out the best photos from Oklahoma State vs. Alabama in the CFP First Round
No. 6 Tory Blaylock of the Oklahoma City Express tackles No. 10 Justin Jefferson of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter of a first-round game of the 2025 College Football Playoff at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, on Dec. 19, 2025.
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Check out the best photos from Oklahoma State vs. Alabama in the CFP First Round
Oklahoma Sooners’ No. 10 John Mateer is hit by No. 0 Deontae Lawson of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter of a first-round game of the 2025 College Football Playoff at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, on December 19, 2025.
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Check out the best photos from Oklahoma State vs. Alabama in the CFP First Round
Oklahoma Sooners’ No. 10 John Mateer runs for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoffs at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium in Oklahoma on December 19, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma.
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Check out the best photos from Oklahoma State vs. Alabama in the CFP First Round
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Karen DeBoer talks with Oklahoma State Fast Lane head coach Brent Venables before a first-round game in the 2025 College Football Playoff at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium on Dec. 19, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma.
Why is the Oklahoma State vs. Alabama CFP game 50 Cent?
The Sooners brought in 50 Cent to perform “Many Men” at the beginning of the fourth quarter, which has become a tradition at Oklahoma State’s home games over the past few weeks.
The stadium tradition began on Nov. 22 during the Sooners’ home game against Missouri State, according to the OU Daily, Oklahoma’s student newspaper. During that game, the Sooners debuted a new “Many Men”-themed promotional video that has been circulating ever since.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is the Oklahoma State-Alabama game 50 cents? Why do rappers appear?
