FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Through all the years, through all of Alabama’s dominance, so much stands out about the dynasty that stands above every competing run in college football history.
There’s the unprecedented collection of five national championships in nine years. There are the repeated runs through the toughest conference in the country and the increased challenges presented in the playoff era. There’s the never-ending string of future first-round picks. There’s the never-ending transformation of benchwarmers into future pros.
Most impressive may be Alabama’s ability to convince opposing powers that they don���t belong on the same field.
“It’s Alabama. A lot of people get beat before they step on the field,” said Oklahoma cornerback Tre Brown. “We’re gonna try and play our best game, and not get caught up in the logo.”
If the No. 4 Sooners (12-1) — two-touchdown underdogs for the first time since upsetting Alabama in the 2014 Sugar Bowl — stun No. 1 Alabama (13-0) in Saturday’s Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium, it will likely come in a shootout.
The nation’s top two offenses combined to average more than 97 points per game this season, with Alabama led by the superstar quarterback expected all season to win the Heisman Trophy (Tua Tagovailoa), and Oklahoma, carried by the phenom (Kyler Murray) who swiped it at the last moment.
While the Crimson Tide have won their past three playoff semifinal games, the Sooners have lost in each of their two playoff appearances, including a double-overtime heartbreaker to Georgia last season.
“I don’t care about odds, or any of that stuff,” Murray said. “It’ll be our biggest challenge all year, for sure, but we pose that threat back to them. … Every time we have the ball, we expect to score.”
Because of the dual-threat’s athleticism, versatility and efficiency, the expectation is reasonable — even against Alabama.
“I think the guy is one of the most dynamic players I have ever seen in college football,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “It’s challenging because it’s hard to get somebody to duplicate what the quarterback is capable of doing. … He does a fabulous job, and obviously, he’s the best player in college football.”
Even with the Heisman winner, Oklahoma barely snuck into the playoff — winning four games by one possession each — while Alabama became the first team since 1888 to win its first 12 games by 20 points or more, quietly showcasing an uncharacteristically underrated defense, which surrendered the fourth-fewest points (14.8 per game) in the nation.
“They’re as good a defense we’ve played in the four years we’ve been here,” Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said. “They haven’t been very vulnerable. Every game you turn on is about 50-10.”
If Oklahoma holds Alabama to 50, it might be considered a success.
The Sooners allowed more passing yards than any team in the country, and were shredded for a combined 686 yards on the ground by Kansas and Army.
While Oklahoma’s offense is powerful enough to carry the team to another win, a defensive stop would be an even greater upset.
“We’re going to need turnovers, we’re going to need sacks, we’re going to need everything we can get,” Brown said. “You don’t get a lot of chances like this. We believe in ourselves. No one else believes in us, but we’re going to believe in ourselves.
“We’ve been hearing [criticism] all year, and now we get to prove ourselves against one of the best offenses in the country. … It’s the two best offenses in the country, but it’ll come down to which defense can make a play.”
Or which historic offense can make more.
“It’s two great teams,” Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses said. “It’s gonna be a heavyweight fight.”
Perhaps Ali-Frazier. Perhaps Frazier-Foreman.