College Football Playoff 2019: 16-team bracket simulation

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Head coach Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers talks with Joe Burrow #9 in the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs during the SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 26: Mac Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks to pass against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4. Oklahoma vs. 13. Alabama

Though you can’t argue the merits of the Oklahoma Sooners making it into the College Football Playoff field for the third-straight year based on their résumé as they suffered only one loss on the season and won the Big 12 Championship over a Baylor Bears team that also had just one defeat prior to that game, it’s also fair to say that they are the least impressive of the field of four. Simply put, this is a flawed team.

Alex Grinch undoubtedly did wonders with the Oklahoma defense in comparison to last season. Utilizing playmakers such as linebacker Kenneth Murray, the Sooners went from being a downright awful defensive team in 2018 to being fine on that side of the ball in 2019. However, as productive as Jalen Hurts was this season, he’s not had the offense working as consistently as Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray did previously.

That inconsistency on offense coupled with a still-suspect defense could be problematic against the Alabama Crimson Tide, even with Mac Jones at quarterback instead of Tua Tagovailoa. The weapons at Jones’ disposal, namely Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris and Jaylen Waddle, are just too talented for Oklahoma to contain, even with a downgrade at quarterback for Nick Saban’s team.

Moreover, as good of a coach as Lincoln Riley is, giving Saban two weeks to prepare for an offense led by a quarterback he coached for three years — even if Alabama’s defense has been lackluster by their standards — just seems like too much. We have our first upset of the 16-team bracket here as the No. 13 seed advances over the Sooners.

Winner: Alabama Crimson Tide