Excuses are like, never mind, but everyone has them and they all stink.
Alabama lost two games to Oklahoma within a year of each other, including a 24-3 domination last season in Norman, and now, the No. 9 Crimson Tide have to go back to Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Friday for a rematch in the first round of the College Football Playoff. With anticipation of a third loss in a row to the Sooners, from bright lights to the weather, Bama wide receiver Germie Bernard was already listing excuses that could be reused for why his team lost during its last trip to Oklahoma.
Bama WR Germie Bernard gave every reason but a good one for why the Sooners won in Norman last season
That loss to OU last season in Norman came up in a press conference this week before the Crimson Tide's return to Norman. Bernard acted as if the game was played on a frozen field in the arctic that was lit by car headlights. He couldn't use any of the same excuses for the Crimson Tide's 23-21 loss earlier this season in Tuscaloosa, though.
It's also worth noting, before hearing the list of excuses, that it should be perfect weather on Friday in Norman, with a high of 60 degrees and the temperature expected to be at 53 degrees at kickoff with no chance of rain. That's pretty warm in mid-December.
"This time around, we know it's gonna be cold," Bernard said. "We know their lights, it kind of got me last time that we played. The lights were kind of, I don't know, in a weird position, I guess you could say. So that, and just the field condition. I think our equipment staff has done a great job at putting us in the right cleats and what not so we won't have that issue. And then, just from there, it's playing football. That's it."
Alabama WR Germie Bernard says the lights at Oklahoma ‘got him’ during last year’s loss.
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) December 17, 2025
The Tide returns to Norman for the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday. 🐘🏈 #rolltide pic.twitter.com/wjNbvKO4i1
In reality, the biggest issues Bama had in the two losses to the Sooners were moving the ball on offense and turning it over. If there's any excuse the Crimson Tide should make, it's that their offense isn't as good as OU's defense.