TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama football team returned to practice field on Friday afternoon, working a nearly two-hour session in shells inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility.

Today’s session marked the first of seven bowl practices before the holiday break and 12 practices overall prior to the College Football Playoff Semifinal against No. 4 Oklahoma in the Capital One Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. The top-ranked Crimson Tide will face off with Sooners on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018 with the game airing live on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbsteit will call the semifinal matchup from the booth, while Maria Taylor and Laura Rutledge will work each team’s sideline.
The Big 12 champion Oklahoma Sooners enter the College Football Playoff with a 12-1 overall record and an 8-1 mark in conference play. Oklahoma earned its berth in the playoffs following a 39-27 victory over then-No. 14 Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 1.
Also on Friday, Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and defensive back Patrick Surtain II were named to the USA Today Freshman All-America Team. The selection is the second freshman All-America honor for both. Waddle and Surtain II were also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team earlier this month with Waddle receiving SEC Freshman of the Year accolades from the league’s coaches.