Oklahoma vs. Alabama: Who has the edge in the playoffs?
Matt Hayes down Oklahoma vs. Alabama and why the Sooners might have the edge at home.
There’s no way to say it than Alabama football has struggled to find its running game for much of this season.
That was especially evident in the Crimson Tide’s 28-7 loss in the SEC championship game — a game that Alabama was without its lead running back, Jam Miller in, against Georgia, as Alabama finished with negative-3 rushing yards on 16 carries, with Daniel Hill leading with 11 rushing yards.
It’s a part of Alabama’s offensive game that it will look to get going on Friday, Dec. 19 in the first round of the College Football Playoff against No. 8 Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma with Miller expected to return to play.
Miller has been dealing with a lower leg injury that he sustained in the final week of the regular season. In the regular season meeting against the Sooners’ defense, Miller finished with just 27 rushing yards on nine carries. It is one of Miller’s four regular-season games where he finished with less than 30 rushing yards.
Here’s the latest on Miller’s status against Oklahoma:
Is Jam Miller playing today? Alabama RB’s CFP first-round status vs Oklahoma
It appears that the Crimson Tide will have its lead running back for its CFP-first round game against Oklahoma, as Miller was left off the initial CFP injury report on Tuesday, Dec. 16, meaning Miller is all good for the Sooners.
During his Monday, Dec. 15 media availability, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Miller was “making some progress” and that the team was “optimistic at this point” on his return.
“Making some progress out there, doing some work,” DeBoer said. “You’re optimistic at this point.”
He added: “Just trying to continue to see how the week goes along. You guys saw him out there doing some things today.”
Jam Miller injury update
Miller sustained a lower leg injury in the Iron Bowl against Auburn back on Saturday, Nov. 30. The injury kept him out of the SEC championship game against Georgia on Saturday, Dec. 6.
As noted by the Tuscaloosa News, Miller returned to the practice field on Dec. 15 and led the running back group in drills.
“Jam’s always got a fire,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said on Miller during a Tuesday, Dec. 16 media availability. “But yeah, he looks great. He was out there running around today. Did an awesome job. Feel like he’ll be a full go, ready to contribute.”
The lower leg injury that Miller sustained against Auburn isn’t the first injury that he’s been banged up this season, as he had a concussion earlier in the season.
Here’s a look at Miller’s stats this season at Alabama:
- Rushing: 493 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 123 carries
- Receiving: 108 receiving yards on 18 receptions
