Zabien Brown Reflects on the Pick-Six and Comeback Victory

The first 20 minutes were far from an ideal start for the Alabama Crimson Tide in their first appearance in the College Football Playoff under Kalen DeBoer. They trailed Oklahoma 17-0 by the 10:51 mark in the second quarter of the first round.

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To regain control and make the game competitive, the Crimson Tide needed everything to align perfectly. The turning point came with less than two minutes remaining in the first half when Alabama needed a game-changing play to even the score. Quarterback John Mateer attempted to scan the field and connect with one of his receivers; however, Zabien Brown, reading Mateer's eyes and anticipating the route, jumped at the opportunity to make that game-changing play and even the score to 17-17.

"It kind of simulated cover two, so I'm dropping into the flat on the zero look. I seen him look over there and read his eyes, and it looked like he wanted to go over there pre-snap. I just fell into the flats, and the ball fell right into my hands. My mindset was 'I just got to get to that zone and can't get tackled," said Brown when discussing making the play.

Brown's second pick-six of the year couldn't have come at a better time. The Crimson Tide not only needed to close the gap before the break, but they also needed to make a statement, demonstrating their potential when on cue.

"I think it just comes down to the heart and soul of our team, preaching 1-0; that's really DeBoer's motto–going 1-0. Before the game, he said, 'Games are always 0-0, no matter what the score is, and we've got enough heart and enough fight, and when the plays don't go our way, it's just the smallest details, so when we fix it, it's not a big thing, just small details," Brown said regarding the sideline attitude and Alabama 's mindset to comeback.

Brown has been a consistent piece in the Crimson Tide's defense all season, with 30 tackles, four pass deflections, one forced fumble, one interception, and one touchdown in the regular season, demonstrating his effectiveness on the field.

Brown's growth from Year 1 to Year 2 is remarkable. His impact on the field Friday evening and his ability to close out the first half with a big play has been significant. Notably, both his pick-sixes against Tennessee and Oklahoma occurred right before halftime, which he attributes to his "clutch genes."

Whether it's clutch genes or his playing abilities, the California native has the opportunity to deliver a stellar performance against the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers while playing just an hour away from his hometown on Jan. 1 in the quarterfinals.