Ryan Grubb had been telling people all week that freshman receiver Lotzeir Brooks was ready for a breakout game. Kirk Herbstreit apparently needed some convincing.
The Alabama offensive coordinator revealed a halftime bathroom encounter with ESPN’s lead college football analyst during the Crimson Tide’s 34-24 playoff win over Oklahoma on Friday night.
“TMI here, but I saw Herbstreit in the bathroom at halftime, and he was like: man, you were right, Brooks is the guy,” Grubb said during his postgame press conference.
“TMI here, but I saw Herbstreit in the bathroom at halftime and he was like: man, you were right, Brooks is the guy.” – Ryan Grubb on freshman WR Lotzeir Brooks’ performance in Alabama’s win over Oklahoma#CFBPlayoff #RollTide @KirkHerbstreit pic.twitter.com/hquVGsm92V
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) December 20, 2025
Before kickoff, Grubb had hyped up Brooks to Herbstreit, predicting the true freshman would have a big night. Brooks validated that confidence with five catches for 79 yards and his first two career touchdowns.
Both scores were pivotal in Alabama’s comeback from a 17–0 deficit. Brooks’ first came on a fourth-down play that finally got the Crimson Tide on the board. His second capped a 24–0 run and gave Alabama a 24–17 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Ty Simpson finds Lotzeir Brooks, he breaks two tackles and powers in for a 10-yard touchdown on 4th down! #Alabama 7-17 #Oklahoma
pic.twitter.com/upD5xKVg29— 𝓟𝓐𝓣 🗽 (@Darts2Leek) December 20, 2025
24 UNANSWERED POINTS FOR ALABAMA TO TAKE THE LEAD OVER OKLAHOMA!
Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit have the call for ESPN. 🏈🎙️ #CFP pic.twitter.com/RvuQoeFV3n
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 20, 2025
“I just had a feeling, I had said before the game, that I thought Lotzeir was in a position in this game plan to step up,” Grubb said. “We see it every week from 17 just on the practice field. We’ve got a really talented field with him and Ryan and Isaiah and Germ, but those are the plays we needed to have from all those guys.”
Brooks and Alabama will face top-seeded Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. If Grubb’s gut feeling about his freshman receiver continues to pay off, Herbstreit might need to seek him out in another bathroom to admit he was right again.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.