College Football Playoff: Oklahoma Hosts Alabama in Heavyweight First-Round Clash
We’ve arrived at the opening round of the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, and the fireworks start Friday night in Norman. No.
8 Oklahoma welcomes No. 9 Alabama in a rematch of their November thriller, with the winner punching a ticket to face top-seeded Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
This is as marquee as a first-round matchup gets-two bluebloods, both 10-win teams, squaring off in a game that could come down to the final possession. Brent Venables has the Sooners back in the postseason spotlight for the first time since 2019, while Alabama, led by Kalen DeBoer in his first year at the helm, is no stranger to the playoff stage-this marks the Crimson Tide’s ninth appearance overall, and first in the 12-team era.
Oklahoma edged Alabama 23-21 in Tuscaloosa earlier this season. Now, with everything on the line, we’ll see if history repeats-or if Alabama flips the script.
Here’s what to watch for Friday night on ABC/ESPN.
Oklahoma’s Defense Gets a Key Reinforcement
The Sooners’ defense was already one of the most disruptive units in the country, but now they’re getting a major piece back just in time. Senior defensive end R Mason Thomas returns after missing the last three games with a quad injury-including that earlier win over Alabama.
Before the injury, Thomas had been a force: 23 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and a team-leading 6.5 sacks in just nine games. His return gives Oklahoma’s front even more bite.
This is a group that led the nation with 41 sacks during the regular season and held opponents to under 14 points per game. That’s not just good-it’s elite.
On the other side, Alabama’s offensive line has had its moments, but it’s also had its struggles-especially in pass protection. All-American left tackle Kadyn Proctor anchors the group, but the Tide gave up four sacks in their SEC Championship loss to Georgia. Quarterback Ty Simpson has taken his fair share of hits, and if Oklahoma’s front can get home again, it could be a long night for Alabama’s offense.
The trenches will tell the story in this one. If Thomas and company can shut down an already inconsistent Alabama run game and put Simpson under pressure, the Sooners’ path to Pasadena gets a whole lot clearer.
Quarterback Questions: Who Can Reignite the Spark?
Early in the season, this game would’ve featured two of the top Heisman contenders. But injuries and inconsistency have changed the narrative for both quarterbacks.
Oklahoma’s John Mateer was off to a strong start before breaking a bone in his throwing hand in late September. Since returning, he’s been playing with a protective brace and hasn’t quite looked like the same guy.
Before the injury, he threw for 1,215 yards with six touchdowns and five interceptions in five games. He finished the season with 2,578 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 10 picks-not bad, but not the same spark we saw early on.
Simpson’s trajectory has been different. He stayed healthy but struggled down the stretch.
In the SEC title game against Georgia, he completed just 48% of his passes for 212 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Not the kind of performance you want heading into the playoff.
Both quarterbacks are looking to recapture their early-season form. And with two defenses that don’t give much away, whichever QB can settle in first could tip the balance. Oklahoma’s defense statistically mirrors Indiana’s in many ways, so this matchup could also be a preview of what Simpson might face in Pasadena-if he gets there.
The Rest Factor: Advantage Sooners?
One of the under-the-radar storylines heading into Friday night is rest-and Oklahoma might have the edge.
While Alabama was battling Georgia in the SEC Championship, the Sooners were already in prep mode. Their last game was back on November 29, a 17-13 win over LSU. That extra week off has been valuable, especially for Mateer, who has reportedly progressed beyond the wrap on his throwing hand.
Alabama, meanwhile, enters the game a bit banged up. Four players were listed as out on Wednesday’s availability report, including standout pass rusher LT Overton. That’s a big hit for a defense that will need to be at full strength to contain Oklahoma’s balanced attack.
The opening drives should give us a good sense of how much the layoff has helped-or hurt-the Sooners. Sometimes extra rest leads to rust, but it can also mean fresher legs and sharper execution. And with Indiana waiting in the wings, whoever wins this game will be facing the same challenge in Pasadena: beating a rested, well-prepared Hoosiers squad.
Outlook: A Classic in the Making
This one has all the makings of a playoff classic. Oklahoma is a slight 1.5-point favorite, but these teams are about as evenly matched as it gets. The total sits at 40.5, which tells you Vegas is expecting a low-scoring, grind-it-out affair-much like the first meeting.
If that’s the case, then we’re looking at another game that could come down to the final possession, a big defensive stop, or a clutch throw in the closing minutes.
And waiting on the other side is Indiana, making its first Rose Bowl appearance since 1967. The Hoosiers will have the luxury of extra rest and plenty of film to study, no matter who emerges from Friday’s showdown.
But first things first. Norman is the center of the college football universe Friday night-and we’re in for a battle.