When No. 8 Oklahoma hosts No.
9 Alabama on Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff, it won’t just be a rematch-it’ll be a reckoning. These two SEC heavyweights met earlier this season in Tuscaloosa, where Oklahoma walked away with a narrow 23-21 win.
That result didn’t sit well with Alabama, and now the Crimson Tide head to Norman with a shot at redemption and a spot in the next round against Indiana on the line. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
ET, and if the first meeting was any indication, we’re in for another slugfest.
**Turnovers told the story the first time around. ** Alabama coughed the ball up three times, and Oklahoma made them pay-big time.
The Sooners turned those mistakes into 17 points, including a game-changing 87-yard pick-six by Eli Bowen. Under Brent Venables, Oklahoma’s defense thrives on chaos, and they created plenty of it in that game-forcing three fumbles and recovering two.
That opportunistic style has become a calling card for the Sooners, and it could be the difference again.
On the other side, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has had a standout season statistically-3,268 yards, 26 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He even threw for a career-high 326 yards in that loss to Oklahoma.
But lately, the production has cooled. Against Auburn and Georgia, Simpson completed just 51% of his passes and totaled only 334 yards combined.
That dip in efficiency is concerning, especially with Alabama’s run game still searching for consistency.
That means the Tide will once again lean heavily on Simpson’s arm. Receivers Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams will be central to the passing attack, while Isaiah Horton, who broke out with three touchdowns against Auburn, could be an X-factor. But none of it matters if the offensive line can’t hold up.
**That’s where things get dicey. ** Oklahoma leads the nation in sacks with 41 and got to Simpson four times in the first matchup.
Linebacker Kip Lewis was everywhere-two sacks, seven solo tackles-and he’ll be hunting again. Alabama’s best protection comes from All-American left tackle Kadyn Proctor, but the right side is less certain.
Freshman Michael Carroll will be under the spotlight again, and Oklahoma’s edge rushers will be ready to test him.
Defensively, Alabama has a clear mission: keep Oklahoma’s offense in check. That hasn’t been a tall order lately.
The Sooners haven’t scored more than 14 points since late October. Quarterback John Mateer has struggled to find rhythm, throwing for just 138 yards and no touchdowns in the first meeting with Alabama.
Even in Oklahoma’s 17-13 win over LSU, Mateer threw three picks. If Alabama can force him into similar mistakes, the Tide’s path to victory becomes much clearer.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to execution. Can Alabama protect the football and give Simpson time to work?
Can Oklahoma’s defense generate the same kind of pressure and takeaways that flipped the script in Tuscaloosa? This one has all the makings of a classic playoff battle-physical, intense, and likely decided by a handful of crucial plays.
The stakes are simple: win and move on. And for Alabama, it’s also a shot at payback.
For Oklahoma, it’s a chance to prove the first win wasn’t a fluke. Either way, buckle up.
Norman’s about to host a heavyweight showdown with everything on the line.