Oklahoma Aims to Rewrite Its College Football Playoff Story Against Alabama
Oklahoma is no stranger to the College Football Playoff. In fact, only three programs-Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson-have made more appearances since the CFP began 12 years ago. The Sooners are back in the mix for the fifth time, but there’s one major hurdle they’ve yet to clear: winning a playoff game.
That’s right-Oklahoma is the only team with four or more CFP appearances that hasn’t notched a single win. It’s a statistic that’s hard to ignore, especially for a program with such a rich football tradition. And now, after a six-year absence from the playoff stage, the Sooners get another shot-this time, on home turf and against a familiar postseason foe: Alabama.
A Familiar Foe, A New Setting
Friday night’s matchup marks the first-ever College Football Playoff game played at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, and it’s a big one. No.
8 Oklahoma will host No. 9 Alabama in a rematch that brings back memories-and maybe a few scars-from 2018.
That season, Alabama entered the playoff as the top seed, while Oklahoma, led by Heisman winner Kyler Murray, came in at No. 4.
The Sooners ran into a buzzsaw in the form of Tua Tagovailoa and a relentless Crimson Tide offense. The final score was 45-34, but the game never felt that close.
Oklahoma’s defense simply couldn’t get enough stops to give Murray a real shot at pulling off the upset.
This time around, the stakes are just as high-and the opportunity even greater. A win over Alabama would not only be Oklahoma’s first-ever playoff victory, it would also mark the first time in Alabama’s storied history that the Tide have lost to the same team twice in one season. That’s the kind of history Oklahoma would love to make.
A Look Back at the Playoff Pain
To understand the weight of this moment for the Sooners, you have to revisit the heartbreak.
Their playoff journey began in 2015, the second year of the CFP format. Oklahoma entered as the No. 4 seed and drew top-ranked Clemson in the semifinal.
It was Baker Mayfield’s first season as the starter, and there was real belief that the Sooners could make a run. But Clemson had other plans, pulling away in the second half for a 37-17 win.
After missing the playoff in 2016, Oklahoma returned with a vengeance in 2017. That year’s semifinal against Georgia remains one of the most thrilling games in CFP history.
The Sooners, led by Mayfield again, jumped out to a 31-17 lead at halftime and looked poised to finally get over the hump. But Georgia clawed back, and the game turned into a double-overtime classic.
The Bulldogs ultimately prevailed 54-48, leaving Oklahoma just inches short of its first title shot.
Then came 2018 and the loss to Alabama. And in 2019, the Sooners were once again paired with the No. 1 seed-this time, a juggernaut LSU squad led by Heisman winner Joe Burrow.
That LSU team, stacked with future NFL stars, delivered a 63-28 thrashing that still stands as one of the most lopsided playoff losses in history. Jalen Hurts, who had transferred from Alabama to Oklahoma, was under center for the Sooners, but there was little he-or anyone-could do to slow down that LSU freight train.
A Chance to Flip the Script
Now, after years of playoff frustration, Oklahoma has a chance to change the narrative. This isn’t just about getting a win-it’s about shedding the label that’s followed the program through four one-and-done appearances. It’s about proving that the Sooners belong in the same breath as the playoff powerhouses that have lifted trophies and cut down confetti-covered nets.
And there’s something poetic about the opportunity coming against Alabama, the gold standard of the CFP era. The Tide lead all programs with 10 playoff appearances, three national titles, and a 9-5 record in the format. They’ve been the measuring stick for a decade.
If Oklahoma can finally break through-on its home field, no less-it won’t just be a win. It’ll be a statement. One that says the Sooners aren’t just playoff regulars-they’re ready to be playoff contenders.