The energy in Norman was undeniable. For weeks, the narrative around Oklahoma’s College Football Playoff rematch with Alabama centered on doubt - not just about whether the Sooners could win again, but whether they even belonged in the conversation. But on Friday, with the eyes of the college football world locked on Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Sooner Nation made one thing clear: they weren’t just ready - they were roaring.
ESPN’s College GameDay brought the spotlight to Oklahoma’s first-ever home playoff game, and the scene was electric. The show’s final hour moved inside the stadium, and it didn’t take long for the crowd to shift the tone of the conversation.
The noise, the passion, the sheer volume of belief pouring out of the stands - it all made an impression. Everyone on set could feel it.
Well, almost everyone.
Nick Saban, the legendary former Alabama head coach and now analyst, stood alone in his pick. He stayed loyal to the Crimson Tide, backing Alabama to take the rematch. No surprise there - Saban built a dynasty in Tuscaloosa, and he wasn’t about to waver now.
But the rest of the GameDay crew? They weren’t so sure.
Desmond Howard, who hadn’t picked Oklahoma all season, admitted he was ready to change his tune after spending an hour immersed in the pregame atmosphere. That kind of crowd can shake confidence - even in the most seasoned analysts.
Then came the moment that sent the stadium into overdrive. Guest picker and Sooner legend Brian Bosworth - “The Boz” himself - took the mic and delivered a thunderous vote of confidence for his alma mater.
With the crowd behind him, Bosworth didn’t just pick Oklahoma to win - he declared them the last team standing, predicting a victory over Alabama and a trip to face No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl quarterfinals.
“Oklahoma’s the last team standing,” Bosworth proclaimed, igniting a roar from the fans around him. It was vintage Boz - bold, brash, and exactly what the moment called for.
That energy was contagious. Pat McAfee, never one to shy away from a big call, followed suit. “I’ll tell you what, I agree with Boz,” he said, locking in his pick for the Sooners to take down Bama for the second time this season.
In a playoff setting where margins are razor-thin and emotion can tip the scales, Friday wasn’t just about predictions - it was about belief. And in Norman, belief was in full supply.
The Sooners walked into their home stadium with something to prove. By kickoff, they had already shifted the momentum in their favor.
Now, the only question left is whether that belief translates into another win - and a date with destiny in Pasadena.