After nearly three weeks off, the Oklahoma Sooners are heading into their biggest game of the season as close to full strength as they’ve been in a while - and they’ll need every bit of it.
Friday night’s College Football Playoff opener brings a high-stakes rematch with No. 9 Alabama, right in the heart of Norman at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
The Sooners, ranked No. 8, already proved they can beat the Crimson Tide, edging them 23-21 in Tuscaloosa just over a month ago. But this time, the stakes are higher, the lights are brighter, and the margin for error is even smaller.
Let’s break down the latest on Oklahoma’s availability heading into this heavyweight showdown - and what it means in the trenches and beyond.
Center of Attention: Jake Maikkula Doubtful
The biggest blow for the Sooners comes right in the middle of their offensive line. Starting center Jake Maikkula has been downgraded to doubtful on the final availability report, a tough development for an offense that’s relied on his presence all season long. Maikkula, a redshirt junior transfer from Stanford, started 10 of the 11 games he played this year, only coming off the bench in the season opener.
His absence isn’t new - he also missed the regular-season finale against LSU after spending time in the hospital due to an infection. While he’s been working his way back, it’s clear he’s not fully recovered.
With Maikkula sidelined, the Sooners are once again expected to turn to Febechi Nwaiwu, their starting right guard, who slid over to center and made his first career start at the position against LSU. It’s not an ideal scenario, but it’s one Oklahoma has already had to navigate. Expect the offensive line to look like this on Friday night: Michael Fasusi at left tackle, Eddy Pierre-Louis at left guard, Nwaiwu at center, Ryan Fodje at right guard, and Derek Simmons holding down right tackle.
It’s a group that’s talented but still young in spots - and against a physical Alabama front, cohesion and communication will be critical, especially with a reshuffled interior.
A Boost on Defense: R Mason Thomas Returns
The good news for Oklahoma comes on the defensive side, where edge rusher R Mason Thomas is set to return after missing the last three games with a quad injury. That includes the first meeting with Alabama, so this will be the Tide’s first look at the Sooners’ top pass rusher.
Thomas leads the team with 6.5 sacks despite missing time, and his ability to collapse the pocket could be a game-changer. His return adds another layer of disruption to a defense that’s already shown it can hang with Alabama’s physicality.
Having Thomas back not only boosts the pass rush but also allows Brent Venables to rotate more freely across the defensive front - a luxury that could pay dividends late in the game.
Alabama’s Key Absence: LT Overton
On the other side, Alabama will be without one of its top defensive linemen, LT Overton. He’s second on the team in sacks this season and a key piece of the Tide’s front seven. His absence shifts the dynamic in the trenches, especially with Oklahoma’s offensive line already dealing with its own reshuffling.
Without Overton, Alabama loses a disruptive presence off the edge - and that could open up more time for Oklahoma’s quarterback to operate, especially if the offensive line can hold up against the rest of Bama’s pass rush.
Final Word
The final availability report will come out 90 minutes before kickoff, but barring any surprises, Oklahoma will be rolling into this CFP showdown with most of its key contributors ready to go - minus its starting center. The Sooners have already shown they can beat Alabama, but doing it twice in a season is a whole different challenge.
This time, they’ll have their top pass rusher back, home-field advantage, and the experience of having already gone toe-to-toe with the Tide. The question now is whether they can overcome the loss in the middle of the offensive line - and whether that defense, with Thomas back in the fold, can once again rise to the occasion.