Alabama's CFP first round opponent, Oklahoma has many names to know, headlined by the 2025 Lou Groza Award winner.

And Venables went back to doing what he does best — hiring himself as defensive coordinator after his protege, Zac Alley, left for West Virginia. The 2025 Sooner defense rivals the best defenses Venables coordinated at Clemson in the 2010s and at OU in the early 2000s.

The Oklahoma Sooners could have a pair of key starters available for the College Football Playoff game vs. Alabama.

OU football offensive lineman Jake Maikkula and defensive end R Mason Thomas will participate in practices this week, Brent Venables said Monday.

Lots of adjectives have been used to describe this OU offense, but before Friday's CFP game vs Alabama, one word keeps coming to mind: fascinating.

The Oklahoma Sooners needed to keep their recruiting hot streak going with their 2027 class. The 2026 class they just wrapped up has some very underrated players, more than the rankings sites will show with stars. The 2027 class has some elite players, too, and is on pace to be even better.

The Sooners leaned on elite defense and a late touchdown to finish 4–0 in November and stay in the playoff hunt ahead of Sunday’s reveal.

No, the Sooners do not play football on Dec. 13. The Sooners will face Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday, Dec. 19, at Owen Field in Norman. Kickoff for the quarterfinal is set for 7 p.m. CT Friday, Dec. 19.

Oklahoma has done a lot of winning on the field this season, but Brent Venables is also having some success off it. On the first day of the early signing period, the Oklahoma Sooners have a top-15 ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to 247 Sports.

As OU prepares for its first-round College Football Playoff game against Alabama, Tate Sandell gives the Sooners a kicking option rarely seen in Norman.

Alabama has been the biggest winner of the College Football Playoff era. OU, meanwhile, has been the biggest loser.