College Football Playoff: Watch Rapper 50 Cent's 'Many Men' appearance during OU-Alabama game
(by Laurie Jones) Rapper 50 Cent made a surprise appearance at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Friday night, emerging during the break between the third and fourth quarter of OU’s College Football Playoff matchup against Alabama to perform part of his song "Many Men (Wish Death)." The tradition started at the end of the...read more from the OU Daily
Alabama 34, OU 24: Quick takeaways from the season-ending loss
(by Jesse Crittenden) NORMAN — The College Football Playoff curse continues for Oklahoma. The Sooners’ season ended on Friday with a 34-24 loss to Alabama. The Sooners opened the game with 17-0 lead before the Crimson Tide scored 27 unanswered points to take control. The Sooners’ season ends with a 10-3 record and a fifth...read more from the OUInsider
Five Takeaways From Oklahoma's College Football Playoff Meltdown Against Alabama
(by Ryan Chapman) NORMAN — It was all there for Oklahoma. The Sooners sprinted out to a 17-0 lead on Alabama to open the College Football Playoff, allowing OU fans to dream of a redemption trip to the Rose Bowl. Instead, Alabama got off the mat, fought back and silenced Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Fans started to slowly...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Oklahoma OC Ben Arbuckle Faces His Biggest Challenge on the CFP Stage Against Alabama
(by Ryan Chapman) NORMAN — The 2025 season has been a new challenge for Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Not only has he had to get adjusted to a new program and battle one of the toughest schedules in the country, but he’s had to guide a quarterback through injury, play with a hampered running back room and take...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Sooners hoping to break two historic precedents and chart a new College Football Playoff course
(by Chip Rouse) Oklahoma has a College Football Playoff history it would like to change. In the 12-year history of the CFP format, only three other teams have made more playoff appearances than the Sooners, who are a playoff participant for the fifth time. The only problem being Oklahoma has been unable to make it beyond the first game in...read more from Stormin' in Norman
A Look at the Rosters of Alabama and Oklahoma Reveal One Big Thing ... or Two, Actually
(by John E. Hoover) Looks like Alabama should have a pretty easy time with Oklahoma on Friday. If you believe recruiting rankings, that is. Oddsmakers at Draft Kings, Fan Duel and elsewhere show the Crimson Tide is only a 1 1/2-point favorite over OU in Friday night’s College Football Playoff game at Owen Field. Some, like MGM, actually favor...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Former OU linebacker Brian Bosworth selected as guest picker for ESPN's 'College GameDay'
(by Laurie Jones) Former OU linebacker Brian Bosworth will serve as the guest picker for ESPN’s “College GameDay” ahead of the Sooners’ College Football Playoff matchup against Alabama in Norman. Bosworth played at OU from 1984 to 1986 and was a two-time All-American. He helped lead the Sooners to a national championship in...read more from the OU Daily
Oklahoma Availability Report: Jake Maikkula downgraded on eve of College Football Playoff
(by Josh Callaway) NORMAN, OK – Oklahoma's starting center is trending toward not playing in the Sooners' College Football Playoff game. After initially being listed as "Questionable" on Tuesday night and then maintaining that status on Wednesday, OU offensive lineman Jake Maikkula has been downgraded to "Doubtful" on...read more from Sooners Illustrated
OUInsider Staff Picks: Can the Sooners beat Alabama once again?
(by Jesse Crittenden) It’s almost football time in Oklahoma. The Sooners host Alabama on Friday night (7 p.m. CT, ABC) for a first-round matchup in the College Football Playoff. We’ve seen these two teams play before — the Sooners beat the Crimson Tide, 23-21, in Tuscaloosa last month. However, despite that win, and the Sooners playing...read more from the OUInsider
Three Ways Oklahoma's Offense Can Improve from First Matchup vs. Alabama
(by Carson Field) Oklahoma’s offense wasn’t flashy in its first meeting with Alabama, but the Sooners did just enough to win. Quarterback John Mateer scored OU’s lone offensive touchdown on a 20-yard run in the second quarter, and Tate Sandell made three field goals in the Sooners’ 23-21 win on Nov. 15. Eli Bowen scored the only other OU...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Oklahoma football falls as favorites for five prized prospects
(by Eric W. Bolin) One day ahead of Oklahoma's College Football Playoff game against Alabama, the Sooners received good news for the future. Covered Wagons Recruiting, which tracks high-school players on the OU radar, tabbed five different prospects to land with Oklahoma as part of the Class of 2027. Cornerback Juju Johnson, edge rusher...read more from the Sooners Wire
Sooners Illustrated Staff Picks: College Football Playoff First Round - No. 8 Oklahoma vs No. 9 Alabama
(by Josh Callaway) After an incredible run through the month of November to reach the 10-win mark, No. 8 Oklahoma is back in action on Friday night with the first round of the College Football Playoff against No. 9 Alabama in Norman. On Thursday's Sooners Illustrated Game Preview, the Sooners Illustrated staff locked in their final score...read more from Sooners Illustrated
State of the Sooners: CFP Round One vs. Alabama
(by Blake Antkowiak) It's gameday eve. Just one year after a discouraging 6-7 finish for the Sooners, Norman is set to be the center of the College Football world tomorrow, as Alabama comes back for seconds against Brent Venables. Toppling the Crimson Tide twice has been one of the biggest achievements for the Sooners in their...read more from Sooners Illustrated
College Football Playoff: Joel Klatt reveals pick for Alabama at Oklahoma
(by Daniel Hager) No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma will kick off the College Football Playoff Friday night in Norman. The Sooners have won both of the previous two meetings between the SEC foes and look to win their third in 13 months Friday night. Alabama, however, will look to bounce back from its disappointing SEC Championship...read more from On3.com
After dealing with foot injury, Jayden Jackson ready to compete in College Football Playoff
(by Jesse Crittenden) NORMAN — When the first College Football Playoff availability report dropped on Tuesday, there was understandably a lot of attention on the status of R Mason Thomas and Jake Maikkula. But there was one noticeable (and welcomed) absence for the Sooners — Jayden Jackson. The sophomore defensive tackle...read more from the OUInsider
How Does the Sooners On SI Staff Think Oklahoma Will Fare Against Alabama in the CFP?
John Hoover; These remain two very good defenses and two middling offenses. Alabama QB Ty Simpson hasn’t been very effective since he suffered two turnovers against the Sooners back on Nov. 15. Oklahoma QB John Mateer hasn’t been since … well, since thumb surgery and his three-INT performance against Texas in the Cotton...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
3 Keys on offense for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
(by John Williams) The Oklahoma Sooners head into their Friday night affair with the Alabama Crimson Tide hoping to do something that hasn't been done in 130 years: beat the Tide for a second time in a season. Oklahoma is 2-0 against Kalen DeBoer with Brent Venables at the helm, but it's the College Football Playoff. It's a new season...read more from the Sooners Wire
Oklahoma availability report: The latest on Jake Maikkula ahead of CFP game against Alabama
(by Tom Green) NORMAN — The status of Oklahoma starting center Jake Maikkula is still uncertain 48 hours before the first round of the College Football Playoff. Maikkula was listed as questionable for the second day in a row on the Sooners’ official availability report released Wednesday. The 6-foot-5, 299-pound redshirt junior missed the...read more from Sooners Illustrated
OU QB John Mateer 'better than he's been' as thumb recovers before College Football Playoffs
(by Joshua McDaniel) OU redshirt junior quarterback practiced without hand tape on Monday. Head coach Brent Venables said that, while Mater is not fully healed, the lack of tape marks a positive sign in recovery. "He still has some soreness, so he he's not pain free," Venables said. "From a stability standpoint, he's better than he's been (with)...read more from the OU Daily
Vegas makes stunning Oklahoma-Alabama reversal before CFP rematch
(by Dekota Gregory) Vegas oddsmakers just hopped on the Oklahoma Sooners’ bandwagon. After every major sportsbook opened the No. 8 Sooners as underdogs in a home rematch with No. 9 Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff at 7 p.m. CT Friday in Norman, oddsmakers completely flipped just two days before kickoff...read more from Stormin' in Norman
