High-stake rematch: Oklahoma, Alabama clash in CFP opener

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Just more than a month after meeting in the regular season, Oklahoma and Alabama square off again in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

The eighth-ranked Sooners and ninth-ranked Crimson Tide meet Friday in Norman, Okla., in the CFP opener.

The winner will take on top-ranked Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

Oklahoma (10-2) comes into the game with momentum, having won four consecutive games to close the regular season, including a 23-21 victory over Alabama on Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"I want our guys to be fully immersed in the moment," Sooners coach Brent Venables said. "... The enormity of the challenge is real. We're going to have to be an improved version of ourselves."

The Sooners have been playing with no margin for error since the beginning of November, winning out after an Oct. 25 loss to Ole Miss.

Alabama (10-3) has struggled some beginning with the meeting against Oklahoma, dropping both that game and the SEC championship game to Georgia, 28-7, and going down to the wire before beating Auburn 27-20.

The Crimson Tide also have been dealing with speculation over Kalen DeBoer and his future at the school after the coach was mentioned prominently regarding the open Michigan job.

DeBoer said he hadn't talked to anyone about another job and didn't plan to.

"Our guys, if there's any distraction, I haven't seen it, haven't felt it," DeBoer said. "And so, I'm really proud of the way they've handled whatever noise that's out there."

Oklahoma is in the CFP for the first time since 2019 and is looking for its first playoff victory after losing in the semifinals in each of its four appearances in the four-team playoff era.

The Crimson Tide are in the playoff for the ninth time and the first time since 2023. Alabama is 9-5 in CFP games and emerged as champion in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

The matchup between Oklahoma's secondary and Alabama's wide receivers figures to be a key one.

Sooners cornerback Eli Bowen has two interceptions over the past three games, including an 87-yard pick-six against the Crimson Tide.

Germie Bernard leads the Crimson Tide with 57 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.

Oklahoma got better news than Alabama early this week regarding the health of a key defensive linemen.

The Sooners' R Mason Thomas missed the past three games after suffering a quad injury while returning a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown Nov. 1 against Tennessee. However, he was listed as fully available for this week's game on Tuesday.

Alabama defensive end LT Overton, whose father played for Oklahoma, won't be available on Friday due to an illness. He also missed the SEC championship game because of the ailment.

The Crimson Tide got more encouraging reports regarding tight end Jose Cuevas and running back Jam Miller.

Cuevas, who had six catches for 80 yards and a touchdown against the Sooners, has not played since that earlier matchup. He hasn't played since then due to a foot injury, but he was back practicing this week and was considered questionable for Friday.

Miller missed the SEC title game because of a leg injury, but he should be set for the rematch against Oklahoma.

In addition to Thomas, Oklahoma was also without center Jake Maikkula for the regular-season finale as he battled an infection. He is considered questionable to oppose the Crimson Tide.

The Sooners are one of the few teams with a winning record against Alabama. Oklahoma is 5-2-1 all-time against the Crimson Tide.

--Field Level Media