The Sooners have to feel good about their chances as long as quarterback John Mateer is good to go. Mateer, who was at times thought of as a Heisman Trophy contender this season, injured his thumb midseason in a game against Auburn.

Unlike last year's debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff, weather should not be a factor in any of the first-round games Friday and Saturday.

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 ninth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will look to turn the tables on the eighth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners when they meet Friday in the first

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.

Owen Heinecke's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, as he navigated a remarkable path from a high school dual-sport standout to an unlikely star for the Oklahoma Sooners football team.

Kendal Daniels closes his Oklahoma homecoming a second time, playing his final in-state game as the Sooners prepare for their College Football Playoff matchup w