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, and anything that happened in the past is in the past.
Oklahoma has had nearly three weeks to prepare for the Crimson Tide. In the first meeting, the Sooners gained just 212 yards of total offense. It didn’t matter because special teams gave them quality field position on an Isaiah Sategna punt return and a Jaydan Hardy forced fumble, and the defense provided a score on Eli Bowen’s interception return for a touchdown. But if Oklahoma wants to win and advance, the offense needs to play their best game of the season at home on Friday night.
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The ingredients are there for the Sooners to have a strong performance. Execution is key, but here are three other keys to beating the Alabama Crimson Tide in round one of the College Football Playoff.
3 keys on defense for Oklahoma’s rematch with Alabama
1. Find Some Explosives
Nov 29, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III (5) makes a touchdown catch during the fourth quarter against the Louisiana State Tigers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
No, we’re not shopping for New Year’s Eve celebrations; the Oklahoma Sooners need to keep finding explosive plays in the passing game.
Although the offense has been inconsistent, it has produced enough big plays in the second half of the season to propel the Sooners into the College Football Playoff. The Alabama Crimson Tide deploy a good defense, one that limited Oklahoma a little over a month ago.
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However, the Sooners didn’t attempt to push the ball down the field in the game in Tuscaloosa. Mateer attempted zero passes of more than 20 yards and just five passes of more than 10 yards. Against LSU, Mateer was 3 of 5 on throws more than 20 yards down the field. If he can hit even a couple of deep throws, that will set Oklahoma’s offense up for success.
Creating big plays is easier said than done, but because they haven’t been able to go on eight or 10-play drives consistently, big plays are a necessity.
2. Avoid the Negatives
Sep 6, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) celebrates with offensive lineman Michael Fasusi (56) after the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
It’s hard to win on offense if you’re playing behind the chains. Playing from first and 15 or second and 20 makes moving the ball really difficult. Oklahoma’s offense can’t afford negative plays like sacks, tackles for loss, penalties, or turnovers.
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In the first matchup, John Mateer was only under pressure on just five of his 27 drop-backs, according to Pro Football Focus. Alabama ranks tied for 10th in the SEC in sacks in 2025. This is an opportunity for Mateer to feel comfortable in the pocket and find some success down the field. The offensive line has pass-protected well in 2025. Mateer has had clean pockets to work with. That has to continue in this one.
The Oklahoma Sooners come into the game ranked 12th in the SEC in penalties and Alabama ranks first. However, Oklahoma is 16th in the SEC in opponent penalties. Could that play a factor in the College Football Playoff matchup? OU’s offense can’t afford false start or procedural penalties from lining up incorrectly. This is the time to have all of that ironed out.
Turnovers will once again be the difference. Oklahoma was able to overcome a minus-2 in the turnover differential against LSU, but that’s largely because the LSU offense isn’t very good. Alabama will make the Sooners pay for three interceptions.
Mateer can take risks, but they need to be calculated risks. He can’t be foolish with the ball.
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3. Win the Line of Scrimmage
Nov 15, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Oklahoma Sooners offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu (54) and quarterback John Mateer (10) shake hands in congratulations after Oklahoma defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide 23-21 at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
This goes with No. 2, but it’s really bigger than that. The Sooners need the offensive line to set a physical tone from the jump. Finding success in the running game early will create more opportunities for the passing game as the contest wears on.
Over their last three games of the regular season, the Sooners averaged just 84 rushing yards per game at 2.9 yards per carry. Now that came against three of the better defenses on Oklahoma’s schedule, but Oklahoma has to find success in the running game and be more physical along the line of scrimmage.
The running back room will have had nearly three weeks to rest between their win over LSU and Friday night’s contest. Here’s hoping that time off was just what the doctor ordered for the Sooners offense.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 Keys for the Oklahoma Sooners offense vs. Alabama in CFp
