When the Oklahoma Sooners and Alabama Crimson Tide play one another, there’s usually some fireworks involved. The last two matchups between the two have featured some Sooner Magic, whether it’s at home in 2024 or on the road in Tuscaloosa this season.

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

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.

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

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.

Redshirt senior offensive lineman Febechi Nwaiwu’s adaptability and leadership have become key factors for OU in 2025, as it begins the College Football Playoffs on Friday.

NORMAN — Mark your calendars, Oklahoma’s 2026 schedule is here. The conference schedule includes different opponents from OU’s first two seasons in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Texas A&M. The Sooners will still play South Carolina, as well as its three permanent opponents — Texas, Mississippi and Missouri.

Golding and Co. add another impressive staffer for the 2026 season, continue assembling group for next season.

The Oklahoma Sooners and Alabama Crimson Tide are set to play a College Football Playoff game against one another. The only thing is, this one isn't a neutral-site game – Oklahoma is hosting it. That means the atmosphere advantage will fall into OU's hands, just as it did for Bama six weeks ago in Tuscaloosa.