TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) 鈥� Alabama players haven’t forgotten their last game 鈥� last two, really 鈥� against Oklahoma.
The Sooners won and then celebrated by taking photos at midfield after ending the Crimson Tide’s 17-game home-winning streak. Alabama staffers ushered the Sooners off the logo, .
鈥淭hat type of disrespect will be addressed on the field,鈥� Tide linebacker Justin Jefferson said. 鈥淲e just got to go give it to them, take the ball off them and bring it home for Alabama.鈥�
No. 11 Alabama will get another shot at eighth-ranked Oklahoma when they meet in the opening round of the .
The rematch is in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday night. It鈥檚 the second straight rematch for the Crimson Tide, which beat Georgia 24-21 in the regular season and then .
Alabama (10-3, No. 9 CFP) stopped short of calling this one a revenge game, but a few factors add another level of motivation.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited,鈥� Jefferson said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never beaten Oklahoma, so I鈥檓 more than ready. I think we have what it takes.鈥�
Few guys on Alabama’s roster have beaten Oklahoma (10-2, No. 8 CFP).
The Sooners smoked Alabama 24-3 in Norman in 2024 and prevented the Tide from making the CFP. This season鈥檚 loss left Alabama squarely on the playoff bubble 鈥� and likely prevented the tradition-rich program from hosting a first-round game.
Now the teams meet for the third time in a little over a year, with much higher stakes. The winner advances to the quarterfinals to take on top-ranked and top-seeded Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year鈥檚 Day.
鈥淲e know what to expect as far as playing them,鈥� Alabama star receiver Ryan Williams said. 鈥淲e have a great idea of what鈥檚 to come. We just have to execute at a high level.鈥�
Getting a grip on turnovers would be a start.
The Tide turned the ball over three times against Oklahoma, including an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown. On the other side, the Sooners were the only team to not commit a turnover against the Tide in the regular season.
Turnovers also hurt Alabama in the SEC championship, with an interception leading to a Georgia touchdown in the first half.
鈥淲e just need to execute the simple,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淢ake simple plays simple and continue to try to be the best ball security and ball dominant team in the country.鈥�
If Alabama takes better care of the ball, it surely improves its chances of an upset 鈥� and getting payback. Oklahoma is a 1 1/2-point favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
鈥淐oming up short at the end of the game was disappointing because that’s something we鈥檝e done a pretty good job of,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. 鈥淕o back to the Oklahoma game, a number of our guys got dinged up and just grinding through it.
“I鈥檓 sure Oklahoma is looking to get some guys back, including probably a continued stronger quarterback with (John) Mateer. I know that that鈥檚 the thing that draws a lot of attention on their end. But we鈥檙e looking forward to this rematch.鈥�
If Alabama wins, no one should be surprised to see players heading to midfield.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a blessing to get another opportunity,鈥� Jefferson said. 鈥淭o play again, compete for a national championship, another learning moment this season.鈥�
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