Sooners Host Tide in CFP Opening Round

Oklahoma – Alabama Rematch Heads Opening Weekend Serie

The CFP series opens with a rematch of Oklahoma vs Alabama, following their exciting 23-21 Nov game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The game elevated the Sooners into the top ten selections and a home game in the opening round of the playoffs.

Sooner HC Brent Venables has assembled a top flight defense, ranking in the top few clubs in virtually every defensive statistic. This is a veteran group under the direction of Venables who took over defensive calls this season. They lead the nation in TFLs with 115 stops and tied with Texas A&M with 41 regular season sacks. Venables has directed this defensive unit with a front-line rotation to pressure an opponent for 60 minutes.

Bama is coming off their worst performance of the year with a thrashing at the hands of Georgia in the SEC Championship game. Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer has been under pressure since an opening day loss to Florida State. The Tide ran off an eight game winning streak before falling to Oklahoma in mid November. They rode the hot hand of QB Ty Simpson who directed this offense well despite a surprisingly subpar ground game. Simpson will have to have a big performance vs the Sooners who look to pressure the Tide QB from the opening bell.

Look for another close game with the Sooner defense dictating the tempo while Sooner QB John Mateer directs their balanced attack to another victory.

The Sooner/Bama matchup heads a group of four games where the winners play the four teams with byes, Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia and Texas Tech in the Quarterfinal round on the way to the National Championship on Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, FL.

College Football Playoff First Round Games

Friday, December 19, 2025
Matchup / Time / TV / Location

#9 Alabama @ #8 Oklahoma 8:00 PM ABC/ESPN
Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK

Saturday, December 20, 2025

#10 Miami @ #7 Texas A&M 12:00 PM ABC/ESPN
Kyle Field, College Station, TX

#11 Tulane @ #6 Ole Miss 3:30 PM TNT
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS

#12 James Madison @ #5 Oregon 7:30 PM TNT
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR