3 takeaways from Oklahoma's CFP loss to Alabama

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The Oklahoma Sooners saw their 2025 season conclude in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday night at home in Norman. OU fell at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide, losing 34-24. The 10-point defeat drops OU's final record to 10-3 overall for the year.

The Sooners jumped out to a 17-0 lead, but the Tide clawed back, scoring 27 unanswered to take control of the game. Despite a touchdown to get the game back to a field goal, Alabama scored again, then held off the Oklahoma rally to avenge their 23-21 loss at home in Tuscaloosa in the regular season back on November 15th.

Despite the bitter ending, Oklahoma made big strides this season, their fourth under head coach Brent Venables, and their second in the Southeastern Conference. This loss hurts, and the Sooners certainly could have won the game, but they exceeded the public's expectations in 2025.

Here are three takeaways from the Sooners' season-ending loss to 'Bama.

1. The Tide were able to (somewhat) neutralize the OU defense

In the first game, the Sooners played an incredible game on defense, winning the turnover battle 3-0, and making all of the big plays that mattered when the game was in the balance. In the rematch, it was the Crimson Tide who flipped that script. They won the special teams battle (OU had a fumble on a punt that gave the Tide great field position and missed two field goals), and they were able to move the ball far better on the Oklahoma defense than they did the first time.

The Sooners still made some plays, and came out of the gate hot, but they couldn't make the play that turned the game back in their favor after Bama wrestled away the momentum. The Tide won the turnover battle 2-0, but it was quarterback Ty Simpson and the offense that made the big plays in the game. Their deep and talented WR corps ultimately won the day, and won the game. OU's defense had an amazing season, but credit where credit is due to Alabama, who solved Venables' unit enough to get the win.

2. The OU offense showed more, but ultimately not enough

Oklahoma's offense started out on fire, but they cooled off in the middle two quarters, before eventually not having enough explosion to make a rally in the late stages. Quarterback John Mateer and the wideouts deserve their flowers, as Mateer played as well as he had since his thumb injury, short of one bad throw that led to a pick-six. It wasn't enough to get the win with how well Alabama played on both sides of the ball, and they stalled out when 'Bama picked up steam, but 24 points out of that offense isn't bad, considering it's looked far worse.

The Sooners had the Tide on their heels early, but once the window dressing and misdirections ran out, it ultimately halted much of OU's ability offensively. The Alabama defensive staff made adjustments, and the Sooners fell behind, putting them in a position they aren't necessarily built to thrive in. The margin for error was so small in this game, and a few unsuccessful drives from the Sooners were enough for the end result to be a loss.

3. The future is bright under Venables, but the road back won't be easy

Few, if any, had the Oklahoma Sooners getting to 10 wins and/or making the CFP in 2025. After a six-win season in 2024, and with the gauntlet of a schedule that OU would face, it didn't appear likely. However, the Sooners kept scratching, they kept clawing, and they defied the odds to get to Friday night. This loss stings, but it wasn't OU's night, and Alabama played better football over the final 2 and 1/2 quarters.

What Venables and his team did this year was engineer a huge turnaround after last year's disappointment, but now they've got to do it again, and again. In the lion's den that is the SEC, it'll be extremely difficult to stay in the small pool of contenders for the playoff every year, but those are the expectations at Oklahoma: compete for and win championships.

With the long offseason now here, we'll see who the Sooners gain and lose in the transfer portal, we'll see the graduating seniors ride off to the pros, and we'll see who goes to the NFL early, and who chooses to stay. With another tough SEC slate awaiting in 2026, the task of returning to the CFP is daunting, but Venables has the full support of Sooner Nation after the run that Oklahoma just had. If the Sooners can stay dominant on defense and special teams while improving on offense under coordinator Ben Arbuckle (and Mateer, if he stays in school for one more year), there's a chance for a special season in 2026. The culture that Venables has been building has been established. The 2025 season was a special one, despite the tough ending. This is Oklahoma. The Sooners will be back. It's what this program has always done.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 takeaways following OU's defeat at the hands of the Tide in the CFP

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