Kalen DeBoer says Alabama football 'certainly better remember' 2024 Oklahoma loss
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Kalen DeBoer is not one to look back. He’s always focused forward. It’s always about what comes next.
But the Alabama football coach knows the Oklahoma team coming to Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday, Nov. 15 and what it represents. DeBoer remembers what a handful of players didn’t have the chance to experience. And for those that did? It’s not something DeBoer wants them to forget.
“The ones that did certainly better remember and understand, more importantly, you’re facing a really good program that, obviously, we went to their place and got beat up pretty good last year,” DeBoer said. “That’s who’s coming to town this week.”
Alabama‘s 2024 game against Oklahoma turned into an elimination game for the College Football Playoff, ending in a 24-3 beatdown in Norman, one where the Crimson Tide mustered 234 total yards, one where Alabama did not score a single touchdown for the first time since Nov. 5, 2011.
DeBoer’s focus remains the same as a No. 7 Alabama vs. unranked Oklahoma matchup from 2024 turns into a top-10 heavyweight fight in 2025:
How did we get to this point this year to where we’ve had success?
What is it going to take to be our best on Saturday?
It was the same focus Alabama had when facing Vanderbilt Saturday, Oct. 4, turning a 40-35 2024 road upset into a 30-14 2025 home win. It was the same focus Alabama had when facing Tennessee Saturday, Oct. 19, turning a 24-17 2024 road loss into a 37-20 2025 home win.
To do that, DeBoer said, against this Oklahoma team, “you can’t help but remember the past.”
“Our guys should remember that because our experiences help us be better the next time around,” DeBoer said.
Alabama kicks off against Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 15 on ABC.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer talks Alabama football 2024 Oklahoma loss
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