Oklahoma Sooners vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

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The Oklahoma Sooners and the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field on Saturday afternoon in one of the biggest games of the year. The Sooners are hoping to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive in a big road test. Alabama is currently on track to make the SEC championship game. This one has massive postseason implications.

Heading into the matchup, much of the game focuses on whether or not the Sooners will be able to run the ball on the Alabama defense. Last year, that was the key to the game. Xavier Robinson and Jackson Arnold both ran for 100 yards, and if the Sooners can recreate their rushing success this time around, they'll be in good shape.

The one difference is that Ty Simpson doesn't turn the ball over like Jalen Milroe did last season in Norman. Oklahoma picked off Milroe three times, including a Kip Lewis pick-six and Eli Bowen interception that put the Sooners in scoring position.

While Oklahoma can't count on getting two critical turnovers to win the game, they have an offense that's much improved from the group that averaged just 16.5 points per game in SEC play. And that includes defensive scores in games against Alabama, Auburn, Missouri, and LSU. This year, the Sooners are averaging 23 points per game in SEC play with just one defensive score, the R Mason Thomas fumble return for a touchdown against Tennessee.

This is going to be one of the toughest games of the season, but Oklahoma has risen to the occassion in 2025. Can they do so again on the road against Alabama? Here are this week's staff predictions.

No Sneaking Up on Bama this time

Alabama. Tuscaloosa. November. Playoff lives on the line. OU certainly won't be afraid of the pressure, but nor will the Crimson Tide. After last year's defeat at the Sooners' hands, Alabama knows better than to take things for granted. Oklahoma can certainly win the game. It's just that its offense will need an A-plus effort alongside its almost-always stout defense. Probably too much to ask.

Alabama 27, Oklahoma 21

Eric Bolin, Sooners Wire Contributor

Sooners are Good Enough to Win

Oklahoma showed a lot of fight in the Tennessee win, and they’ll need even more of it against Alabama. If it weren’t for a Week 1 loss to Florida State, the Crimson Tide would likely be the No. 1 team in the country. They’re really good and absolutely capable of winning it all this year. OU’s defense will give up some points and some conversions because Ty Simpson and the Tide are good on offense, but if this game script goes a bit more like Tennessee and less like Ole Miss, the Sooners can still win with their defense. Turnovers and third downs will be the stats to watch.

On offense, this will be the biggest test yet for John Mateer and company. His hand looks to be getting healthier by the week, but he’ll likely need to put on the Superman cape more than a couple times if OU is going to win. However, if Xavier Robinson and the run game can balance out Oklahoma’s offense, and the big plays swing in OU’s favor, there’s a path to victory for the Sooners. Brent Venables knows his team needs this one if they want to make the CFP. Let’s see what he’s got.

Oklahoma 30, Alabama 27

Aaron Gelvin, Sooners Wire Contributor

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The Oklahoma Sooners and the Alabama Crimson Tide are pretty equally matched teams. The Sooners allow four fewer points per game than the Tide, and Bama scores four more points per game than OU. It's a tough environment that Oklahoma is walking into, and Alabama will have revenge on its mind. But this is a better team that stunned the Crimson Tide in Norman a year ago.

The run game needs to have another strong performance to keep Ty Simpson and the Alabama offense off the field. Oklahoma doesn't need a dominant performance from John Mateer, but needs him to be closer to the player he was in the first four games of the season. If the defense can limit the big plays and get pressure on Simpson, the Sooners will pull out the massive road win and keep their playoff hopes alive.

Oklahoma 26, Alabama 24

John Williams, Sooners Wire Lead Writer

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Sooners Wire Staff Predicts Oklahoma vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

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