This Alabama vs Oklahoma game means a lot to LB Deontae Lawson. Here's why

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Deontae Lawson’s story in Norman, Oklahoma, is not finished yet.

The Alabama football linebacker was on an NFL draft track in November 2024 before an ACL tear in the Crimson Tide‘s road loss to Sooners changed everything.

Instead of making the jump from Tuscaloosa to the NFL, Lawson took a fifth year with the Crimson Tide, one where he basically matched his production from a season ago to set him up for the 2026 NFL draft.

Lawson didn’t get his initial revenge against Oklahoma in the 2025 regular season, falling to the Sooners 23-21 at home Nov. 15.

But Lawson’s story at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is not complete. Alabama will take on Oklahoma on the road in the first round of the College Football Payoff at 7 p.m. Friday Dec. 19.

“Man, God is great,” Lawson said. “Looking back and just knowing where my headspace was, it just put me in a different perspective. Just even going out there and practicing today, just flying around and try and bring guys with me because I actually get to.”

The injury was a big reason Lawson came back in the first place. Yes, there were things to do and relationships to build and games to win. But the injury showed Lawson something bigger.

“Obviously I have dreams and aspirations to play at the next level, but I think the injury kind of made me realize it can be taken away from you at any point,” Lawson said at SEC Media Days in July.

Through 13 games, Lawson leads Alabama with 75 tackles. He also has three tackles-for-loss, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

And as a player who gets another chance to show what he can do on a stage where it was taken away a year ago, Lawson doesn’t have words. It’s a feeling he can’t explain.

“I’m excited to go back and just take it all in,” Lawson said. “I know I’ll give everything I got, for sure.”

Alabama will take on Oklahoma in the first round of the CFP Friday, Dec. 19 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: This Alabama vs Oklahoma game means a lot to LB Deontae Lawson

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