Oklahoma Sooners Face Alabama in College Football Playoff Bracket

The wait for Selection Sunday is finally over—Oklahoma Sooners have snagged the No. 8 seed in the College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket. It’s their first playoff berth since 2019, and they’ll be hosting No. 9 Alabama at home on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. CT.

Brent Venables, now in his fourth year as head coach, has the Sooners fired up for a postseason that could get wild. Let’s dig into Oklahoma’s season, their next big test, and how the CFP is shaping up this year.

The Road to the Playoffs: Oklahoma’s 2025 Season

The Sooners wrapped up the season with a 10-2 overall record and went 6-2 in the SEC. There were some bumps along the way, but they found ways to win when it mattered.

Key Games and Highlights

Some of Oklahoma’s wins this season were pretty convincing:

• Week 1: Oklahoma 35, Illinois State 3
• Week 2: Oklahoma 24, Michigan 13
• Week 3: Oklahoma 42, Temple 3
• Week 4: Oklahoma 24, Auburn 17
• Week 6: Oklahoma 44, Kent State 0
• Week 8: Oklahoma 26, South Carolina 7
• Week 10: Oklahoma 33, Tennessee 27
• Week 12: Oklahoma 23, Alabama 21
• Week 13: Oklahoma 17, Missouri 6
• Week 14: Oklahoma 17, LSU 13

Sure, they dropped games to Texas and Ole Miss, but that Week 12 win over Alabama? That was a statement. It showed they can hang with the big dogs.

Upcoming Matchup: Oklahoma vs. Alabama

First round of the CFP, and it’s Oklahoma-Alabama—again. The Sooners host the Crimson Tide on Friday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. CT, with the game airing on ABC.

Oklahoma and Alabama have a bit of a history, so this one’s got some extra spice. Feels like it could go either way, honestly.

What to Expect

Both squads have looked sharp all year. Oklahoma’s quarterback has been clutch, while Alabama’s offense can explode at any moment.

The winner moves on to face No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Stakes don’t get much higher than that.

The College Football Playoff Bracket

This year’s CFP has expanded to 12 teams—a big jump from the old four-team setup. The five highest-ranked conference champs get priority in the seeding, which definitely shakes things up.

First Round Matchups

Here’s how the first round lines up:

• No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon: 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 20 (TNT)
• No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss: 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 20 (TNT)
• No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M: 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 20 (ESPN)
• No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma: 7 p.m. CT Friday, Dec. 19 (ABC)

Quarterfinals and Beyond

Winners from the first round head to the quarterfinals, set for Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Here are the matchups:

• ROSE BOWL: No. 1 Indiana vs. winner of No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama | 3 p.m. CT Thursday, Jan. 1, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California (ESPN)
• COTTON BOWL: No. 2 Ohio State vs. winner of No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami | 6:30 p.m. CT Wednesday, Dec. 31, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
• SUGAR BOWL: No. 3 Georgia vs. winner of No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane | 7 p.m. CT Thursday, Jan. 1, at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans (ESPN)
• ORANGE BOWL: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. winner of No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison | 11 a.m. CT Thursday, Jan. 1, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (ESPN)

Semifinals and National Championship

The semifinals are locked in for Jan. 8 and 9. Whoever survives those moves on to the national championship game, set for Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Conclusion

The 2025 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be a wild ride. Oklahoma Sooners fans have been waiting for this moment—finally, a playoff spot under Coach Brent Venables.

As the No. 8 seed, Oklahoma’s got a tough road ahead. They’re opening with a rematch against Alabama, and, let’s be honest, that’s no small task.

If you’re eager for more updates or want to follow the action live, check out The Oklahoman. This postseason could be one for the books.