All the latest updates and news on Alabama’s injury report ahead of a Week 13 game vs. Oklahoma.
This Saturday night, the Alabama Crimson Tide will officially make their return to SEC play after a blowout victory over Mercer in Week 12, as the program will travel west to Norman for a showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners.
Alabama’s first conference game against Oklahoma in the SEC, this will be yet another must-win for the Crimson Tide in order to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive, as well as their chances to play for a SEC title.
A key game for both teams – Alabama to keep their CFP chances alive, and Oklahoma to become bowl eligible – let’s take a look at the latest injury report for both Alabama and Oklahoma as of Wednesday night:
Alabama Crimson Tide injury report
Keon Sabb, Defensive Back – Out
Cole Adams, Wide Receiver – Out
Que Robinson, Linebacker – Out
Alabama has three different players listed as “out” for the Oklahoma game, each of which are done for the season. Both of Sabb and Robinson were a starter on defense, while Adams was a prominent special teams player, as well as a receiver who saw action.
Oklahoma Sooners injury report
Jayden Gibson, Wide Receiver – Out
Nic Anderson, Wide Receiver – Out
Andrel Anthony, Wide Receiver – Out
Gentry Williams, Defensive Back – Out
Kendel Dolby, Defensive Back – Out
Geirean Hatchett, Offensive Line – Out
Jacob Sexton, Offensive Line – Out
Jake Taylor, Offensive Line – Out
Deion Burks, Wide Receiver – Doubtful
Jovantae Barnes, Running Back – Questionable
Joshua Bates, Offensive Line – Questionable
Oklahoma’s injury report is much longer than Alabama’s going into Week 13, with one of the most glaring names listed that of wide receiver Deion Burks, who is listed as “doubtful.” Another notable name is Javontae Barnes, as the Sooners leading rusher is listed as “questionable.”
MSU will host Jace Clarizio on a weekend long visit with the Spartans looking to combat a push from Alabama
Michigan State football hit a homerun when it landed a hometown recruit in running back Jace Clarizio. The high 3-star commit from East Lansing High School has been committed to the Spartans since early May.
Things have gotten dicey with Clarizio and the Spartans in recent weeks, when Alabama offered the hometown prospect, and got an official visit from the running back.
A former Alabama transfer has been named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
When it comes to players who transferred out of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program this past offseason, there are arguably few who have gone on to see more immediate success this year than Ja’Corey Brooks.
A former five-star wide receiver, Brooks was an immediate impact player at Alabama, going on to spend three seasons with the Crimson Tide from 2021-23.
Over that span, Brooks appeared in 37 games with the Crimson Tide, a span in which he had a combined 57 receptions for 896 yards and 10 touchdowns.
As mentioned previously however, Brooks transferred this past offseason, where the wide receiver ended up with the Louisville Cardinals in a move that has certainly proved to be impactful for the former five-star.
So far this season, Brooks has simply been one of the top wide receivers in all of college football at Louisville, hauling in a career-high 57 receptions for an ACC-leading 945 yards and eight touchdowns. Brooks has also served as both a kickoff and punt returner at times for Louisville, and as a result of his season, was recently named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
The Alabama DC commented on the Sooners offense Monday.
Throughout the 2024 college football season, the Oklahoma Sooners offense has likely been one of the more disappointing in the SEC.
Averaging only 25.1 PPG, Oklahoma ranks No. 15 in the SEC when it comes to scoring, as well as last in the conference in total yards per game, sitting at an average of 326.8.
However, this is still a dangerous team for the Alabama Crimson Tide due to their talent on the defensive side of the ball, as well as through the fact that they could give the Crimson Tide different looks offensively by using two different quarterbacks in Jackson Arnold and Michael Hawkins Jr..
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack was also asked about the Sooners offense in particular during his press conference Monday afternoon, as well as what the Crimson Tide could do against Oklahoma.
Here is everything that Wommack said about Oklahoma’s offense Monday:
Kane Wommack’s comments on Oklahoma Sooners offense
“Going into this week, this is certainly an exciting environment that we’re going in to play in Norman, Oklahoma,” Wommack said. “A very proud program who’s entering the SEC this year, and is going to fight. They’ve had some ups-and-downs, but I think they’ve fought really hard as a football team, and they’ve got a quarterback that to me is very talented, can make all the throws, and does some things with his feet that has kept them in a position to move the chains. He does a really good job in some of their zone-read game and all of the different quarterback option concepts that they have. Does a nice job delivering the ball. Can make all the throws across the board. I think they run the ball hard out of the backfield, and then they’ve got some guys that are coming back in their wide receiver corps that are pretty dynamic, and when they were healthy at the beginning of the year, they were doing some really special things, and you’re starting to see those guys back and playing now. It’ll be a great challenge for us again going on the road. Certainly what we were able to do the last time on the road, I think our players have understood what it takes to go have a sense of urgency to go play well on the road, so that needs to show up this Saturday night. Looking forward to the week of preparation, and to prepare our guys to maximize their opportunity in Norman.”
Kane Wommack comments on Oklahoma using both quarterbacks Jackson Arnold, Michael Hawkins Jr.
“Every single week, if you’re doing your due-diligence as a defensive staff, you go, what is this team’s identity, what do they want to get done from the quarterback position, and who do they want to feature from a skill position standpoint, and then if they have another quarterback that comes into the game, what are your answers going to be,” Wommack said. “You’re either working those things and maximizing your opportunities if that happens, or you don’t, so that’s something that every single week we’re going to look at and try to do. I do think there are a lot of similarities in what they ask those guys to do. Skill-set wise, there might be some nuances there, but for us, I don’t know if it is completely different from one guy to the next in terms of what they were asking those guys to do schematically. It’ll be a challenge though. I think this team, when you’re playing a night game in your home stadium against Alabama, we’re going to get every bit of their best effort. Regardless of who you’re playing.”
This will be the seventh all-time meeting between Alabama and Oklahoma.
When the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field Saturday night in Norman, they will be doing so against one of the newest members to the SEC in the Oklahoma Sooners.
Having joined the conference from the Big 12 this season, Oklahoma is an opponent that Alabama are not as familiar with however, as the two teams have not met since 2018, as well as during the regular season since 2003.
A matchup that dates back to 1962, Oklahoma leads the all-time series over Alabama a combined 3-2-1, with the Sooners having also owned the recent history against the Crimson Tide, aside from one meeting.
Alabama won the first-ever meeting between the two back in 1962 in Miami, with the two teams eventually tying the next game in 1970 in Houston. The Crimson Tide would not win another game in the series until the most recent in 2018, where Alabama topped the Sooners by a final score of 45-34 in the College Football Playoff Semifinal, which also took place in Miami.
Between that tie and the 2018 game however, Alabama struggled against the Sooners by losing three-straight, likely the most high-profile of which was the 2013 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans where Oklahoma defeated the Crimson Tide, 45-31. The other two meetings came in Norman back in 2002, as well as in Tuscaloosa a year later in 2003.
In fact, Alabama and Oklahoma have met only once before in Norman, as well as Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s lone trip to Norman, as mentioned previously, was a loss, falling by a final score of 37-27 in 2002.
Will the Crimson Tide pick up their third win all-time against Oklahoma on Saturday night?
Biletnikoff Award names Alabama Freshman WR Ryan Williams a semifinalist.
The first sign that Kalen DeBoer was going to be a problem in the SEC was when he landed elite five-star WR Ryan Williams in his first two weeks in Tuscaloosa. Many people considered Williams’s commitment to DeBoer to be similar to that of Julio Jones to Nick Saban. 247 Sports ranked Williams as the No. 8 recruit in the 2024 class, and that was with him leaving high school a year early.
So far, the Alabama Crimson Tide phenom has lived up to the billing with 40 receptions for 767 yards and eight TDs as well as three carries for 53 yards and two scores. He also maybe made the play of the year in college football with an acrobatic 75-yard game-winning touchdown against Georgia. Williams has grown from being an electric X-factor in the offense to one of the most reliable pieces as the season has progressed.
As a result of Williams’s outstanding play, the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation’s top wide receiver, named him as one of 11 semi-finalists for this year’s award. Ole Miss’s Tre Harris is the only other player from the SEC on the list. Amari Cooper was Alabama’s first win back in 2014 followed by Jerry Jeudy in 2018 and DeVonta Smith in 2020.
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This week, a new SEC team is in that spot. If the playoff started today, the Tennessee Volunteers would miss the cut after their 31-17 loss to Georgia over the weekend at Sanford Stadium.
While the Crimson Tide’s win over a Football Championship Subdivision opponent (Mercer) might seem relatively unimpressive, consider this: Not only did Alabama leap Tennessee and the BYU Cougars after those teams lost, but the Tide also jumped the 9-1 Miami Hurricanes, the highest-ranked ACC team.
Interestingly, one of biggest changes in the rankings was the selection committee showing us what it thought of the Big 12’s lack of a true conference power. After BYU was exposed in a 17-13 loss to the Kansas Jayhawks (4-6), the committee moved Boise State — the highest-ranked Group of Five team and projected Mountain West champion — ahead of the Cougars and, thus, into the No. 4 seed.
As a reminder, playoff rankings and actual seeding are two different things. Miami is the No. 8 team in the committee’s rankings, but they’re the No. 3 seed as the projected ACC champion. And as with last week, SMU may be one of the first teams out in the rankings, but the Mustangs still have a direct path to the ACC title game.
With that out of the way, here’s a look at what the bracket for the 12-team field would look like if the College Football Playoff started today, as well as who Alabama would face.
Projected Conference Champions, First-Round Byes
No. 1 seed: Oregon Ducks
Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Oregon College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 1
Oregon Current College Football Playoff Seed: No. 1
Oregon 2024 Record: 11-0 overall, 8-0 Big Ten
Barring an upset loss to Washington, Oregon will remain in this spot until at least the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis.
No. 2 seed: Texas Longhorns
Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Texas College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 3
Texas Current College Football Playoff Seed: No. 2
Texas 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 5-1 SEC
Like last week, Texas is the projected No. 2 seed as the highest-ranked SEC team, though more college football analysts this week are trending in the direction of Alabama taking the conference crown. Part of that is how Texas and Alabama have looked in recent weeks. The Crimson Tide have been on a tear since their 24-17 loss at Tennessee. Texas lost by two scores to Georgia and looked largely uninspiring in a 20-10 win at Arkansas last week.
No. 3 seed: Miami Hurricanes
Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports
Miami College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 8
Miami Current College Football Playoff Seed: No. 3
Miami 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 5-1 ACC
Miami had a bye in Week 12 and closes the regular season with a home game against Wake Forest and a road trip to Syracuse.
No. 4 seed: Boise State Broncos
Ashton Jeanty runs for a touchdown against San Jose State at CEFCU Stadium. Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Boise State College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 12
Boise State Current College Football Playoff Seed: No. 4
Boise State 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 6-0 MWC
Honestly? I think the selection committee got this one right. Can you name one Big 12 team that you’d feel 100% comfortable wagering on to beat Boise State? I can’t, and that’s why I’m fine with Ashton Jeanty and the Broncos surpassing BYU this week.
First Round CFP Matchups
No. 12 BYU Cougars seed at No. 5 seed Ohio State Buckeyes
Quinshon Judkins celebrates his touchdown against Northwestern at Wrigley Field. David Banks-Imagn Images
BYU College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 14
BYU 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 6-1 Big 12
Ohio State College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 2
Ohio State 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten
The Buckeyes remain the highest-ranked at-large seed — and the biggest example of the difference between playoff ranking vs. playoff seeding. Ohio State still has a chance to take the No. 1 overall spot in the rankings when the final 12-team field is announced in December, but it will have to beat two current top five teams to do it.
No. 11 seed Georgia Bulldogs at No. 6 seed Penn State Nittany Lions
Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Georgia College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 10
Georgia 2024 Record: 8-2 overall, 6-2 SEC
Penn State College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 4
Penn State 2024 Record: 9-1 overall, 6-1 Big Ten
TV executives, not to mention conference homers, would salivate over this potential matchup between an SEC heavyweight and a Penn State program looking to become one in the Big Ten.
No. 10 seed Ole Miss Rebels at No. 7 seed Indiana Hoosiers
Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Ole Miss College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 9
Ole Miss 2024 Record: 8-2 overall, 4-2 SEC
Indiana College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 5
Indiana 2024 Record: 10-0 overall, 7-0 Big Ten
Can Ole Miss avoid the upset bug against a Florida Gators team that suddenly doesn’t seem that bad? Probably, but it’s an early kickoff in Gainesville against a team that just scored its first upset of 2024 and would love to ruin someone’s College Football Playoff hopes.
As for the Hoosiers, Curt Cignetti’s team faces what has to be the biggest game in the history of IU football when it heads to Columbus to face Ohio State. Indiana obviously wants to win, but even a close or competitive loss to the Buckeyes would keep the Hoosiers in the playoff conversation.
Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard celebrate a touchdown againsr Mercer at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Photo by Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images
Alabama College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 7
Alabama 2024 Record: 8-2 overall, 4-2 SEC
Notre Dame College Football Playoff Ranking: No. 6
Notre Dame 2024 Record: 9-1 overall
Last week’s rankings had Alabama on the road in the first round of the Playoff at another Indiana campus (Bloomington). But it would be the Crimson Tide at Notre Dame, if the playoffs began today. In terms of heavyweight college football programs that ooze tradition, this would be an epic matchup for an on-campus playoff game.
Alabama still needs to avoid any calamities at Oklahoma and against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, but the Crimson Tide are well-positioned for a trip to the SEC championship game in Atlanta entering Week 13. Meanwhile, Notre Dame will have to ruin one of college football’s biggest feel-good stories this week by beating an Army team that’s 9-0 and then beat USC at the Coliseum on Nov. 30.
On The Bubble/First Four Out
Josh Heupel walks off the field after Tennessee lost to Georgia 31-17 at Sanford Stadium. Imagn Images
No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (8-2)
No. 13 SMU Mustangs (9-1)
No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies (8-2)
No. 16 Colorado Buffaloes (8-2)
CFP Quarterfinals
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon Ducks vs. 8/9 Winner
Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Texas Longhorns vs. 7/10 Winner
Peach Bowl: No. 3 Miami Hurricanes vs. 6/11 Winner
Fiesta Bowl: No. 4 Boise State Broncos vs. 5/12 Winner
Alabama was included in the latest College Football Rankings. Here’s a playoff picture for the Crimson Tide.
Once again, the Alabama Crimson Tide are on the move in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.
After a dominant 52-7 win over the Mercer Bears last Saturday, the Crimson Tide rose yet again Tuesday night in the latest playoff selection committee rankings, moving to No. 7 from No. 10. The Crimson Tide moved up a spot from No. 11 to No. 10 a week ago.
Let’s take a look at the latest playoff rankings release from Tuesday night, as well as what the bracket looks like before Alabama’s road trip to face the Oklahoma Sooners this Saturday.
College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out
This is the latest CFP bracket based on seeding Tuesday night:
First Round Matchups: No. 5 seed Ohio State vs. No. 12 seed BYU (Big 12), No. 6 seed Penn State vs. No. 11 seed Georgia, No. 7 seed Indiana vs. No. 10 seed Ole Miss, No. 8 seed Notre Dame vs. No. 9 seed Alabama
For the first time, there will be 12 teams participating in the College Football Playoffs. There are five automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to the seven at-large teams.
When next College Football Playoff rankings come out
The New York Jets have announced their interim general manager. It’s a name that Alabama fans will definitely recognize.
A former Alabama football analyst, commentator and Nick Saban chum is the new interim general manager of the New York Jets.
Veteran NFL and college football mind Phil Savage was promoted to the role of interim GM Tuesday after the Jets fired outgoing general manager Joe Douglas following five-plus seasons.
Savage broadcast Alabama games with Eli Gold from 2009-2017. More recently, he had been a team advisor for the Jets. Savage was previously the general manager of the Cleveland Browns for four seasons before being fired in 2008.
He joined Gold and CTSN (Crimson Tide Sports Network) in 2009 and called four national championship seasons for Saban and the Crimson Tide. Savage worked during game weeks to provide data and scouting reports on Alabama’s upcoming opponents, he said in his 2018 book, 4th and Goal Every Day: Alabama’s Relentless Pursuit of Perfection.
Savage and Saban also worked in the same organization with the Browns in the early 90s. Saban was Cleveland’s defensive coordinator at the time while Savage was a chief scout for the team.
Savage left CTSN in 2018 to become general manager of the Arizona Hotshots in the short-lived Alliance of American Football League (AAF). He joined the Jets as a front office assistant in 2019.
The Jets are in the midst of a disappointing 3-8 season and are tied for last place in the AFC East.
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Alabama’s offensive coordinator comments on facing the Oklahoma defense this Saturday.
When the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field this upcoming Saturday night in Norman, the program will not only be facing a strong Oklahoma Sooners defense, but they will also be doing it in front of one of college football’s top environments in Memorial Stadium.
Alabama’s last true-road regular season game, the Crimson Tide have had a few troubles on the road this year, losing at both Vanderbilt and Tennessee.
This is obviously no secret as well, and will be key for Alabama to play more like they did at LSU a few weeks ago offensively, rather than those games at Vanderbilt and Tennessee.
Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan commented on both of these things Monday afternoon as well, saying first of what jumped out about the Sooners defense overall:
“I think obviously the schematics are one thing, but with their coaching staff and their history, just the way that they play, and I say that in the highest of compliments,” Sheridan said. “The toughness, the effort, the swarming to the football, the physicality with which they play. I just have a ton of respect for their players and their staff on how they play. Certainly there is the schematic challenges that you deal with each-and-every week, and this week will certainly be a challenge from that standpoint, but more than anything, just the way that they play football. I have a tremendous amount of respect for their staff and players on how they do that.”
Shortly after this, Sheridan was also asked about playing on the road where every game is important, and if Alabama can build off their success at LSU on Saturday night against Oklahoma, saying:
“I think you lean on your experiences in some of those environments,” Sheridan said. “No two situations are the same, but certainly relative to things that you have to deal with on the road, I think each time that you’re able to do that, you learn and grow to hope you handle those situations a little bit better. Certainly this will be an electric environment against a really quality opponent.”
Alabama will travel to Oklahoma this upcoming Saturday night, November 23, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
