The Oklahoma Sooners will look to get to bowl eligibility on Saturday when they host the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday. OU is currently 5-5 and has the Tide coming to Norman for the final home game of the 2024 season.
This game has lost some of its luster with the Sooners being as bad as they are, but it’s a measuring stick to see how far [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ team still has to go if they want to hang with the best of the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].
The Crimson Tide have a new head coach this season for the first time since 2007. Kalen DeBoer replaced Nick Saban, after the legendary coach retired after last season. So far, it’s been an 8-2 season for ‘Bama, with losses on the road against Vanderbilt and Tennessee.
Alabama is still right in the mix to play in the SEC Championship game and they can’t afford a loss against Oklahoma. DeBoer has the tough task of stepping in for an icon, but he’s done well in his first season in Tuscaloosa. He gave his initial thoughts on OU during his Monday press availability.
“It’s going to take a great week of preparation,” DeBoer said. “A physical football team all around. Their defense is, I think, an extremely tough defense, always just what they do with their scheme and then their personnel and the way they fly around. We’ll have to get ready for their offense with a couple of quarterbacks, potentially, just some skilled players.”
DeBoer went on to highlight the number of close games the Sooners have been in this season, specifically their last loss against the Missouri Tigers.
“You look at the games they’ve played, a lot of close games going into the second half and even the fourth quarter,” DeBoer said. “The Missouri game obviously was a crazy ending and some plays made both ways just in the final two minutes. Each and every game takes on its own life and for us, we’re focused on the next play and for us, the next game and everything that goes into being our best and that’s what our recipe for success has been here over the last month.”
DeBoer and Bama will have a lot of confidence as the swagger onto Owen Field this week, and it’ll be up to Venables and OU to halt their momentum to get win No. 6 on the season.
Kickoff between Oklahoma and Alabama is set for 6:30 p.m. central time. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
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