3 keys on defense for Oklahoma's rematch with Alabama

The Oklahoma Sooners have leaned on their defense all season long, on their way to a 10-2 record and a berth in the first round of the College Football Playoff. They built an excellent resume, boosted by a sterling stretch run in November where they went 4-0 to get into the CFP. 

One of the teams that OU beat on the road in November, the Alabama Crimson Tide, comes to Norman for a rematch on Friday night, this time with the right to advance in the playoff on the line. The Sooners will need that defense to excel again if they want to keep their remarkable season going. 

Oklahoma has had Alabama’s number over the past 13 months, winning at home in November of 2024 in upset fashion by a score of 24-3. The Sooners dominated defensively, ran the ball all over ‘Bama offensively, and pulled off the shocker to keep the Tide out of the playoff. It was a highlight win in a season that was otherwise mostly disappointing. 

A month ago, the Sooners made the trip to Tuscaloosa, and they won 23-21. It’s the signature win of head coach Brent Venables’ tenure to this point, and it ultimately propelled OU to the playoff. Oklahoma again won with defense, and they got just enough from the offense to get the big win. 

Now, we get a third matchup of these ultimate college football blue blood programs in a little over a calendar year, with Round 3 back in Norman. Venables and the Sooners are going to need to be buoyed by that strong defense again this week, and they need to keep the Tide guessing when quarterback Ty Simpson and Co. have the ball. 

Here are three keys for OU’s defense against Alabama.

1. Force multiple takeaways again

Oklahoma won the turnover battle 3-0 in the regular season matchup this year, and they’ll need to make it a point to take the ball away again this week. The Sooners turned those three takeaways int 17 of their 23 points in the win, and it was the key stat of the entire game. Alabama’s offense is really good when they get rolling, and taking the ball away is the way that the Sooners get another win.

What’s more, OU has scored a defensive touchdown in each of the last two meetings, with Kip Lewis’ pick-six in 2024, and Eli Bowen’s pick-six in 2025. It feels like Oklahoma can’t keep relying on points from their defense against the Tide, but it’s a trend that Sooner Nation wouldn’t mind seeing continue on Friday. 

2. No big plays

The Sooners have gotten really good at forcing teams to punt or kick a field goal, even when the opposing offense gets some momentum and some first downs. They’ve been able to do that, because they don’t allow a lot of big plays over the top, where they get beat for a touchdown on one big play.

That trend will need to continue against ‘Bama, especially against the excellent wide receivers that the Crimson Tide have. Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard form a formidable duo, and tight end Josh Cuevas hurt the Sooners last time out. Despite throwing for 326 yards, Simpson and the offense scored just 21 points in the November meeting, because OU limited the big plays behind the defense. That needs to be the case again for the Sooners on Friday night. 

3. Brent Venables vs. Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb

Venables is one of the best defensive minds in all of college football, and he’s reminded people of that in a big way this season. However, he’ll have to dial up something for a rematch against two really good offensive minds on the other sideline. 

Head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb are two very bright offensive minds who have worked together for a long time, and they’ve seen Venables’ defense against their offense already this season. DeBoer and Grubb are sure to have some answers for what Venables will call, but Venables has to be one step ahead of that duo. Rematches often come down to coaching and play-calling, and Venables has a tall task ahead of him on that front in this game. He ultimately got the best of things the first time out, despite giving up a ton of yardage, and he’s got to win on this front again in the CFP edition of the matchup. 

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 keys for OU's defense in rematch with the Tide