Ahead of the new year, here are five steps the Sooners must take if they want to get back to the CFP in 2026: OU lacked the type of high-end talent on offense you’ll see in the CFP quarterfinal games.

Maybe the Sooners are cursed when it comes to the College Football Playoff. The CFP is OU’s kryptonite. How else can you explain OU’s 34-24 loss to Alabama?

Alabama football defeated Oklahoma 34-24 in College Football Playoff comeback win featuring key plays by Deion Burks and Germie Bernard on Friday night.

With No. 8 Oklahoma football hosting No. 9 Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff at 7 p.m. Friday inside Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, the Sooners are planning for a few surprises and an upgraded in-game experience for the first playoff game in Norman.

Alabama is favored, but Oklahoma has won its last two matchups against the Crimson Tide and is playing host in the CFP first-round game. The Sooners and Crimson Tide are trending in opposite directions, and Brent Venables gets multiple weeks to prepare for an offense he gave trouble just under a month ago in Oklahoma's 23-21 road win.

Trojan fans do envy the fact that Oklahoma even got into the CFP, but after another early playoff exit for the Sooners, both teams look to 2026

The Sooners host Alabama for the program's first-ever home College Football Playoff game on Friday night. NORMAN — Sooners On SI offers real-time observations from Oklahoma Memorial Stadium throughout Friday’s College Football Playoff matchup between OU and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Tate Sandell missed again.

Alabama and Oklahoma met five weeks ago. Now they face off in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Who wins? We offer our predictions.

On the bright side, Arbuckle should have better weapons to work with next season as OU’s attention shifts toward the transfer portal and building its roster. Offensive line, running back, tight end and wide receiver are positions of need and general manager Jim Nagy’s front office is expected to be aggressive in aiming to help the offense improve.

The transfer portal can be a confusing place, but a recent announcement has undoubtedly left more than a few scratching their heads. Certainly, an important par