Alabama was scrapping for the final playoff spot in 2023 when it was a four-team field. The same was true in 2024 and 2025 when the bracket expanded to 12. The world’s changed a lot in the last two seasons. Nobody reading this deep into a column needs to be told that.

College Football Playoff schedule, TV channel, time, streaming information for Oklahoma Sooners vs Alabama Crimson Tide CFP game on Dec. 19, 2025.

Here's what to know about how to watch the college football playoff game between Alabama and Oklahoma this Friday.

The Sooners and Crimson Tide meet tonight in the College Football Playoff with rosters that seem to be built from different criteria.

Oklahoma football star R Mason Thomas was one of the most productive edge rushers in the country before injury, but has missed the Sooners ' last three games, including most of their win over Tennessee on Nov. 1. He's aiming to return for the first time since against Alabama on Friday, Dec. 19, in the College Football Playoff.

The Oklahoma Sooners were hit with a harsh reality ahead of the team's rematch against Alabama in the College Football Playoff.

The former Crimson Tide head coach had glowing remarks about the Oklahoma defense on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday.