OU football offensive lineman Jake Maikkula and defensive end R Mason Thomas will participate in practices this week, Brent Venables said Monday.

No, the Sooners do not play football on Dec. 13. The Sooners will face Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday, Dec. 19, at Owen Field in Norman. Kickoff for the quarterfinal is set for 7 p.m. CT Friday, Dec. 19.

Hosting the Crimson Tide in Norman will be a reversal of the Sooners' last battle with Alabama earlier this season. Oklahoma toppled the then-No. 4 team in the country 23-21 in Tuscaloosa, which very well may have been the determining factor in giving it a home game this time around in the playoff.

The Oklahoma Sooners could have a pair of key starters available for the College Football Playoff game vs. Alabama.

Alabama football's loss to Oklahoma in November ended with Sooners stepping on the Tide's logo for a photo op, and Kalen DeBoer didn't even know.

Golding and Co. add another impressive staffer for the 2026 season, continue assembling group for next season.