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

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.

Our sports columnists here at The Oklahoman are split. Jenni Carlson picked OU 20-16. Joe Mussatto picked Alabama 21-16. Here's why:

In the first round of the college football playoff, their are plenty of prospects to watch between Alabama and Oklahoma.

But Alabama powered through the cancellations and changes at our favorite amphitheaters like The Wharf, Mercedes-Benz, Sand Mountain and Orion; concert halls like BJCC, Mars Music Hall and Iron City; and theaters like the Alabama, Lyric and Saenger.

SportsLine's model has simulated Alabama vs. Oklahoma 10,000 times and is going Over on the total. It also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can see the model's pick at SportsLine, and you can use promo code CHAMPIONSHIP to get your first month for $1 at SportsLine.

When's the last time Alabama lost to the same team twice in a season? Oklahoma is looking to be the first in two centuries.

The Alabama Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) Board Thursday approved an emergency, temporary rule regulating the sale of consumable hemp products, over the opposition of a state representative who sponsored the law leading to the regulation.