NORMAN — Oklahoma offensive lineman Jake Maikkula was downgraded to doubtful on Thursday's availability report. Maikkula, who has been limited at practice this week and missed the LSU game due to an infection, was questionable on Wednesday. Maikkula had started 10 consecutive games for the Sooners up to that point.

It's an all-SEC showdown in the first round of the College Football Playoff as No. 9 Alabama travels to play No. 8 Oklahoma on Friday night. These two programs have become familiar foes since Oklahoma's move to the SEC ahead of the 2024 season.

Lots of adjectives have been used to describe this OU offense, but before Friday's CFP game vs Alabama, one word keeps coming to mind: fascinating.

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

We're getting closer and closer to kick off in Norman for the College Football Playoff matchup. In the shadows of the stadium, Sooners were already staking their claim to tailgate spots as early as 4 a.

OU football quarterback John Mateer has been practicing without tape on his hand this week. Brent Venables says he's improving.

Coach Brent Venables and the OU football team survived LSU for a 17-13 win Saturday that will all but lock up the Sooners’ first trip to the CFP since 2019.

KOCO 5 Meteorologist Jonathan Conder provided a look at the OU football forecast. For fans tailgating in the afternoon, temperatures are expected to be in the high 50s. By the 7 p.m. kickoff, those temperatures will dip down to about 50 degrees with a south breeze.