The Alabama Crimson Tide and the Oklahoma Sooners will meet on Friday night in Norman in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma has won its last two games against Alabama -- including this season's matchup in Tuscaloosa.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/oklahoma as Oklahoma's Gracen Halton is Carrying More Than Just Himself, Sooners Into CFP. NORMAN — The picture is a bit weathered now.

One day ahead of Oklahoma's College Football Playoff game against Alabama, the Sooners received good news for the future. Covered Wagons Recruiting, which tracks high-school players on the OU radar, tabbed five different prospects to land with Oklahoma as part of the Class of 2027.

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione wants fans in their seats early because the Sooners have a few pregame surprises planned.

The Little Elm native is the latest in a long line of highly-touted Sooners quarterbacks to lead Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff.

Oklahoma also knocked Alabama out of playoff contention last season when it pulled off a 24-3 upset of the Crimson Tide. This will be Oklahoma's first playoff appearance since 2019. The Sooners, who won just six games in 2024,