The Alabama Crimson Tide travels to Norman on Friday night to take on the Oklahoma Sooners for the second time this season. This time, national championship aspirations are on the line in the first College Football Playoff matchup of the Round 1 weekend. Kalen DeBoer has lost the last two to Brent Venable’s program, but can they reverse the course of recent history?
Much will depend on the availability of key players for both teams. With the final College Football Playoff-mandated injury report now released, which players won’t be playing in Alabama vs. Oklahoma?
Top Crimson Tide Players Not Playing in Alabama vs. Oklahoma
- Kameron Howard, DB (out)
- Jah-Marien Latham, LB (out)
- Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., DB (out)
- LT Overton, DT (out)
- Kevin Riley, RB (out)
- Jeremiah Beaman, DL (out)
- Josh Cuevas, TE (game time decision)
- Danny Lewis Jr., TE (game time decision)
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Most of the players missing for Alabama vs. Oklahoma are long-term injuries. However, LT Overton played the entire season before missing the SEC Championship Game loss to Georgia and won’t suit up against the Sooners. Kevin Riley has seen action in 10 games, and his lack of availability for a ground game that has seen its fair share of struggles continues to be a factor.
However, the biggest story from the Alabama availability report is tight end Josh Cuevas. While Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams lead the Crimson Tide receiving ranks, Cuevas has been a pivotal part of the offense for Alabama this fall, and if he can’t go as a game-time decision, it could be a death knell for the offense against one of the country’s premium defenses.
Top Sooners Players Not Playing in Alabama vs. Oklahoma
- Gentry Williams, DB (out)
- Kendel Dolby, DB (out)
- Manny Choice, WR (out)
- Jeremiah Newcombe, DB (out)
- Troy Everett, OL (out)
- Jake Maikkula, OL (out)
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There were no surprises on the Oklahoma availability report, although that doesn’t make certain losses any less impactful. Jake Maikkula has been the Sooners’ starting center for the most part of the season, but will be replaced at the pivot for the second successive game by Febechi Nwaiwu.
The eighth-ranked team in the country received a significant boost earlier in the week when dominant pass rusher R Mason Thomas wasn’t listed on the availability report. The defensive juggernaut has logged 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in just nine games this season, and will be a thorn in the side of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson all night long.
