Ranked among college football’s best, the Oklahoma Sooners are one of the most talented teams in the entire SEC.
Led by head coach Brent Venables, the Sooners are loaded on both sides of the ball, headlined by many prominent transfers from this past offseason at key positions such as quarterback and wide receiver, among others. Because of this, Oklahoma certainly looks different than the team which upset Alabama a year ago in Norman, with this new version of the Sooners overall likely better than that 2024 group.
This Oklahoma team also has one of the nation’s top defenses, one that ranks No. 8 nationally with an average of 14.1 points allowed per game, as well as a solid offense led by one of college football’s most talented quarterbacks.
Following are five Oklahoma Sooners to know entering Saturday’s matchup in Tuscaloosa, as well as what each did against Alabama a year ago.
R Mason Thomas is one of the top pass rushers in the entire SEC, and is a player who saw success against Alabama a year ago, finishing with three tackles, one sack, and 1.5 TFL. The senior defensive lineman is leading the Oklahoma defense with 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles across nine games this season, while also having posted 23 tackles, 9.5 TFL, one pass defense, and one fumble recovery, which went for a touchdown.
One of the more talked about quarterbacks in college football this season has been Oklahoma redshirt junior John Mateer, who will be facing Alabama for the first time in his collegiate career Saturday. Across eight games in 2025, Mateer has completed 63.8% of passes for 1,949 yards and an 8:7 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 306 yards and six touchdowns on 94 attempts.
Leading the Oklahoma offense in receiving is wideout Isaiah Sategna III, a redshirt junior who, during his time with Arkansas, had two receptions for 19 yards and a touchdown against Alabama back in 2023. Sategna has been one of the SEC’s most productive wideouts this season, hauling in 49 receptions for 692 yards and five touchdowns, while also leading the conference with 20 punt returns for 224 yards.
Leading the Oklahoma defense in tackles is Kip Lewis, a redshirt junior linebacker who had a 49-yard pick six a year ago against Alabama. Lewis has 53 total tackles, 26 of which are solo, this season, along with six TFL, one sack, and two pass defenses.
The Sooners have one of the SEC’s top kickers in Tate Sandell, a redshirt junior who will playing Alabama for the first time after transferring from UTSA. Sandell is currently 18-of-19 on field goal attempts this season, which translates to a SEC leading 94.7% field goal percentage, while also a perfect 26-of-26 on extra points.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football vs. Oklahoma: John Mateer among top Sooners