A lot of things are going to have to go right for Oklahoma to beat Alabama on Saturday. But the same thing can be said for Alabama.
The Sooners are clearly going to lean on their defensive strength and depth to put them in a position to pull off the upset on Saturday in Tuscaloosa. But make no mistake, John Mateer and the OU offense are going to have to make their presence felt as well.
The Sooners' best chance to beat Alabama, especially on the road in Tuscaloosa, where the Crimson Tide have won 17 in a row at Bryant-Denny Stadium and haven't lost a homecoming game since 2003, is going to be to stop the Bama run game, run the ball effectively themselves (which they've managed to do effectively over the past three games) and control the flow of the game. The result of that will be keeping the Alabama offense on the sidelines and taking the 100,000-plus home crowd out of the game.
What happens on Saturday, however, will not be about the plays or the signals from the sidelines, but rather the players who are tasked with executing and making the plays that are called. Here are four Oklahoma players that need to be at their best in the game on Saturday.
QB John Mateer
John Mateer has not been the same as he was early in the season when he led the Sooners to four straight wins and was considered one of the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy. After suffering a broken thumb in OU's win over Auburn, he has averaged 120.3 fewer passing yards and 18.5 fewer rushing yards per game than he did in the Sooners' first four games. Over the first four games of the season, he averaged 303.8 passing yards and 47.5 yards on the ground.
Mateer did have 80 rushing yards in the win over Tennessee, and he also threw with 65.5% accuracy in that game, which was more like where he was earlier in the season. The Washington State transfer appears to be getting better with every game since his hand surgery. That needs to continue against Alabama, and he needs to play an error-free game, stay out of third-and-long downs and avoid throwing into tight coverage windows where the probability for tipped balls and interceptions are greater.
It's imperative for Mateer to have one of his best games in an OU uniform if Oklahoma is to win on Saturday.
CB Courtland Guillory
Oklahoma cornerback Courtland Guillory possesses tremendous talent in the Sooners' defensive backfield. But he is just a true freshman, and he is learning by baptism under fire. He may become the best player in the OU secondary, but he is still learning and gaining valuable experience. The freshman was seriously tested covering Auburn's outstanding wide receiver Cam Coleman and gave up three catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Guillory will surely be tested again against two of the best receivers in the SEC in Alabama's Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams. Those two have the ability to change the game in an instant with great hands and exceptional speed. This is where the Oklahoma pass rush and pressure on Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson will be key so as not to put the young Guillory on an island too often against the two outstanding Alabama wide receivers.
DT David Stone
Former five-star recruit David Stone has come into his own in his sophomore season, playing like a beast on the defensive line. Stone is a key piece in the Sooners' rush defense, which ranks second in the SEC and fourth nationally, holding opponents to 82.4 yard rushing. He is also a critical piece in Oklahoma's ability to pressure and sack the quarterback. The Sooners are No. 2 in the country with 33 sacks this season. Oklahoma is going to need Stone and his mates in the OU front seven to step up and make the Alabama offense one-dimensional on Saturday.
RB Xavier Robinson
Sophomore running back Xavier Robinson has earned the starting role for his impactful performance in Oklahoma's last two games. He has eclipsed 100 yards in his last two games and averaged 8.9 yards per carry in doing so, along with three rushing touchdowns.
Robinson was battling an injury earlier in the season, but now appears fully healthy. Robinson needs to have that same kind of success against Alabama, which will help open up the field for Mateer to attack the Crimson Tide defense through the air.