There's been a lot of knock on the way the Oklahoma Sooners grind out wins in ugly games this season, but that's just the way this team plays, and Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer especially knows that since he not only lost to the Sooners in that fashion twice already, but his team also plays the same way.
The No. 8 Sooners will host No. 9 Alabama at 7 p.m. CT Friday, Dec. 19, at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium for a rematch in the first round of the College Football Playoff. OU already beat the Crimson Tide 23-21earlier this season in Tuscaloosa. The Sooners also beat Bama 24-3 in its last trip to Norman last year during DeBoer's first season leading the Crimson Tide.
Kalen DeBoer discusses rematch with Sooners on ESPN
In that most recent meeting on Nov. 15, the Crimson Tide outdid OU in basically every way but the scoreboard while totaling 406 yards compared to the Sooners' 212 yards. The Sooners, though, forced three turnovers that all ultimately resulted in points on the board, including an 87-yard pick-6 by OU cornerback Eli Bowen.
Isaiah Sategna III also had a 42-yard punt return to start the Sooners' first drive of the game on Bama's 30 before getting a field goal. Bowen caught his interception two Bama possessions later to give OU a 10-0 lead after the first quarter.
Moments after learning his team would have to face the Sooners again in the CFP, DeBoer was on ESPN during the College Football Playoff Selection Show to discuss not only Bama getting in at 10-3, but also its rematch with OU after losing Round 1 thanks to the turnover battle despite dominating the rest of the game.
"A credit to Oklahoma," DeBoer said. "Coach (Brent) Venables' done an awesome job. That's their strength, right? They win the field position, they win the turnover margin.
"That's a lot of what we've done most games. The two games that we've faulted in here late in the season, including (Saturday) night (against Georgia in the SEC Championship Game), that was the case. Field position was given up -- shorter fields. And in that game (vs OU), yeah, it was a combination of things."
Venables has stated his team wins football games, not beauty contests, because he, and clearly DeBoer, knows that's the best way to take down the Crimson Tide.