After ending their 2025 season in the first round of the College Football Playoff, the Oklahoma Sooners suffered another loss from hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide three months later.
CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported on Tuesday that Alabama hired OU defensive analyst Trent Simpson away from Norman to be an assistant defensive line coach for the Crimson Tide to hopefully complete what has been a coaching carousel for the Sooners this season as spring practice starts Wednesday.
Miguel Chavis points out Trent Simpson's importance to Sooners
Simpson had been with the Sooners for four years while serving as a defensive analyst the last three seasons. Any of his contributions would have went unnoticed by fans, but after his departure, OU defensive end coach Miguel Chavis made sure to give Simpson his worthy credit and reveal it's still a tough loss for the Sooners, even if it didn't have the same impact as the three lost position coaches this offseason.
"Coach Simpson has done an unbelievable job helping me build and develop the Edge room these past four years," Chavis wrote in a post on X. "Super thankful for your friendship and investment and proud of you brother. You’re getting a GREAT ONE, (Alabama football)."
The post was also a nice subtle shot from Chavis as he shared a picture from when the Sooners took down Bama 23-21 last season in Tuscaloosa and ended the Crimson Tide's 17-game home winning streak.
Coach Simpson has done an unbelievable job helping me build and develop the Edge room these past four years.
— Coach Miguel Chavis (@MiguelChavis65) March 24, 2026
Super thankful for your friendship and investment and proud of you brother.
You’re getting a GREAT ONE, @AlabamaFTBL . @Trent_Simpson https://t.co/cIz7SaEtOf pic.twitter.com/Y7itOmNVV5
The Crimson Tide likely wanted to get any piece of success they could from the Sooners' pass rush, which led college football with 3.46 sacks a game last season. Chavis doesn't seem to be going anywhere, but getting his right-hand man is a solid consolation. Fortunately for the Sooners, the move won't have a direct impact across the field yet with Alabama not on OU's 2026 schedule.
This move also doesn't seem to be a surprise for the Sooners and could have been in the works well before the news broke. OU essentially already replaced Simpson last week with the addition of former FCS assistant Aaron Cheatwood to the staff.
Cheatwood was the Sooners' fourth new face to the staff this offseason after tight ends coach Jason Witten, running backs coach Deland McCullough and cornerbacks coach Lamar Morgan.