Oklahoma cornerback calls out Alabama for homecoming revenge setup

Although Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has tried to downplay the revenge aspect of the Crimson Tide's rematch with the Oklahoma Sooners, everyone sees right through it.

The Sooners upset Alabama 24-3 last season in Norman to ultimately shatter the Crimson Tide's chances at making the College Football Playoff. A year later, the Sooners head to Alabama for what is not only a revenge game for the Crimson Tide, but also their homecoming, which OU cornerback Eli Bowen knows wasn't a coincidence.

Eli Bowen embracing 'villain' role for Crimson Tide's homecoming

"Yeah, I mean, they scheduled us as their homecoming for a reason," Bowen said this week. "So we gotta come ready to play. We gotta give them our best shot. ...

"Scheduling us as the homecoming, like, you don't just randomly schedule it. It's a little bit more motivation."

Other logical opponents the Crimson Tide could have chosen for their homecoming matchup included Vanderbilt, Tennessee and LSU just last week. However, Alabama instead waited until mid-November and its second-to-last home game of the season before hosting its homecoming.

In Bama's defense, though, the Sooners had the lowest preseason expectations of that bunch, but now, OU is the toughest opponent the Crimson Tide will welcome to Tuscaloosa in 2025.

Last season, it looked like the Sooners wouldn't even make a bowl game before knocking off Alabama in a game it appeared they had no chance in. The Crimson Tide were fighting for a spot in the CFP, and that loss ultimately left them out.

Now, at 7-2, it's the No. 11 Sooners in a do-or-die situation to make the playoff, while No. 4 Alabama is in a comfortable spot and could return the favor of ruining a season. However, the Sooners also have no problem spoiling Alabama's homecoming and putting the Crimson Tide's backs against the wall for the rest of the season.

“We like playing away," Bowen said. "We like being the villains. It’s fun.”