Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables had a video conference on Sunday to discuss the Sooners' College Football Playoff news, but in the midst of that, Venables also revealed some troublesome injury news.
The No. 8 Sooners will host No. 9 Alabama for a rematch at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Friday, Dec. 19, in the first round of the CFP, but, even two weeks in advance, it's already known OU won't be 100%, which has been the norm all season.
Cornerback Gentry Williams will miss entire CFP
Venables confirmed that cornerback Gentry Williams underwent a season-ending shoulder surgery and won't just miss the Sooners' game against Bama, but will likely be out no matter how far they go.
Williams has been dealing with a shoulder surgery for most of the back half of the season and hasn't played since Week 8 against South Carolina on Oct. 18. Before the injury, Williams, a redshirt junior, had made five starts at corner this season, including that game against South Carolina. He had tallied 10 tackles, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups.
Last season, Williams appeared in just two games before suffering another season-ending injury. He made 10 starts in 2023 while missing three because of injury. He played 12 of 13 games in 2022 as a freshman while missing just the Sooners' bowl game with an injury.
Freshman Courtland Guillory and sophomore Eli Bowens have started at corner the past five games without Williams.
The Sooners have also been without defensive end R Mason Thomas the past three games because of a quad injury suffered against Tennessee. Venables said on Sunday that he didn't have an update for Thomas or starting center Jake Maikkula, who missed the Sooners' regular-season finale against LSU.