The Oklahoma Sooners will not be 100% in their rematch against the Alabama Crimson Tide, after all.
On the evening before the No. 8 Sooners host No. 9 Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff, OU starting center Jake Maikkula was downgraded from questionsble to doubtful on Thursday's availability report, meaning the Sooners will likely be without him on Friday night.
Jake Maikkula downgraded to doubtful for Sooners' rematch vs Alabama
Thursday’s availability report ahead of Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP: pic.twitter.com/joU4b8jgTM
— Stormin In Norman (@StorminInNorman) December 19, 2025
Maikkula missed the Sooners' regular-season finale against LSU on Nov. 29 after an infection put him in the hospital that week for a "few days," according to OU head coach Brent Venables.
“Jake had an infection. Was really pretty scary,” Venables said after the LSU game. “Don’t know if it was staph, or whatever, but was in the hospital for a few days. But he’s much better now. So we’ll see where he’s at shortly.”
Venables said earlier this week that he expected Maikkula to practice leading up to Friday, but when practice was open for media, Maikkula was seen just doing individual drills by himself.
OU starting center Jake Maikkula was doing individual drills on air during practice today. He did not play against LSU due to an infection and is still recovering. #Sooners pic.twitter.com/wXP0q0Zms5
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) December 15, 2025
Maikkula, listed at 6-foot-5 and 299 pounds, transferred from Stanford to OU this past offseason as a redshirt junior. He came off the bench in OU's season opener against Illinois State, then started every game at center since for the Sooners until missing the regular-season finale.
Troy Everett started at center in the opener, but Everett hasn't played since Week 1 because of a season-ending knee injury. With the Sooners so thin at the position, starting right guard Febechi Nwaiwu slid over and made his first career start at center against LSU. Nwaiwu was solid in his debut at the position, so that's expected to be the Sooners' plan again against Alabama.
With the shuffling, the Sooners' starting offensive line against Bama will likely go: Michael Fasusi (LT), Eddy Pierre-Louis (LG), Nwaiwu (C), Ryan Fodje (RG) and Derek Simmons (RT). Three of those starters (Fasusi, Pierre-Louis and Fodje) are freshmen.
The final availability report to confirm Maikkula's status will be released 90 minutes before kickoff on Friday night.