Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables has been in this exact situation before in more than one way.
The No. 8 Sooners will again play No. 9 Alabama for a rematch in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday, Dec. 19, after OU already beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 in Tuscaloosa just over a month before Round 2. Although the second meeting will be in Norman, many OU fans are still concerned about the task of beating a team like Bama twice in one season and three times in a row in just over a one-year span.
Brent Venables unbeaten as coach in rematches
"The challenge of playing someone you didn't play is getting to know who they are and you really don't have a great idea of how you match up in certain areas. This is one where there is familiarity with both teams," Venables said during Sunday's video conference. "The third time we're playing in just over a year. Obviously, we have tendencies. They have tendencies. They have certain matchup they like. We have certain matchups we like.
"At the end of the day, you can throw all that out. It's time to start completely over. All that matters is what you do here moving forward."
This will be the first time as a head coach that Venables has faced the same team twice in the same season, but he's done it four times before when leading a defense, which he's still doing today, just with a different title and even more responsibilities. As a defensive coordinator, Venables not only never lost a rematch, but was always exceptionally better in Round 2 after getting a second chance to dissect an offense.
The first time Venables prepared for the same team twice was the last time the Sooners won a national championship in 2000, when Venables was OU's co-defensive coordinator. The No. 8 Sooners upset No. 2 Kansas State 41-31 on the road during the regular season in a game where defense was minimal. Less than two months later in the Big 12 Championship Game, Venables' defense held the Wildcats to one less touchdown in a 27-24 win.
Venables did it again for OU in 2002 against Colorado. After handling the Buffaloes 27-11 in the regular season, again on the road, it was even more of a blowout in the second meeting with a 29-7 OU victory in the Big 12 Championship Game.
In 2007, the Sooners slipped past Missouri 43-31 in the regular season, but when Venables got a second shot at the Tigers, his defense anchored OU in a 38-17 win for another Big 12 title.
Venables continued his rematch success as Clemson's defensive coordinator in 2020, but this time, his team actually lost Round 1 when the Tigers fell to Notre Dame 47-40 in double overtime. Clemson got revenge, though, in the ACC Championship Game with a 34-10 thumping. The Fighting Irish were temporary conference members that season.
In four instances, Venables' defenses gave up an average of 15.5 less points in the second meeting. If that average holds true, that would give the Crimson Tide 5.5 points in Round 2, so basically one touchdown or a pair of field goals. More than enough to win, no matter if the Sooners' offense sputters or not.
The only differences in 2025 is that Venables is head coach and the rematch has a potential national championship on the line, not a conference title. The hope, though, is for nothing to change for Venables in rematches or for the Sooners against Bama.
"I mean, I wouldn't have guessed that's what the record is. I really haven't kept track myself," Venables said of his undefeated streak in rematches. "I think it's more coincidence than not. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't.
"If you're playing a team for the second time, the second time you're playing, you're in the championship, you're both worthy to be there. For whatever reason, we've been on the right side of it. And again, this is, again, Alabama."