Josh Pate previews Saturday’s first-round College Football Playoff game in Norman. Subscribe to “Josh Pate’s College Football Show” on YouTube.

Oklahoma beat Alabama during the regular season by taking advantage of the Crimson Tide’s mistakes, including three turnovers — one an interception returned for a touchdown — and a missed field goal. The Sooners also had a long punt runback that led to a short-field touchdown.

Alabama and Oklahoma will face each other in the College Football Playoff just a month after they squared off in Tuscaloosa.

The Crimson Tide had 194 more total yards than the Sooners in its home loss to Oklahoma on Nov. 15.

Oklahoma and Alabama meet Friday night again. While the Crimson Tide believes the rematch can swing their way, the Sooners’ defense proved in Tuscaloosa that it can control the moments that matter most.

Alabama will likely be without one of its top edge rushers for a second straight game. During a Monday news conference, Kalen DeBoer listed LT Overton as doubtful for Friday’s first-round playoff game against Oklahoma.

The Sooners no doubt needed time off from a health standpoint, but Arbuckle is still asking a lot of his offense to prep for Alabama.

According to DeBoer’s contract, obtained by AL.com via an open records request, he would be on the hook for a $4 million buyout. That’s a lot of money, but would not be a deterrent to a big-time college football program, which would likely cover the bill if one were to poach DeBoer.