Alabama, Kalen DeBoer get strong message from Oklahoma coach before CFP

As rumors swirl about Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, the Oklahoma Sooners are preparing to host the Crimson Tide in a massive College Football Playoff game.

The teams met during their regular season, with Oklahoma capturing a 23-21 victory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A month later, Sooners head coach Brent Venables realizes the stakes are much higher now, and he’ll need his team at its highest level to take on DeBoer’s team, which he expects at its best.

Speaking with the media on Monday, Venables sent a message about the huge rematch, which kicks off the CFP’s first round on Friday. While he didn’t address any of the speculation regarding DeBoer potentially taking the job at Michigan, he gave him a solid endorsement if he goes for it.

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“Coach DeBoer and his staff have done a fantastic job there in two short years,” Venables told reporters, adding, “One of the most talented rosters in the country, very disruptive on defense, and well coached in all three phases.”

Venables’ message also included a clear prediction about star quarterback Ty Simpson, who had an excellent performance against them in their previous meeting.

“We’re going to see the best version of Ty,” he said. “Prepared, confident, and ready to lead his team.”

Along with his praise for the Crimson Tide, their head coach and QB, Venables didn’t hesitate to put his Sooners squad on notice with a message. Surprisingly, he called out their regular-season win over Alabama, suggesting this Oklahoma team can perform even better.

“I don’t think we played very well fundamentally,” he said. “We played with great effort and toughness, but not always in the cleanest way, either playing or coaching.”

Based on his remarks, his team needs to be sharper, more focused, and more disciplined to take down Alabama again. He mentioned that having a bye week to prepare has gone a long way, and it seems like he expects both teams to be at their best in this crucial game.

“These are the good old days right now,” Venables said of the CFP game, adding, “You don’t take this for granted. You’ve got a chance to do something really special.”

“Expect to see a better version on our side, as well as I do, same thing [with] Alabama,” he also said.

As of this report, Alabama is favored at multiple sportsbooks to win by 1.5 points in Norman. The winner of the first round game continues into the second round and plays against No. 1 seed Indiana in the Rose Bowl, led by the recent Heisman Winner, Fernando Mendoza.

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