Brent Venables on OU's rematch with Alabama: 'It's time to start completely over'

By the time kickoff comes around next Friday, there will be no secrets between Oklahoma and Alabama.

The College Football Playoff first-round matchup in Norman on Dec. 19 (7 p.m. ABC) will mark the third matchup between the two teams in 13 months. The Sooners won the previous two matchups, including a 23-21 win in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 15.

OU coach Brent Venables is no stranger to facing teams multiple times in a season. He has a career 5-0 record in conference championship games against teams he’s faced earlier in the season. But Venables isn’t expecting any carry over from last month’s game.

“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,” Venables said. “This is one where there is familiarity with both teams. 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.”

“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.”

There are certainly aspects of that previous matchup in November that the Sooners can’t assume will carry over. The Sooners forced three turnovers and won the points-off-turnovers battle, 14-0. The offense is going to have to play better, too. The offense scored just one touchdown and finished with a season-low 212 yards.

But there are plenty of things the Sooners can carry over. The defense held Alabama to just 80 rushing yards, and the Crimson Tide have averaged under 73 rushing yards per game in their last four contests against Power 4 teams. The Sooners also sacked quarterback Ty Simpson four times, and that was without star defensive end R Mason Thomas. Simpson has been sacked 11 times in his last four conference games.

And the Sooners know their path to victory — lean on defense and special teams, and avoid the disastrous mistakes on offense. That was their recipe in Tuscaloosa.

“We’re going to get their best shot,” Venables said. “That’s what we’re expecting. And it’s a team that, they look back at our game and I know that they feel strongly that had they taken care of the ball, that would have won the game. Who knows where that would have landed. Are there areas that we need to play better from when we played them last time? Absolutely. But at the same time, our guys went on the road and did the unthinkable by playing complimentary football, being physical, getting the ball back, playing outstanding special teams…all the things that have helped us get to this point.

“The basics of football 101. Being physical, taking care of the ball, creating your plays when they’re there. That’s what wins for you, and that’s what will win again in the opening round of the Playoff.”

The Sooners can’t lean on that win in Tuscaloosa too much. The context will be totally different. The matchup will be in Norman this time around in a true do-or-die game for championship hopes. And there will be no secrets between these two teams.

But the blueprint is there for the Sooners. And Venables has an opportunity to further scout a team he’s familiar with over the next two weeks.

“This is a game of execution. This is a game of physicality,” Venables said. “They’re going to know your DNA, and it still comes down to executing, either side of the ball. And so let’s get better at what we do. I think that was a message to our guys, is improving, and that’s a real thing.”

Not a subscriber? Join OUInsider now and get your first week for just $1. No, this deal is NOT too good to be true! Take advantage today and get the market’s best Oklahoma football and recruiting intel!

Click HERE to subscribe today!