The Oklahoma Sooners are ready in Norma to start the College Football Playoff with a rematch against a team they already beat this season in Alabama, but it appears as if they’ll need to do it this time without one of their starters on the offensive side of the ball.
The team’s starting center, Jake Maikkula, was hopeful to play in the game against the Crimson Tide, and it felt as if he could possibly help an ailing Sooners offense in the biggest game of the year.
Alas, on the final injury report before the big game, Maikkula was downgraded to doubtful for Friday’s opening round contest, pushing senior Febechi Nwaiwu into the presumptive starting role at home.
Maikkula, a recruit out of Colorado, has been a steadfast rock for the Sooners over the past two years in the trenches.
Nwaiwu played for the North Texas Mean Green for three years and was a Freshman All-American before transferring to Oklahoma before the 2024 season.
More news: Nick Saban Hits Top SEC Program With Cheating Accusations Before CFP Opener
More news: Oklahoma Loses Key Player to Transfer Portal Prior to CFP vs Alabama
He played his first game at center in Oklahoma’s final game of the regular season against LSU, and is expected to have his second versus the Crimson Tide.
The Sooners won the first meeting between the two teams a month ago, 23-21, in a tight game where their elite defense was the difference. With the offense shifting and a lack of consistency under center, Nwaiwu and quarterback John Mateer will need to be in sync if they want a chance to go back-to-back against Alabama.
The winner of Friday’s affair will head west coast following Christmas, as they will meet top-seed Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
