Former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops, a College Football Hall of Famer with a national championship ring and a perfect record against one of the sport’s most storied programs, joined The REF Sports Radio Network this week to break down the upcoming clash between his former team and the Alabama Crimson Tide. 

The game, set for Saturday in Tuscaloosa, carries massive implications for both squads in the expanded College Football Playoff race. Stoops, who retired in 2017 but remains a keen observer of the game, offered a blend of historical perspective, tactical insight, and cautious optimism about Oklahoma’s chances.

Stoops knows Alabama better than most. During his 18-year tenure in Norman, he compiled a flawless 3-0 record against the Crimson Tide, including one victory in the 2014 Sugar Bowl. 

That 2014 Sugar Bowl win, a 45-31 thriller over Nick Saban’s squad, etched Stoops’ name in history as the first coach to conquer all four major BCS bowl games (Rose, Fiesta, Orange, and Sugar) while also claiming a national title in 2000. 

His teams consistently found ways to neutralize Alabama’s physicality, even when the Tide were at the peak of their dynasty.

When asked to scout the 2025 Crimson Tide, Stoops zeroed in on a surprising vulnerability: the run game. “They look really good like always,” he said. 

“Kind of, I guess, surprising they haven’t run the football better. That has always been a staple for them, just because of the big, great linemen they always have.” 

The numbers back him up. Through nine games, Alabama ranks a dismal No. 113 nationally in rushing yards per game, averaging just 112.6. 

That’s a far cry from the dominant ground attacks that defined the Saban era, when 200-plus-yard rushing performances were routine.

Leading the charge—or lack thereof—is running back Jam Miller. The junior has managed only 321 yards on the season, a paltry 3.6 yards per carry, with just two touchdowns. Injuries and inconsistent blocking have hampered the unit.

Stoops was impressed with this Alabama team, but doesn’t believe that they are unstoppable. 

He called Saturday’s matchup in Tuscaloosa everything short of a must-win saying, “But they look good. I don’t think anyone has looked, you know, just to be unbeatable by any means. We’ll have to play well and come up with key plays, but you know definitely this is a game we could, you know, we’ve gotta be able to go in there and win.”  

The former Sooners head coach makes a good point about the Crimson Tide being beatable. Their lone loss came back in the opening week of the season, but it was against a now 4-5 Florida State team, who beat them 31-17.

For Alabama, the last two weeks have not been that impressive either. Their last two weeks have included wins against unranked SEC teams like LSU (20-9), and South Carolina (29-22), where they didn’t play to their full potential.

The oddsmakers agree with Stoops’ assessment that this week’s game is winnable for Oklahoma, as they are just 5.5 point underdogs. Comparatively speaking, the Sooners beat the Crimson Tide last year in a game in which Alabama was favored by 14 points.  

Stoops’ perfect record against Alabama wasn’t built on luck. His 2014 team, led by quarterback Trevor Knight, exploited a Tide defense that struggled with tempo and misdirection. 

History suggests that when Oklahoma brings discipline and physicality, Bryant-Denny Stadium isn’t impregnable.Saturday’s showdown pits tradition against transition. 

Alabama seeks to reassert dominance after a rare early stumble; Oklahoma aims to prove its resurgence is real. 

Stoops, watching from afar, sees a winnable game—if his former program plays to its identity. “Key plays,” he said. In a conference defined by them, that might be all the Sooners need.