As Oklahoma gears up for its final regular-season games against No. 7 Alabama and LSU, Woodi Washington has started to reflect on the closing chapter of his collegiate career.
The senior defensive back arrived in Norman in 2019, and after six seasons with the Sooners, he is approaching the end of a journey that has shaped him as both a player and a person. For Washington, these last two games — and the idea of upsetting a team at the end of the season to make a potential bowl game — holds deep significance.
They represent not only the culmination of years of hard work, but also a final opportunity to contribute to the program's legacy.
However, his focus remains on the team’s collective aspirations rather than his own individual milestones.
“We want to win this game, not just for us but for the program,” Washington said on Wednesday.
Washington’s role as a leader extends beyond the field.
He has become a mentor to younger players, helping them navigate the challenges of college football. He also emphasized how critical a bowl game is for the younger players on the roster who are looking to solidify their roles and gain valuable experience.
“It means everything for guys like (freshman defensive back) Eli Bowen that have worked their tails off the whole season to become a starter and even (sophomore quarterback) Jackson (Arnold) to get to experience a bowl game,” Washington explained. “For the young guys and even some of the older guys that transferred in that haven’t been to a bowl game, I think it’s really important.”
Washington’s perspective is rooted in his own experience. The defensive back has been a part of five consecutive bowl-eligible teams while at OU.
Washington is also the last active player on Oklahoma’s roster to have played against LSU. The game, which was the 2019 Peach Bowl, ended in a 63-28 loss to the eventual national champions. But with OU possibly having to win against the Tigers to make a bowl game, Washington carries the lessons learned from the experience with him.
“I kind of got thrown into the fire. It was a real stepping stone for me,” Washington said of the game against LSU in 2019. “It got my career started, and it’s coming full circle.”
Alabama and LSU are not only critical matchups in terms of bowl eligibility, but they are also a chance to finish the regular season on a high note.
For Washington, as he plays his final games in an OU uniform, the stakes are high as he looks to end his six-year collegiate career on his own terms.
“I think this is one of the closest teams that I’ve been a part of,” Washington said. "Despite our record, the guys come in each and every day and put in the work, and we lean on each other.”
This story was edited by Gracie Rawlings.
