OU (10-2, No. 8 CFP) head coach Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle are addressing the media ahead of a College Football Playoff matchup with Alabama (10-3, No. 9 CFP). The Sooners will kick off against the Crimson Tide at 7 p.m. Friday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on ABC.
Here are key takeaways:
Injury updates
Running backs, freshman Tory Blaylock and sophomore Xavier Robinson, and senior defensive lineman R Mason Thomas were banged up in the Sooners' final regular-season matchups against Missouri and Louisiana State University.
Robinson recorded 42 rushing yards on a sprained knee against Missouri before putting up 9 yards against LSU. Blaylock has been battling a nagging shoulder since playing Illinois State on Aug. 30. He put up 42 rushing yards against LSU but did not play in the Missouri game. Thomas has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Tennessee on Nov. 1.
However, Arbuckle said the weeks before the playoffs has helped Robinson and Blaylock recover.
"Those two dudes are really, really tough, and I don't think they would tell you any different. They'd say they're just ready to play," Arbuckle said. "It's just been good being able to get them out there (and) maybe take a little bit off their body. ... I'm (happy with) the the rehab that they've been able to get, how we've been able to take care of their bodies, and I'm excited to finally be back in the game (to) can get to go watch these guys play again."
Venables also gave an update on if he anticipates Thomas to play in practice this week.
"Yeah, I do," Venables said. "There will be an availability report."
Brent Venables praises Tate Sandell
Redshirt junior kicker Tate Sandell won the Lou Groza Award — given to the nation's kicker — last Friday, and Venables praised him.
His acclaim comes after he completed 23 of 24 field goals during the regular season, including seven for seven on attempts from 50 yards or more. He is also 32 for 32 on point-after attempts in 2025 so far.
Venables said that the kicker's confidence impressed him early on before it translated to on-field success.
"My first memory was his visit with his mother and father sitting in my office, (and) his confidence, I've bragged on that, ..." Venables said. "And he was running towards Oklahoma, which I have an appreciation for. He looked at the opportunity like I look at it — an amazing opportunity."
Sandell said that his confidence comes from preparation in practice.
"If someone tells you that they're not nervous, they're probably lying to you," Sandell said. "It's just the amount of preparation that we've done during the week that stacks that confidence and just what allows you to go on the field and operate at a high level."
Sandell also noted that Venables has helped him build confidence, especially in fall camp when his coach encouraged him to kick a field foal from 61 yards.
"Coach V's confidence in me this year has helped," Sandell said. "When we were in fall camp and it was like a 61 yarder, normally people would not plot it there, but he threw me out there and said, 'I'm not going to put a limit on you. We're going to see what you can do.' And that I just fed off that."
Kendal Daniels embraces playoffs as Oklahoma native
Redshirt senior linebacker Kendal Daniel said that he is embracing hosting a playoff game in Norman with him being a native of the state.
Daniels' family will also be attending the game, and he looks forward to having them witness his final game in stadium in Oklahoma.
"I'm trying to take it all in, and it's sad because it's the end of my college career, and this is the last game that I play in Oklahoma, my last football game," Daniels said. "So being able to have family come to the games and everything has been such a blessing."
Daniels said that he has enjoyed how keyed in to game plans Venables is.
"When I first got here, I was like, 'I've never seen (anything) like this," Daniels said. "He knows plays, and he knows what offenses like to do and tendencies. It's fun."
