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2021 College Football Playoff predictions: Can Alabama repeat as national champions?

By Rob Wolkenbrod

College Football Playoff. (Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
College Football Playoff. (Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports) /
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OU quarterback Spencer Rattler has tens of thousands of followers on social media, making him an appealing endorser.riley
OU quarterback Spencer Rattler has tens of thousands of followers on social media, making him an appealing endorser.riley /

3. Oklahoma

When in doubt, choose Oklahoma to make the College Football Playoff. Four of the first seven editions of this sport’s “final four” have featured the Sooners in some fashion, although they remarkably have not won a game, losing to Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and the Joe Burrow LSU team. Not exactly the easiest group to barrel through.

Defense has always been the downfall. Ugly blowouts or other offenses barely outdoing them at their own forte drive them away from the title game and home to regroup. That’s just what happens in a Big 12 that rarely prioritizes stopping the ball and puts all its eggs in the touchdown-scoring basket.

The 2021 Sooners are different, though … maybe.

Delarrin Turner-Yell, Pat Fields, Woodi Washington, Jaden Davis and DJ Graham comprise a capable group to limit passing attacks. Hey, that’s better than most years. If they can halt Steve Sarkisian’s Texas, Brock Purdy at Iowa State and Air Raid offenses, this team will breeze through the Big 12. The front seven is legitimately good, too. It might be the best defense in Norman of the past decade.

For the predictable side of the football, expect greatness. Quarterback Spencer Rattler is a Heisman favorite and could break out into being a future No. 1 overall pick in the NFL. The receiver group is deep, although a bunch of them were in the transfer portal recently. Running back Kennedy Brooks is also back for more after opting out of 2020, so his fresh legs will be a welcome sight to a potent offense.

Oklahoma will hang around the top of the picture if all goes their way. The potential downfall, however, is if the defense does not hold up against these Big 12 offenses that pour on points. In other words, they can’t lose one or more shootouts to Texas Tech or Oklahoma State. This is a deeper conference than most years and should help the Sooners’ case, sure, but that makes it even more important to win the games they should in case the Red River Rivalry turns sours or the Cyclones pull an upset.

That’s all moot if Rattler is as advertised and the defense plays just fine. While a lot to ask for, this group is capable of it, vying for yet another College Football Playoff appearance.