Oklahoma Will Be Without Cornerback Gentry Williams Against Alabama in CFP First Round

Oklahoma, securing the No. 8 seed in the 2025-2026 College Football Playoffs, is set to meet Alabama in the first round but will be shorthanded in the secondary. Cornerback Gentry Williams, out since mid-October with a shoulder injury, will not return for the matchup, head coach Brent Venables confirmed.

Williams initially injured his shoulder on Oct. 18 against South Carolina. While the team had hoped he would be available for postseason play, he has been unable to fully recover, forcing Oklahoma to adjust its defensive backfield heading into the high-stakes game.

After a standout freshman season, Williams has struggled with injuries over the past two years. He appeared in just seven games combined in 2024 and 2025, including a season-ending injury early in last year’s campaign and another setback this season that limited him to five appearances.

Even when listed as available for Oklahoma’s Nov. 1 contest against Tennessee, Williams did not see action and returned to the injury report the following week. His absence leaves a critical gap in the Sooners’ secondary against one of the nation’s most pass-heavy offenses.

1. Adjusting the Cornerback Rotation

In Williams’ absence, Oklahoma has relied on a mix of young and experienced players. True freshman Courtland Guillory, junior Jacobe Johnson, and sophomore Eli Bowen have stepped into starting roles in the secondary. Guillory has emerged as a key contributor, finishing the regular season second on the team with six pass breakups. His performance has provided stability, but the pressure will increase against a prolific Alabama passing attack. Jacobe Johnson and Eli Bowen add depth and experience, but the group’s inexperience compared with Williams’ playmaking ability may challenge the Sooners’ ability to contain explosive plays. Venables’ defensive staff must balance the rotation, emphasizing coverage schemes and situational substitutions to minimize Alabama’s passing effectiveness without their veteran cornerback.

2. Alabama’s Offensive Threat

Alabama enters the playoff matchup as one of the most pass-heavy teams in the country, a trend that will continue with running back Jam Miller sidelined. The Tide’s passing game features a dynamic trio of receivers: Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams, and Isaiah Horton. In Oklahoma’s lone regular-season meeting with Alabama, the Sooners allowed 326 passing yards to quarterback Ty Simpson. The star receiver trio combined for 13 receptions and 172 yards, highlighting the challenge the Sooners will face without Williams. Oklahoma’s defensive backfield must contain Alabama’s passing threats while compensating for the loss of a veteran cornerback, relying on Guillory, Johnson, and Bowen to step up in coverage and limit big plays. The matchup will test Oklahoma’s secondary depth and ability to adjust against a high-powered offense in a pressure-packed playoff environment.

3. Outlook for Oklahoma

The absence of Gentry Williams underscores the challenges the Sooners face entering the College Football Playoffs. His experience and coverage ability would have been invaluable against a prolific Alabama passing attack. Oklahoma’s coaching staff will need to maximize the skills of Guillory, Johnson, and Bowen while emphasizing discipline and strategy to contain Alabama’s receivers. While the team holds a regular-season victory over the Crimson Tide, the secondary must perform at a high level to prevent explosive plays and give the Sooners a chance to advance. Williams’ unavailability is a setback, but Oklahoma’s depth and preparation will determine whether the team can overcome injuries and compete at a high level in the playoffs.