MIAMI (TNS) Oklahomas Amani Bledsoe has heard the whispers, the noise, the criticisms.
He knows what the outside world is expecting to happen tonight when the fourth-ranked Sooners face top-ranked Alabama in the Orange Bowl for a spot in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
He knows Alabama is the favorite to win at Hard Rock Stadium this weekend and the Sooners defense faces its toughest test yet.
But above it all, know this: Bledsoe doesnt care what the people on the outside think about his team.
Oklahoma (12-1) is still competing for a national championship, so the Sooners have every intention of being the team that breaks the Alabama offense enough to leave South Florida with a win.
If thats the case, so be it, Bledsoe said about being underdogs in Saturdays game. Weve been doubted a lot as a team and we dont really care. Were going to play our best football at the end of the day. … All we really need is for the people in that locker room to believe.
We believe in each other.
But the question remains: How will they do it? After all, its not like Alabamas offense really has much of a weakness. The Crimson Tide has already shattered single-season program records for points (623), touchdowns (84).
They can win it through the air, with Tua Tagovailoa leading the passing attack with his 3,353 yards with a single-season school record 37 touchdowns. He has five players around him with at least 500 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Jerry Jeudy leads the pack with 1,103 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Or the Crimson Tide can hit the opponent with the potent rushing attack, which has been the teams identity for years. Alabamas three-headed monster of Damien Harris, Najee Harris and Josh Jacobs have combined for 1,945 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns while averaging just over 6 yards per rush.
Theyre not really the typical Alabama offense of the past, Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray said.
The goal is to stop Alabama. In reality, merely containing them getting a timely stop here or there and then executing on the other end is probably what Oklahoma needs to hope for.
In this type of game youre going to need a lot because they do a great job of taking advantage, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. Even if youre not making mistakes, 50/50 balls, competitive balls, theyre able to make them. You know, well need quite a few (breaks). Im sure Coach Saban feels the same way about our offense.
But Oklahoma, in the heart of a offense-happy Big 12, does not believe its a typical Big 12 defense despite being ranked near the bottom of the country in yards allowed (448.1, 108th out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams), yards per play allowed (6.03, 101st).
The Sooners instead are pointing toward their recent success, namely the Big 12 Championship Game against Texas. Oklahoma held the Longhorns scoreless and to just 81 yards in the fourth quarter of its 39-27 win. That win ended a four-game stretch in which Oklahoma gave up at least 40 points to an opponent.
We feel good, Murray said. Obviously weve had a month off, had a month to prepare, so regardless of whatever is happening, at the beginning of the season, throughout the season, stuff like that, that stuff doesnt really matter right now. Its all about winning a championship. Its all about honing in on Alabama, getting ready to play those guys this Saturday. … Guys just realizing that were capable of doing that stuff definitely gives us a boost and definitely just makes us all more comfortable.
The confidence, at the very least, will be needed on Saturday.
