The first round of the College Football Playoffs is ripe with narrative fodder. Between the teams politicking for rankings they didn't receive and games becoming an indictment of the size of the field, the first round -- played in the higher-seed's stadium -- will impact the collective conversation.
It will also have implications for the 2026 NFL Draft.
For the Oklahoma Sooners and the visiting Alabama Crimson Tide, Friday night could be multiple prospects' last chance to suit up as amateurs and make an impression on NFL evaluators. Of course, any battle of SEC heavyweights comes with early-round prospects vying for capital. Let's take a look at who has the most to gain in Norman.
Prospects to watch in Alabama at Oklahoma
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
Simpson is far and away the prospect with the most riding on a strong College Football Playoff performance. Simpson's year began with Day 3 stock and skepticism about his standing as Alabama's starting quarterback. By the middle of the year, he was firmly in the conversation for QB1 and a constant in the top 10 of mock drafts. A mediocre Iron Bowl outing and a troubling SEC Championship Game have since pushed him down the board.
All the while, Simpson has struggled to stretch the field with any consistency, limiting his ceiling and adding a red flag to his profile.
It will be difficult for Simpson to go in Round 1 with a quick exit from the playoffs, and an aggressive Brent Venables defense won't make life easy. Simpson forged his ascension by playing well under pressure. He'll need to flaunt that skill and more on Friday to avoid a return to Alabama.
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Proctor's value, perhaps more than any lineman in this class, will range from evaluator to evaluator. He has preseason hype to his name, and the pedigree of blindside production at Alabama is encouraging. But at 360 pounds, Proctor's size is a point of contention.
Some feel he'd be better suited as a guard, where he is less likely to be exposed by faster linemen. There is more upside and surplus value to be found at tackle, though, and he may earn the chance to fail before moving inside.
Proctor's success will come down to whether he can toe the line of adequate athleticism. At his size, that's not a guarantee, and a strong showing against Oklahoma would help his case.
R Mason Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
Speaking of Oklahoma edge rushers who can do damage to Proctor's stock, Thomas is the Sooners' best defender. He didn't play in Oklahoma's first contest against the Crimson Tide (an Oklahoma win).
Thomas has put forth consecutive seasons as a pass-rushing dynamo and checks the measurable boxes, even if he ultimately falls into a rotational role. It isn't immediately clear if Venables will deploy Thomas over Proctor consistently, but the scene is set for a clash of SEC headliners.
Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama
Bernard's evolution is noteworthy as he makes his case to be a top-50 selection.
Following Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama and has found more success with each season. Perhaps most importantly, Bernard has left the slot-only moniker behind, taking on larger responsibilities on the boundary with each season.
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He has the speed to stretch the field and has some of the most trustworthy hands in the class, even with some minor physicality concerns. As a senior, the last run of Bernard's college career could be his most significant.
John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma
Like Simpson, Mateer's season has been a bit of a rollercoaster. The Sooners' spiritual successor to Baker Mayfield, Mateer loves to get out of structure and make plays on the move -- with even more athleticism than the 2018 No. 1 pick.
The trade-off, though, has been consistency in the pocket. His flashes of poise and accuracy were notable against Michigan, but after a hand injury (and an accelerated return) punctured Oklahoma's armor, his production and stability within structure fell off.
Stepping up against an Alabama defense that held him to fewer than 150 passing yards in November could leave a lasting impression on evaluators. Operating with suboptimal size means he cannot afford to leave a sour taste in evaluators' mouths ahead of the pre-draft circuit.
Deontae Lawson, LB, Alabama
Lawson joins a long list of linebackers that project like starters in this class. It's a loaded group, which doesn't bode well for Day 2 contenders hoping to maximize their stock.
Lawson has had an up-and-down 2025 season, but his run defense stands out. If his athletic testing checks the box, that should create a floor as an early-down run defender (perhaps in a depth capacity); he'll need to develop in coverage to be a proficient starter.
On Friday, he'll face an Oklahoma offense that is happy to run the ball, allowing him to showcase his strengths on the big stage. Against an athletic quarterback like Mateer, though, his fluidity could become a focal point.
Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Burks has the speed to take the top off of defenses, opening space for others and creating big plays downfield. His size works against those strengths, and consecutive seasons with an ADOT below 10 yards suggest that won't be his role at the next level.
There is boom-or-bust in Burks' game, and neither his catch rate nor his weekly production suggests he's all that friendly, even with low drop rates. It's easier to manufacture touches closer to the line of scrimmage, allowing his after-the-catch skills to pave his path to production.
He'll hope to push his way into the top 100 come April, but the variable nature of his game decreases the importance of any one contest, so a big Friday night shouldn't catapult his stock.
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