Five things to know about Alabama

No. 4-ranked Oklahoma will face No. 1 Alabama in the Orange Bowl at 7 p.m. on Dec. 29 in Miami.

Here are five things to know about the Crimson Tide:

Sooners lead series

This will be the sixth overall meeting and fourth bowl matchup between Oklahoma and Alabama — two of the most historic programs in college football.

The Sooners are 3-1-1 all-time against the Crimson Tide.

Quarterback Trevor Knight and the Sooners stunned Nick Saban’s squad 45-31 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 2014 — the last meeting between the two teams.

OU took both games of a home-and-home series in 2002 and 2003.

OU and Alabama tied 24-24 in the 1970 Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston.

The first meeting between the two programs was on Jan. 1, 1963 in the Orange Bowl. President John F. Kennedy was in attendance, watching as Joe Namath and Alabama beat Oklahoma 17-0.

Perfect attendance

Alabama has been among the four national semifinalists every year since the College Football Playoff format was adopted in 2014.

The Crimson Tide has won two national titles with a 66-5 record in the playoff era. Oklahoma is 55-12 during the same span.

Dangerous duo

Alabama sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been the Heisman Trophy front-runner since Week 1. His top target, sophomore receiver Jerry Jeudy, is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award — given to the best receiver in college football.

Tagovailoa has thrown for 258 yards per game while completing 68 percent of his passes. He’s thrown 37 touchdowns against just four interceptions. Tagovailoa was rarely needed in fourth quarters this season given Alabama’s dominance.

He ranks second nationally, behind only OU quarterback Kyler Murray, in quarterback rating and passing yards per attempt.

Jeudy led the SEC with 12 touchdown receptions. He caught 59 passes for 1,103 yards. He averaged 19 yards per catch.

Coordinator drama

Pete Golding, Alabama’s co-defensive coordinator, has been a rumored candidate to be Oklahoma’s next defensive coordinator.

Ruffin McNeill has worked as OU’s interim defensive coordinator since Mike Stoops was fired in October.

Golding is in his first year on staff at Alabama after previously serving as UTSA’s defensive coordinator.

Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley has been quiet about when he’ll name a permanent defensive coordinator, but a playoff matchup against Alabama complicates things if Golding is his top choice.

The Sooners could benefit by naming next year’s defensive coordinator in time for the early signing period that begins Dec. 19.

Coaching matchup

Saban is a 67-year-old six-time national champion. Riley is a 35-year-old who just notched his second College Football Playoff appearance in two years as a head coach.

Saban is 140-20 (87.5 percent) since taking over as Alabama’s coach in 2007. He led LSU over Oklahoma to win the 2003 national championship. He’s rattled off national titles at Alabama in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2017.

Alabama could complete its first perfect season since 2009.