3-2-1 KICKOFF

Oklahoma and Alabama kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Orange Bowl with a national title bid on the line. Here’s what to watch for:

3 Players to Watch

Kyler Murray: Murray’s OU career will end Saturday night unless the Sooners can upset the heavily-favored Crimson Tide. It could be the end of his football career altogether. The Heisman Trophy winner vs. the runner-up should be quite the show.

CeeDee Lamb: Lamb has been overshadowed with most of the attention on fellow receiver Marquise Brown and his lower-leg injury. Lamb had six receptions for 167 yards and a touchdown in the Big 12 title game. He’ll have to lead the receiving corps given Brown’s uncertain status.

Tre Norwood: Norwood is expected to start at one of the safety spots Saturday in a new-look Sooner secondary. Freshman defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles was benched in the Big 12 Championship game, shifting Norwood from corner to safety. OU is allowing 291 passing yards per game, the most of any team in the country.

2 Big Questions

Will OU face two quarterbacks? Linebacker Kenneth Murray said earlier this week that OU has two defensive game plans — one for Tua Tagovailoa and another for Jalen Hurts, the most qualified backup in college football. If Tagovailoa starts and doesn’t look healthy, how soon will Nick Saban call on Hurts? Tagovailoa said Wednesday that his injured ankle is 80-85 percent healthy. Will Marquise Brown be limited by his lower-leg injury? “If I’m breathing, I’m playing,” Brown said at media day. Brown’s biggest weapon is his speed. His impact will be minimized if he’s a step slow.

1 Wild Prediction

Oklahoma will attempt an onside kick in the first

half. With an unstable OU defense lined up against an elite Alabama offense, Lincoln Riley is going to have to get creative. The Orange Bowl isn’t going to be a game of field position, so why not take the risk?