NORMAN, Okla. — Rapper 50 Cent emerged from the southeast tunnel of Memorial Stadium during the break leading into the 4th quarter of Oklahoma’s 34-24 loss to Alabama in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday night.

Wearing a black hoodie with the words “hard to kill” written on it — which had become this Oklahoma team’s rallying cry during the last month — he did a brief performance of his 2003 hit, “Many Men.”

The performance was kind of weak, honestly. In fairness, the home crowd was still in shock from watching the home team forget how to play football for almost two full quarters. And 50 Cent’s microphone seemed to be coming through a little soft.

That performance was planned as an event. It wasn’t.

After Oklahoma darted out to a 17-0 lead in the first half — one that made the entire world feel like a blowout was coming — the Sooners had given up 27 consecutive points. There was a muffed/blocked punt, dropped passes and a crippling pick-six that killed the vibes in the building. Fans were numb.

50 Cent’s cameo wasn’t the moment. There was, however, a moment shortly after that may have been inspired by the rapper. Two players later, after he took the field, quarterback John Mateer found receiver Deion Burks for a 38-yard touchdown to bring the Sooners back within three. It was a game again.

Oklahoma ultimately lost on its home field in a game that many feel it should have won. This Sooners program — which has made five appearances in the College Football Playoff and now has a 0-5 record — is going to feel this one for a while. But in a day or week or month, when those disappointed fans zoom out, they should be proud of the team Brent Venables did this year.

Hard to kill was the mantra. The season may be dead. But Oklahoma football is still very much alive.

The immediate disappointment of losing a CFP game sometimes clouds our judgment for the bigger picture. In its last two wins over Alabama, Oklahoma possessed a 6-1 turnover edge (two of which were pick-sixes) and made big plays on special teams. In this game? Oklahoma lost in the ways it won the previous two matchups with the Crimson Tide.

But let me remind you of the bigger picture: Venables came into this season very much on the hot seat. Against that brutal schedule, many declared he must win at least eight games and show major progress in order to prove worthy of retaining his job in 2026.

Oklahoma didn’t just win eight games. It won 10 and made the CFP, proving that last year’s disaster was more of a product of temporary roster holes and truly awful injury luck than a head coach that’s in over his head in the SEC. The sting of losing a winnable game due to self-inflicted wounds is raw, but the context of the entire season will ultimately prevail once the fog clears.

Yes, Mateer, a big-money portal pickup at quarterback, had turnover issues this season. The second-quarter pick-six he threw on a miscommunication was ultimately the difference in the game. Had he not thrown that interception or rushed for a first down on the previous drive rather than taking the shot downfield that fell incomplete, this game could have actually been a comfortable win. It wasn’t. As bad as it would like to, Oklahoma can’t change those plays.

But when you consider where this program was a year ago and compare that to where it is now? Oklahoma’s offseason is more about sharpening a capable roster and coaching staff rather than a win-or-go-home mentality that has the entire coaching staff on edge.

It’s still unclear whether Mateer will return to Oklahoma in 2026. He said after the game he has some pondering to do. But if he returns, can Oklahoma improve its putrid rushing attack? Can it add some more key pieces in the portal with NIL dollars? There is a lot to like about what he brings to the table. As far as the defense is concerned, Venables proved this year — as he has his entire career — that he can put a championship unit on the field.

Alabama was vulnerable. Oklahoma had it on the ropes on its home field and couldn’t close. That stinks, especially given the roses in the concourse could have been hanging from the mouths of the Sooners after the game.

Nope. No Rose Bowl this year. Alabama will go instead.

But the future? It’s very easy to envision a world where the Sooners are right back on this stage a year from now. Picking them to do this before this season came with punchlines and laughs.

“Our best days are sitting in front of us,” Venables said after the game. “I really believe that. We have a great foundation coming back and again a vision for what it needs to look like moving forward.”

Sunny days wouldn’t be special if it wasn’t for rain
Joy wouldn’t feel so good if it wasn’t for pain

Those are the lyrics from the song 50 Cent performed.

This is what program growth looks like.