2025-2026 cbhsports College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Preview

Image Courtesy: UGA Today

Wednesday, December 31
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington)
2.Ohio State (12-1) vs. 10.Miami (11-2)
7:30 PM ET, ESPN
Miami struggled offensively but they went to College Station and defeated No. 7 Texas A&M 10-3 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Hurricanes proved their worth in the College Football Playoff when receiver Malachi Toney threw the go-ahead touchdown pass to Carson Beck just minutes after Toney fumbled the ball. Ohio State will be the next challenge for Miami in their pursuit of their first national championship trophy since 2000. The No. 2 Buckeyes will hope their defense shuts the Hurricane offense down like the Aggies did or this could turn into a shootout.

Miami’s offense is paced by Beck, Toney, and tailback Mark Fletcher Jr. The Hurricanes’ entire group only gained 278 yards overall against Texas Tech. Fletcher Jr. led the Miami offense with 172 yards on the ground and set up Beck, who threw for only 103 yards and the game winning touchdown. Ohio State leading tacklers Sonny Styles (81) and Arvell Reese (62) will be an even more difficult task for Fletcher Jr. to get through their defense and help his team to a victory.

Beck must use the time his offensive line gives him against Ohio State’s talented defensive front to get it to wide receivers Keelan Marion, CJ Daniels, and Toney if they want to keep pace with the Buckeyes’ offense. Miami will have to move the ball against a tough Buckeye secondary, led by safeties Caleb Downs and Jaylen McClain. The two have combined four passes defended and two interceptions will be hard to

Miami defensive backs Keionte Scott accounted for 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks and Jakobe Smith had nine tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 0.5 tackles for loss in their victory against Texas A&M. They will be a big part of defending against one of the top receiving cores in the nation including Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Max Klare, and Brandon Inniss who catch passes from Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin, who has thrown for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.

Bo Jackson (1,035 yards and 5 TDs), James Peoples (344 yards and 3 TDs), and CJ Donaldson (330 yards and 10 TDs) share carries in the backfield. Linebackers Mohamed Toure (8 tackles and 1 pass defended)), Wesley Bissainthe (7 tackles), and defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (5 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks) were huge for the Hurricanes against the Aggies and they will be important to stop the Buckeyes run game on Wednesday night.

As Ohio State begins their run for a second consecutive national championship trophy, they may start slow after an almost month break off but their defense should keep the Miami at offense at bay long enough to run away with a victory. The Hurricanes will keep the game close until they give up a run by Ohio State’s offense that may include multiple touchdowns in a row. The Buckeyes will defeat Miami by ten points.

Projected Score: Ohio State 24, Miami 14

Thursday, January 1
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the  Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens)
4.Texas Tech (12-1) vs. 5.Oregon (12-1)
12 PM ET, ESPN
Oregon’s defense struggled in a game where they defeated No. 12 James Madison by just 17 points, 51-34. The Ducks will have to come out with a better performance against the Big 12’s best, No. 4 Texas Tech. The Red Raiders boast a loaded offense have and have one of the top defenders in the country, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. Texas Tech has not faced a high-powered offense like that of Oregon’s so New Year’s Day’s test will be an interesting one.

The Ducks’ defense gave up a season high 34 points to James Madison on Dec. 20. They will have to limit Texas Tech’s offense better than they did against the Dukes. It will be up to the leaders of the defense to win against the Red Raiders. A few of those leaders include linebackers Bryce Boettcher (113 tackles, 4 passes defended, 1 sack, and 1 interception) and Teitum Tuitoi (60 tackles, 7.5 tackles, and 5 passes defended). They will be in charge of shutting down the Texas Tech ground game on Thursday afternoon.

Red Raider tailbacks Cameron Dickey (1,095 yards and 14 TDs) and J’Koby Williams (787 yards and 6 TDs) will look to continue their successful seasons against Boettcher and Tuitoi. If they do so, setting up the passing game, led by signal-caller Behren Morton and a receiving core that includes four guys with 300 receiving yards or more. That group includes Caleb Douglas (7 TDs), Reggie Virgil (6 TDs), Coy Eakin (6 TDs), and Terrance Carter Jr. (5 TDs). Defensive backs Dillon Thieneman and Aaron Flowers have combined for seven passes defended and three interceptions this season. They will be huge against Texas Tech’s talented wideouts.

While their defense struggled, the Oregon offense exploded for 51 points against James Madison. Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 313 yards, four touchdowns, but must limit turnovers against Texas Tech after throwing two interceptions. Moore’s two leading receivers in the game were Malik Benson (5 catches for 119 yards and 2 TDs) and Jeremiah McClellan (6 catches for 83 yards and 1 TD).

The Ducks’ running backs Jordon Davison carried the ball ten times for 90 yards and Dierre Hill Jr. went six times for 76 yards and a score against the Dukes. They will have a difficult challenge going against Butkus, Bronko, and Lombardi Award winner Rodriguez at linebacker.

In what could be a back and forth game, it will be up to either the Texas Tech or Oregon defense to shut their opponent’s offense down. While the Red Raiders have not faced a potent offense like that of the Ducks’, Morton and Rodriguez will lead their team to a victory. Texas Tech would move on to the semifinals to face the winner of the Rose Bowl, either No. 1 Indiana or No. 9 Alabama.

Projected Score: Texas Tech 34, Oregon 31

College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential (Pasadena)
1.Indiana (13-0) vs. 9.Alabama (11-3)
4 PM ET, ESPN
In the first quarter against No. 8 Oklahoma, Alabama fell down 17-0. Until quarterback Ty Simpson and the Crimson Tide offense answered back with 17 points of their own in the second quarter, the game shifted. A revolting win over the Sooners, their first in three attempts since Oklahoma joined the SEC, may be just what Alabama needs to return to their high quality of play they had back in October.

The Rose Bowl will be a different challenge for the Crimson Tide. The Indiana defense will present challenges to the Alabama offense they have not seen this season as one of the best units in the country. Though some may think the Hoosiers’ offense may be pedestrian, the Heisman Trophy Fernando Mendoza winner leads it from behind center.

Mendoza’s Heisman campaign included passing for almost 3,000 yards, 33 touchdowns, rushed for 240 yards, and six more scores. He will attempt to get the ball to a talented receiver duo including Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt, who combined for 23 touchdowns so far this season. Alabama defensive backs Keon Sabb, Domani Jackson, and Bray Hubbard combined for 16 tackles in the victory over Oklahoma and they will be just as important in this game to stop Cooper Jr. and Sarratt.

Running backs Roman Hemby, Kaelon Black, and Khobie Martin shared carries next to Mendoza in the backfield. Linebackers Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson led the Crimson Tide in sacks against the Sooners. If they can stop Hemby, Black, and Martin, the Hoosier passing game will not set up as easily.

Despite Simpson’s slow start in the first quarter against Oklahoma, he threw for 232 yards and two scores. Wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks caught five passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns but Indiana defensive backs Louis Moore (76 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 1 pass defended) and Devan Boykin (48 tackles, 5 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) will have to watch out for fellow receivers Germie Bernard, Isaiah Horton, Ryan Williams, and tight end Josh Cuevas if they want to come out victorious on Thursday night.

The Crimson Tide running game has been pedestrian this season with Daniel Hill leading the way with just nine carries for 43 yards and a single touchdown. Linebackers Rolijah Hardy (87 tackles, 8 sacks, and 4 passes defended) and Aiden Fisher (75 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions) will be a huge part of continuing to limit the Crimson Tide’s up and down ground game.

In a game between two strong defenses, Alabama will pull the upset of the College Football Playoff and defeat top seed Indiana in a low scoring game. The Crimson Tide would advance to play the winner of No. 4 Oregon or No. 5 Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff Semifinals.

Projected Score: Alabama 24, Indiana 23

College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
3.Georgia (12-1) vs. 6.Ole Miss (12-1)
8 PM ET, ESPN
Georgia and Ole Miss will play in a rematch from Oct. 18 in Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl. There are many differences from that game. The Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin is now in the same role at LSU and defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to take over. In Golding’s first game as head coach, Ole Miss dominated No. 11 Tulane 41-10 in another rematch from earlier in the season.

Since the Bulldogs win over the Rebels in mid-October, they are on a seven game winning streak and have used a combination of offense, defense, and special teams on their way to another SEC Championship under head coach Kirby Smart. Georgia will attempt to win a third national championship since 2021 by starting out with a victory over Ole Miss.

Last time the Bulldogs went out on the gridiron, they dominated Alabama 28-7 and avenged a loss to the Crimson Tide they suffered earlier in the season. In that game, Gunner Stockton completed 20 of his 26 passes, 156 yards, passed for three touchdowns, and rushed for 39 yards. Stockton got the ball to wide receivers Zachariah Brach for 53 yards and a touchdown and Dillon Bell for 45 yards and another score. Ole Miss safeties Wydett Williams and Suntarine Perkins, who combined for nine tackles in their victory over Tulane, will be important to defend Branch and Bell.

Starting tailback Nate Frazier rushed for only 52 yards and a touchdown against Alabama. He will be counted on to do more for Georgia as they attempt to defeat Ole Miss for the second time this season. Defensive tackle Will Echoles, who had six tackles and one tackle for loss and linebacker TJ Dottery who had six tackles against Tulane, will attempt to continue to limit Frazier.

Despite exiting their win over Tulane early with an injury, Ole Miss tailback Kewan Lacy rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Lacy, who is probable to play on Thursday night because of a bruised shoulder injury, will look to do much more than he did against the Green Wave versus the Bulldogs. Linebackers CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson lead the Bulldogs in tackles this season. It will be vital for them to shut down the Ole Miss ground game, especially if Lacy is full go on New Year’s Day.

Defensive backs KJ Bolden (66 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) and JaCorey Thomas (42 tackles and 1 sack) will be in charge of stopping Ole Miss’ talented passing attack. That passing attack is headed by Trinidad Chambliss who accounted for 282 yards and one touchdown through the air and 36 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. With Lane Kiffin’s new offensive staff at LSU back in Oxford for the playoff run, coordinator Charlie Weiss will hope he sets up situations for Chambliss to wide receivers Deuce Alexanders (7 catches for 87 yards), De’Zhaun Stribling (5 catches for 79 yards and 1 TD), and tight end Dae’Quan Wright (4 catches for 64 yards) to make big plays like they did in their first round victory,

In what should be another close game, one of college football’s top head coaches, Kirby Smart, will overwhelm Golding and the Rebels in his second game as head coach. Because they have Smart, Georgia will defeat Ole Miss by seven points and cover the spread. The Bulldogs would advance to face the winner of No. 2 Ohio State and No. 10 Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Projected Score: Georgia 35, Ole Miss 28