This post will dive deeper into all of the first-round playoff games and lay out my full bracket prediction. Think you have better ball knowledge than me? Join my group and put your knowledge to the test.
Heisman Trophy
Fernando Mendoza is the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, becoming the first player from Indiana to win the award. Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes, the largest margin of victory since Joe Burrow won in 2019. Diego Pavia finished second with 189 first-place votes, while Jeremiyah Love came in third with 46.
While Mendoza didn’t put up the gaudy numbers that past winners have, something I pointed out as a trend two weeks ago, he did lead Indiana to a perfect 13-0 record and a Big Ten championship. The average viewer couldn’t name another player on Indiana’s offense, and that alone tells you who the leader of that team truly was.
This also creates a fun footnote in Heisman history: the last four Heisman winners have all played in the Pac-12 at some point in their careers. Long live the Pac-12—and shoutout to this year’s Pac-12 champions, Washington State.
Alabama at Oklahoma
The 2025 College Football Playoff kicks off Friday night in Norman, Oklahoma, as Alabama travels to take on the Sooners in a rematch of their November 15th meeting. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET and should be a fitting way to open this year’s playoff with plenty of intrigue.
Last year’s playoff saw every home team cruise through the first round with ease, but this matchup doesn’t feel nearly as one-sided. Alabama enters as a slim 1.5-point favorite, and ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives the Crimson Tide just a 50.8% chance to win.
In the November matchup, Alabama turned the ball over three times. Despite that, they still outgained Oklahoma in nearly every major statistical category, almost doubling the Sooners in total yards. The key factor in this rematch will be how effectively Alabama uses Ryan Williams and whether they can establish a consistent running game. If the Tide’s offensive approach resembles what we saw last week in Atlanta, expect the Oklahoma defense to capitalize.
I predict Alabama goes on the road and becomes the first road team to win a CFP game, taking it 24–10.
Miami at Texas A&M
The matchup of teams that beat Notre Dame! This game kicks off at noon ET on Saturday in College Station, Texas. The Aggies look to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the year, while the Hurricanes aim to keep their four-game winning streak alive. This is easily Miami’s toughest test of the season, and Texas A&M enters as a 3.5-point favorite.
This game should come down to mistakes. Both quarterbacks—Marcell Reed and Carson Beck—are capable of slinging the football. Each has thrown 25 touchdowns this season, but both have also tossed 10 interceptions. Turnovers were costly for each quarterback in their respective losses, and whichever QB makes better reads and protects the ball will likely decide the outcome.
I think that quarterback will be Marcell Reed, as Texas A&M takes care of business at home and wins 35–27.
Tulane at Ole Miss
Even without Lane Kiffin, I don’t think this will be much of a game. I do believe it will be closer than the 45–10 drubbing the Rebels handed the Green Wave back in September, but not close enough to be truly competitive.
Las Vegas currently has Ole Miss as a 17.5-point favorite, and that number has only climbed since it opened. If Tulane is going to have any chance to win, they need to force turnovers from Ole Miss—something the Rebels rarely do. If they can manage that, it could throw Ole Miss out of rhythm early.
Ole Miss’s closest game this season, outside of their loss to Georgia, came against Washington State. I don’t think there’s much debate that this Tulane team is better than that WSU squad—but what did Washington State do in that game? Ole Miss’s first three drives ended in a turnover on downs, a missed field goal, and a fumble. The Green Wave need to jump out early and create chaos.
They won’t.
Ole Miss rolls in this one, 49–21.
James Madison at Oregon
The nightcap and final game of the first round kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Oregon is currently a 21.5-point favorite over the James Madison Dukes, and frankly, I’m going to keep this preview quick.
This game won’t be close—you can take that to the bank.
Good for James Madison for making it this far, but traveling across the country to play at Autzen Stadium is a tall task. The Ducks call off the dogs in the fourth quarter and win comfortably, 45–13.
The College Football Playoff Bracket
First Round:
Alabama @ Oklahoma: Alabama
Miami @ Texas A&M: Texas A&M
Tulane @ Ole Miss: Ole Miss
James Madison @ Oregon: Oregon
Quarterfinals:
Orange Bowl- Oregon vs, Texas Tech: Oregon
Rose Bowl- Alabama vs. Indiana: Alabama
Sugar Bowl- Ole Miss vs. Georgia: Georgia
Cotton Bowl- Texas A&M vs. Ohio State: Ohio State
Semifinals
Peach Bowl- Oregon vs. Alabama: Alabama
Fiesta Bowl- Georgia vs. Ohio State: Georgia
National Championship
Alabama vs. Georgia: Georgia
CFB News
I’m not breaking any news here, as this all came out early last week, but the situation unfolding at Michigan is unprecedented. Head coach Sherrone Moore has been fired and charged with stalking and home invasion. On top of that, the entire Michigan athletic department is now under audit.
There are so many different explanations circulating right now that it’s difficult to know which reports are accurate. I’ll hold off on deeper commentary until more verified information comes to light.
Coaching News
Elsewhere around the country, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham has stepped down as head coach, with head coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley taking over the program. What role Whittingham will play moving forward remains unclear. There was no formal retirement announcement—only a step aside from the head coaching role.
Washington State hired Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore as its next head coach. Moore is the brother of former Boise State quarterback and current New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore. A native of Eastern Washington, Wazzu fans are hopeful he’ll stick around longer than the last two head coaches.
The Michigan job remains open, and it is unquestionably a top-five job in the country. I expect the hire to be a big one, likely made after the College Football Playoff. Whoever it is, it should be someone of that caliber.
I’d love to hear from readers, too. Think my takes are dumb? Want my opinion on something I missed? Email me at thecollegefootblog@gmail.com.
