The 2025 College Football Playoff is down to eight, and if the first round was any indication, this second edition of the 12-team bracket is going to be a wild ride. We’ve already seen comebacks, blowouts, and a defensive slugfest that felt more like a throwback than a modern playoff game.
With the quarterfinals set for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, the top four seeds-Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech-are finally set to join the action after a three-week layoff. But before the next round kicks off, let’s take a closer look at how the remaining teams stack up heading into the quarterfinals, based on what we’ve seen so far.
**8. Oregon (Actual Seed: No.
5)**
**First Round: Beat No.
12 James Madison, 51-34**
**Quarterfinal: vs.
No. 4 Texas Tech - Jan.
1, Orange Bowl, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN)**
Oregon did what it was supposed to do in the first round-jumped out early, put up points in bunches, and looked every bit the Power 5 heavyweight against James Madison. The Ducks raced to a 34-6 halftime lead and showcased their explosiveness with four touchdowns of 41 yards or more.
But the second half? That’s where things got messy.
James Madison outscored Oregon 28-17 after the break and even marched 99 yards late in the fourth quarter to make the final score a bit more respectable. Oregon still walked away with the win, but surrendering 509 total yards and 34 points to a Group of 5 team isn’t exactly the kind of momentum you want heading into a clash with Texas Tech’s ferocious defense.
Head coach Dan Lanning didn’t sugarcoat it: “We didn’t play the way we needed to be able to play,” he said. That kind of honesty is refreshing-but the Ducks will need more than words to survive the Orange Bowl.
**7. Alabama (Actual Seed: No.
9)**
**First Round: Beat No.
8 Oklahoma, 34-24**
**Quarterfinal: vs.
No. 1 Indiana - Jan.
1, Rose Bowl, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)**
Alabama’s season has been a roller coaster-and not the fun kind. The Tide stumbled into the postseason with two losses in their final four games and barely escaped Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
Then came the SEC title game, where they were manhandled by Georgia and finished with an eye-popping -3 rushing yards. So when they fell behind 17-0 to Oklahoma in the first round, it felt like the wheels were about to come off completely.
But credit where it’s due-Alabama flipped the script in a big way. The Crimson Tide outscored Oklahoma 34-7 the rest of the way and pulled off a gritty comeback win.
The ground game still sputtered (just 28 yards on 25 carries), but the resolve and playmaking through the air were enough to keep the season alive. It wasn’t pretty, but it was vintage Alabama in one key way: when it mattered most, they found a way.
Next up? A date with undefeated Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
**6. Miami (Actual Seed: No.
10)**
**First Round: Beat No.
7 Texas A&M, 10-3**
**Quarterfinal: vs.
No. 2 Ohio State - Dec.
31, Cotton Bowl, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)**
If you’re a fan of old-school, smashmouth football, Miami’s first-round win was your kind of game. The Hurricanes edged Texas A&M 10-3 in a defensive slugfest that was sealed with a clutch end-zone interception in the final 30 seconds.
It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t high-scoring.
But it was tough, physical, and enough to punch their ticket to the Cotton Bowl.
Quarterback Carson Beck had a quiet night, throwing for just 103 yards, but Mark Fletcher Jr. more than picked up the slack. The freshman running back was a workhorse, racking up 172 yards on only 17 carries.
That kind of production on the ground will be critical against Ohio State, who brings one of the most complete rosters in the country to Arlington. Miami’s got a tall task ahead, but they’ve already shown they can win ugly-and in the postseason, that counts for a lot.
**5. Ole Miss (Actual Seed: No.
6)**
**First Round: Beat No.
11 Tulane, 41-10**
**Quarterfinal: vs.
No. 3 Georgia - Jan.
1, Sugar Bowl, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)**
No Lane Kiffin? No problem.
Ole Miss didn’t waste any time making a statement in its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. In the debut of new head coach Pete Golding, the Rebels jumped on Tulane early, scoring two touchdowns in their first seven offensive plays and cruising to a 41-10 win.
This was a complete performance-fast start, balanced offense, and a defense that kept Tulane from ever finding its footing. Now comes the real test: a rematch with Georgia, who handed Ole Miss a 43-35 loss back in October.
That game was a shootout. This one could be, too.
But if the Rebels can bottle up the energy and execution they showed in the first round, they’ve got a real shot to flip the script in the Sugar Bowl.
**4. Texas Tech (Actual Seed: No.
4)**
First Round: Bye
**Quarterfinal: vs. No.
5 Oregon - Jan. 1, Orange Bowl, 12 p.m.
ET (ESPN)**
If defense wins championships, Texas Tech is in the conversation. The Red Raiders have been a problem for offenses all season long, thanks to a ferocious front seven led by linebacker Jacob Rodriguez-who finished fifth in Heisman voting-and edge rusher David Bailey, who racked up 13.5 sacks, second-most in the country.
Only one team managed to score more than 20 points on Texas Tech all year: Arizona State, in what turned out to be the Red Raiders’ only loss. This group is fast, physical, and relentless.
Oregon’s offense is explosive, no doubt-but Tech’s defense is built to counter exactly that kind of attack. The Orange Bowl is shaping up to be a clash of styles, and it may come down to which unit blinks first.
**3. Ohio State (Actual Seed: No.
2)**
First Round: Bye
**Quarterfinal: vs. No.
10 Miami - Dec. 31, Cotton Bowl, 7:30 p.m.
ET (ESPN)**
Ohio State is loaded. There’s no other way to put it.
The Buckeyes are the only team in the country with three players in the Top 10 of the Heisman voting, and they’re the defending champs for a reason. Dropping them a spot in this re-rank isn’t a knock-it’s just a reflection of how tight things are at the top.
This team has everything: elite quarterback play, a deep receiving corps, and a defense that’s been lights-out in big games. They stumbled in the Big Ten title game against Indiana, but that doesn’t erase the body of work.
If anything, it might have refocused them. They’ll face a gritty Miami team that just proved it can win a rock fight-but the Buckeyes have the firepower to turn this one into a track meet if they want to.
**2. Georgia (Actual Seed: No.
3)**
First Round: Bye
**Quarterfinal: vs. No.
6 Ole Miss - Jan. 1, Sugar Bowl, 8 p.m.
ET (ESPN)**
Georgia doesn’t just win-they dominate. The Bulldogs made a statement in the SEC Championship Game by dismantling Alabama 28-7, a performance that reminded everyone why they’ve been the standard in college football over the past few years.
Now, they get a familiar foe in Ole Miss. Georgia won the first meeting in October, but the Rebels have since found new life under Pete Golding.
Still, Georgia’s depth, discipline, and postseason pedigree make them a tough out for anyone. They’re not flashy, but they’re surgical-and that’s often more dangerous.
**1. Indiana (Actual Seed: No.
1)**
First Round: Bye
**Quarterfinal: vs. No.
9 Alabama - Jan. 1, Rose Bowl, 4 p.m.
ET (ESPN)**
Indiana is no longer just the feel-good story of the season. They’re a legitimate powerhouse. The Hoosiers are a perfect 13-0, and their resume includes a gritty 13-10 win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship-a game that officially put them on the national radar as more than just a nice surprise.
Under head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana has turned into a team that wins close games, controls tempo, and plays disciplined, physical football. They’ve earned every bit of that No. 1 seed, and now they get the biggest stage of all: the Rose Bowl, against Alabama.
If they can handle the Tide, there won’t be any more questions about whether they belong. The answer will be obvious.
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