As the College Football Playoff quarterfinals approach, the four teams that earned a first-round bye-Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech-have already proven they belong. Each posted an impressive regular season, but no team is flawless. Let’s break down what’s working and what could cause trouble for each squad as they chase a national title.
Indiana: Ball Security is the Backbone, but the Pocket Could Use Reinforcement
Nice: Elite Ball Security
Indiana didn’t just go undefeated-they did it by playing clean, efficient football. The Hoosiers are the best in the playoff field when it comes to protecting the ball, turning it over on just 5.5% of their possessions. That’s not just good-it’s sixth-best in the nation.
Dig deeper, and the numbers back it up even more. Indiana ranks third nationally in Whoopsy Daisy Rate-a stat that tracks plays ending in fumbles or interceptions, whether or not the ball is lost.
At 1.50%, that’s elite ball control. It’s not flashy, but it’s the kind of discipline that wins games in December and January.
That security translates directly into points. Indiana ranks third in both points per drive (3.57) and scoring percentage (57.2%)-tops among the remaining playoff teams.
When you don’t give the ball away, you give yourself a chance to score. And Indiana cashes in.
Naughty: Pass Protection is a Concern
The one crack in Indiana’s armor? The offensive line.
The Hoosiers allow pressure on 28.8% of passing plays-near the bottom among playoff teams-and it’s not just the frequency, it’s the speed. Defenders are getting home faster than Indiana would like.
But here’s the silver lining: Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman-winning quarterback has been calm in the chaos.
His passer rating under pressure? A stellar 150.5, sixth-best in the country.
He’s shown he can stand tall in the pocket and make the tough throws-even when the walls are closing in.
If Indiana can tighten up the protection just a bit, Mendoza has everything else in place to lead this team deep.
Ohio State: Red Zone Dominance, But the Details Matter
Nice: Lockdown Red Zone Defense
Ohio State’s defense has been a force all year, but it’s in the red zone where the Buckeyes really separate themselves. They’re allowing just 3.00 points per red zone trip-the best mark in the nation, and the best we’ve seen since Georgia’s title-winning unit in 2021.
This isn’t a one-year wonder either. The Buckeyes led the nation in red zone defense last season as well.
When opponents get close, Ohio State gets stingy. Touchdowns turn into field goals.
Field goals turn into empty trips. And that’s how you win playoff games.
Naughty: Costly Mistakes in Key Moments
For all their talent, Ohio State has had a tendency to shoot itself in the foot. The Buckeyes rank 106th nationally in Margin EPA-a stat that captures the hidden yardage in penalties and special teams.
That means flags at the wrong time. Missed kicks.
Coverage breakdowns. Against elite competition, those little mistakes can snowball into big problems.
The Buckeyes have the firepower to beat anyone-but they’ll need to clean up the details to make a championship run.
Georgia: Clinical in the Red Zone, But Searching for a Pass Rush
Nice: Red Zone Efficiency
Georgia doesn’t always light up the scoreboard, but when the Bulldogs get inside the 20, they finish drives. They’ve scored touchdowns on 79.2% of red zone trips-second-best in the country-and they lead all playoff teams with 5.09 points per red zone possession.
That’s the kind of offensive efficiency that keeps the pressure on opponents. Georgia might not get to the red zone as often as some other teams, but when they do, they make it count-usually with seven, not three.
Naughty: Lack of Natural Pressure
For a program that built its recent dominance on suffocating defense, Georgia’s pass rush has been surprisingly quiet this season. The Bulldogs rank near the bottom nationally in both pressure rate and sack rate.
To get after the quarterback, Georgia often has to bring extra heat. That leaves their secondary exposed-and against playoff-caliber quarterbacks, that’s a dangerous game. If the Bulldogs can’t generate pressure with their front four, they’ll need to get creative without getting burned.
Texas Tech: Ferocious Front Seven, but Third Downs Are a Grind
Nice: Relentless Pass Rush
Texas Tech’s defense is built around chaos-and it starts up front. David Bailey has been a one-man wrecking crew with 13.5 sacks, and the Red Raiders as a unit rank near the top nationally in total pressures.
That pressure forces quick decisions and bad throws. It’s disruptive, it’s aggressive, and it’s the identity of this defense. If Texas Tech is going to make a run, it’ll be on the back of that front seven.
Naughty: Third-Down Struggles
Offensively, the Red Raiders have had a harder time staying on schedule. They average 7.1 yards to go on third down-the worst among playoff teams. That puts a lot of strain on the playbook and the quarterback.
Even worse, they struggle in short-yardage third downs, which should be the easiest to convert. That makes sustaining drives a challenge, especially against top-tier defenses. If Texas Tech can’t stay ahead of the chains, their defense may be on the field longer than they’d like.
Final Word
All four of these teams earned their playoff byes with impressive, complete seasons. But now, the margin for error shrinks. In the playoff, it’s often not about who’s perfect-it’s about who can cover up their flaws, fix their weak spots, and make the right plays when it matters most.
Indiana protects the football better than anyone. Ohio State clamps down in the red zone.
Georgia is clinical when it counts. Texas Tech brings the heat.
But each has a “naughty” habit that could be the difference between a semifinal win and a long offseason.
The next round will tell us which teams can clean up their act-and which ones will be watching the title game from home.