Saturday’s College Football Playoff slate is shaping up to be a full-course meal for fans - a tripleheader packed with storylines, chaos, and maybe even a Cinderella or two trying to crash the big boys’ party. After Friday’s opener between Oklahoma and Alabama, Saturday brings three more matchups: Texas A&M vs.
Miami, Ole Miss vs. Tulane, and Oregon vs.
James Madison. And if you like coaching drama, underdog dreams, and mirror-image matchups, this one’s got it all.
Let’s break down what to watch in this loaded first round of the 12-team CFP.
Coaching Carousel Chaos
If you’re wondering how wild the college football calendar has become, look no further than Saturday’s games. More than half the programs in action are being led - at least in part - by coaches who are already committed to new jobs.
That’s right. We’ve got coordinators and even head coaches pulling double duty, prepping for playoff games while packing their bags for new gigs.
Start with Texas A&M, where both coordinators are already moving on. Offensive play-caller Collin Klein has been named the next head coach at Kansas State, while defensive coordinator Jay Bateman is off to Kentucky.
But both are sticking around for one last ride with the Aggies in the postseason. That’s commitment - or chaos, depending on your perspective.
Then there’s Ole Miss, where the situation borders on surreal. Lane Kiffin is already in Baton Rouge, now the head coach at LSU, and he took a chunk of his staff with him.
But in a twist that only college football could deliver, some of those same assistants - including offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. - are back on loan to help the Rebels finish what they started. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding is stepping in as interim head coach, making his debut at the top of the headset in a playoff game.
No pressure.
On the other side of that matchup is Jon Sumrall, who’s already been introduced as Florida’s new head coach. But before he takes over in Gainesville, he’s leading Tulane into the playoff.
He even tweeted about it - two jobs, two phones, and maybe two hours of sleep. Welcome to December in college football.
And in the final game of the day, James Madison is being led by Bob Chesney, recently hired by UCLA. The Dukes are facing Oregon, whose defense is still being called by Tosh Lupoi, the soon-to-be head coach at Cal, while the Ducks’ offense is in the hands of Will Stein, who’s already been named the new head coach at Kentucky.
So yeah, if the sidelines look like a coaching convention, that’s because they basically are.
Cinderella’s Back - But Is She Wearing Cleats?
Let’s talk underdogs.
We’ve seen March Madness serve up countless Cinderella runs, but football’s a different beast. Still, Tulane and James Madison are stepping into the ring Saturday with a chance to shake things up. Both are heavy underdogs, both are from outside the Power Five, and both are looking to prove they belong on this stage.
Tulane’s got a rematch on its hands against Ole Miss, and the first meeting wasn’t exactly close. The Rebels scored on eight of their 10 drives (not counting kneel-downs), outgained Tulane by 266 yards, and could’ve had a massive halftime lead if not for some red zone hiccups. Lane Kiffin may be gone, but key playmakers like Kewan Lacy and Trinidad Chambliss are still in Oxford - and still dangerous.
As for James Madison, the Dukes are 11-1 and have been dominant in the trenches all year. Their defensive line has been a problem for opponents, and even in their lone loss to Louisville, they held their own. But now they face an Oregon team that ranks fifth nationally in yards per rush and brings a level of physicality and speed that the Dukes simply haven’t seen this season.
So, can either underdog pull off the upset? History says no.
But that’s why they play the games. Just don’t expect Dan Lanning to be the first Power Five coach to drop a CFP game to a Group of 5 team.
That’s a headline he doesn’t want to be part of.
Texas A&M vs. Miami: The Spiderman Meme Bowl
The early game between Texas A&M and Miami might be the most evenly matched - and the most fun to watch. These two teams are so similar, it’s like watching the Spiderman meme come to life on a football field.
Let’s run through the checklist:
- Explosive quarterbacks who can light it up - but also throw the occasional back-breaking pick? ✅
- Dominant defensive lines that live in the backfield? ✅
- Playmakers at the skill positions who can flip a game in one snap? ✅
- Signature early-season win over Notre Dame? ✅
- Not much else on the resume? Also ✅
Offensively, both teams pride themselves on balance. Texas A&M runs the ball 54% of the time, Miami’s right behind at 53%.
Each team has three players with at least 350 rushing yards and three wideouts over the 350-yard mark. Even the quarterbacks - Marcel Reed for the Aggies and Carson Beck for the Hurricanes - share the same touchdown-to-interception ratio: 25 to 10.
Defensively, both squads thrive on getting opponents into third-and-long and letting their front four eat. Texas A&M leads the entire country in third-down defense, allowing conversions just 22% of the time. Miami isn’t far behind, ranking 10th nationally.
So what’s the key to winning this one? Simple: protect the football and convert on third down. Whichever team can stay on schedule and avoid the costly mistakes should punch its ticket to the quarterfinals.
Final Thought
Saturday’s CFP tripleheader is a showcase of everything college football has become in the playoff era - a mix of elite talent, chaotic coaching timelines, and just enough underdog intrigue to keep things interesting. Whether you’re watching for the Xs and Os or the soap opera on the sidelines, this is appointment viewing.
Grab your snacks, clear your schedule, and buckle up. December football just hit another gear.