SEC Clash Sets the Stage for High-Stakes Fiesta Bowl Showdown in College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff is heating up, and the next stop for Georgia and Ole Miss is a heavyweight SEC quarterfinal with a ticket to the Fiesta Bowl on the line. The Bulldogs and Rebels are set to collide in a matchup that not only pits two familiar conference foes against each other, but also sets the stage for a potential cross-conference clash in the semifinals.
Georgia enters the CFP with fresh legs and championship expectations, while Ole Miss already has a postseason win under its belt after knocking off Tulane in the opening round. The Rebels showed grit and explosiveness in that game, but now face a tall task: taking down a Georgia team that’s been a fixture in the playoff conversation for years.
What’s at Stake?
The winner of Georgia vs. Ole Miss advances to the CFP semifinals, where they’ll face the victor of another marquee quarterfinal: No.
2 Ohio State vs. No.
10 Miami. No reseeding means the bracket is locked, and that sets up a potential SEC vs.
Big Ten or SEC vs. ACC showdown in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl.
That semifinal will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona - a venue that’s hosted its fair share of playoff drama. Whether it’s the Bulldogs or the Rebels who emerge, they’ll be facing a team with serious momentum.
Ohio State is chasing back-to-back national titles and looks every bit the part of a team built for another deep run. The Buckeyes have been balanced and battle-tested, and they’re not shying away from the target on their back.
On the other side, Miami’s defense has been the story. The Hurricanes made a statement by shutting down Texas A&M in the first round, and they’re playing with the kind of swagger that suggests they believe they belong. If they can slow down the Buckeyes, they could crash the semifinal party and bring a different kind of energy to Glendale.
Mark Your Calendars: Fiesta Bowl Details
Regardless of who survives the SEC clash, the winner will take the field again in the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 8, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. It’s one of two CFP semifinal games this year, and it promises to deliver a high-octane matchup with major title implications.
2025 College Football Playoff Schedule at a Glance
Here’s how the playoff has unfolded so far - and what’s still to come:
First Round
- *Dec.
19:* No. 9 Alabama vs.
No. 8 Oklahoma - 8 p.m.
(ABC/ESPN)
- *Dec.
20:* No. 10 Miami vs.
No. 7 Texas A&M - Noon (ABC/ESPN)
- Dec. 20: No.
11 Tulane vs. No.
6 Ole Miss - 3:30 p.m. (TNT/truTV)
- Dec. 20: No.
12 JMU vs. No.
5 Oregon - 7:30 p.m. (TNT/truTV)
Quarterfinals
- *Dec.
31:* No. 10 Miami vs.
No. 2 Ohio State - 7:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
- *Jan.
1:* No. 5 Oregon vs.
No. 4 Texas Tech - 12 p.m.
(ESPN)
- *Jan.
1:* No. 9 Alabama vs.
No. 1 Indiana - 4 p.m.
(ESPN)
- *Jan.
1:* No. 6 Ole Miss vs.
No. 3 Georgia - 8 p.m.
(ESPN)
Semifinals
- *Jan.
8:* Fiesta Bowl - 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Jan. 9: Second Semifinal - 7:30 p.m.
(ESPN)
Championship Game
- *Jan.
19:* National Championship - 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
The road to the national title is narrowing, and every snap counts from here on out. Whether it’s Georgia’s power or Ole Miss’ punch that prevails, the Fiesta Bowl is shaping up to be a must-watch semifinal with a spot in the championship game hanging in the balance.