The 2025 College Football Playoff officially kicks off Friday night, ushering in a new era for the postseason with a slate of win-or-go-home matchups that will shape this year’s national championship race. While bowl season has already delivered its share of drama, these are the games that matter most - the ones that will decide who hoists the trophy when all is said and done.
Ohio State: Waiting in the Wings
Ohio State, sitting at 12-1, earned the No. 2 seed in the expanded Playoff format, which comes with a first-round bye and a ticket straight to the quarterfinals in the Cotton Bowl. That means the Buckeyes get to spend the weekend watching the chaos unfold from the comfort of home, scouting their next opponent and getting a much-needed rest after a grueling season. Their next game comes on New Year’s Eve - but they won’t know who they’re facing until Saturday’s dust settles.
Friday Night Lights: Alabama vs. Oklahoma
The action begins Friday night with a heavyweight battle between No. 9 Alabama and No.
8 Oklahoma - a rematch of their mid-November clash that ended in a narrow 23-21 win for the Sooners. This one’s set to be a tone-setter.
Oklahoma will look to prove that win wasn’t a fluke, while Alabama, despite entering the Playoff with three losses, is out to remind the country that they’re never truly out of the title picture. When these two programs meet, it’s never short on fireworks.
Saturday’s Slate: High Stakes and Familiar Foes
Saturday brings a triple-header of first-round matchups, each with its own unique storyline.
First up: No. 7 Texas A&M hosts No.
10 Miami. The Aggies have been one of the more balanced teams in the country this year, while Miami’s inclusion stirred up some debate - but they’ll get a chance to silence critics quickly.
The winner of this one gets Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, so there’s plenty on the line.
Then there’s a revenge game brewing in Oxford. No.
11 Tulane travels to take on No. 6 Ole Miss in a rematch of a regular-season blowout.
Back in late September, the Rebels rolled to a dominant 45-10 win over the Green Wave. But Tulane’s been on a mission ever since, and you can bet they’ve had this one circled for months.
Closing out the weekend, No. 5 Oregon hosts No.
12 James Madison. The Ducks just missed the top four and are looking to make a statement.
James Madison, meanwhile, is riding the momentum of a dream season. This game has the feel of a classic David vs.
Goliath - but in December, anything can happen.
Did the Committee Get It Right?
As always, the College Football Playoff selection process sparked plenty of debate. Was the bracket fair? Did the best teams make it in?
According to some insiders, the committee mostly got it right - especially considering the constraints they were working under. The ACC’s tiebreaker rules played a big role in shaping the field, and Miami’s inclusion over Notre Dame made sense, particularly since the Hurricanes beat the Irish head-to-head. That win carried weight, and in a format that rewards resume and results, it was hard to argue against it.
Still, there’s always room for second-guessing. One perspective suggested that Notre Dame, despite two losses, might have been a better pick than a three-loss Alabama. Others felt Ohio State could have been rewarded more for their body of work - perhaps even given the No. 1 seed - but ultimately, the Buckeyes landed at No. 2, which still gives them a strong path forward.
There’s also some frustration about the presence of two Group of Five teams in the Playoff field. But that’s not a committee misstep - it’s a byproduct of the system and the way conference strength played out this year. The ACC’s down year opened the door for teams like Tulane and James Madison to crash the party.
What’s Next
For now, all eyes are on the first-round matchups. With powerhouse programs, revenge games, and underdog stories all packed into one weekend, this is what the expanded Playoff promised: more drama, more intrigue, and more football that matters.
Ohio State will be watching closely. Their path to a national title starts with whoever emerges from Texas A&M vs. Miami - and if the Buckeyes want to finish the job this year, they’ll need to be ready for anything.