College Football Playoff Quarterfinals: What Ohio State Learned While the Rest of the Field Got Tested
Ohio State didn’t take the field this past weekend, but that doesn’t mean the college football world hit pause. Far from it. The first round of the expanded College Football Playoff brought fireworks, upsets, and a few warning flares - all while the Buckeyes spent their bye week recalibrating for a high-stakes New Year’s Eve clash with Miami.
With the bracket trimmed and the intensity dialed up, the focus now shifts to matchups, injury updates, and whether Ohio State can shore up the areas that have raised eyebrows heading into the postseason.
First-Round Recap: Chaos, Statement Wins, and Defensive Red Flags
If there’s one thing the opening round made clear, it’s this: December doesn’t care about point spreads or reputations. Every snap matters, and efficiency beats flash.
Alabama became the first road team to win a first-round playoff game, and they did it the hard way - erasing a 17-0 deficit to knock off Oklahoma 34-24. The Crimson Tide couldn’t get anything going on the ground, averaging just 1.1 yards per carry, and they were outgained by more than 100 yards.
But turnovers and missed chances doomed the Sooners, proving once again that postseason games often come down to execution in the margins, not just raw stats. Alabama now moves on to face Indiana, and if they can’t find offensive balance, that matchup could get tricky.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss made the loudest statement of the round, steamrolling Tulane 41-10 in a game that was over almost as soon as it started. The Rebels dominated both sides of the line, setting up a mouthwatering New Year’s Day showdown with Georgia. That one’s going to be decided in the trenches.
Oregon, on the other hand, walked away with a win over James Madison, but not without raising some eyebrows. After leading 34-6 at halftime, the Ducks gave up 34 second-half points and over 500 yards of offense. Yes, backups were in, but that kind of defensive drop-off is hard to ignore - especially with Texas Tech up next, a team that thrives on exploiting breakdowns and turning chaos into points.
And then there was Miami’s 10-3 win over Texas A&M - a game that won’t make any highlight reels but told us plenty about who the Hurricanes are. It was a grind-it-out affair, shaped by wind, missed field goals, and relentless defensive pressure.
Miami racked up seven sacks and sealed the win with a clutch interception at the goal line. It wasn’t pretty, but it showed that this team is built to win ugly - and that’s a trait that tends to travel well in December.
What It Means for Ohio State: A Trench Battle Awaits in the Cotton Bowl
Now, all eyes turn to Ohio State vs. Miami in the Cotton Bowl - and make no mistake, this is a real test for the Buckeyes.
Miami’s defensive front is no joke. Led by Reuben Bain, the Hurricanes have one of the most disruptive lines left in the playoff field.
That’s a problem for an Ohio State offensive line that’s already dealing with the likely absence of right guard Tegra Tshabola. The Buckeyes will turn to a rotation of Gabe VanSickle and Josh Padilla to hold the line, and that duo is going to have to hold up under serious pressure.
Protecting quarterback Julian Sayin and staying on schedule offensively is non-negotiable.
But while Miami’s defense can cause problems, their offense presents opportunities. The Hurricanes have struggled to finish drives and often rely on explosive runs to move the chains - tendencies that Ohio State’s defense has handled well all season. If the Buckeyes can control early downs and limit big plays, they’ll have a chance to dictate the tempo and force Miami into uncomfortable situations.
Elsewhere in the College Football Landscape
While the Buckeyes were focused on prep, the rest of the college football world kept moving.
Michigan’s head coaching search remains unresolved, with top candidates reportedly off the board. It’s another layer of instability in a rivalry that’s already full of drama.
On the recruiting front, Ohio State closed out its 2026 class ranked sixth nationally. The class is headlined by five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., and the Buckeyes continue to build momentum with Legend Bey reportedly on the verge of joining the fold. It’s a strong class with depth and star power - exactly what you’d expect from a program with national title aspirations.
The Road Ahead: Buckeyes’ Margin for Error Is Shrinking
Looking beyond the Cotton Bowl, the playoff picture is starting to crystallize.
Georgia and Ole Miss are barreling toward a physical, high-stakes collision that could come down to who wins at the line of scrimmage and executes late. Indiana, somehow, continues to defy expectations and enters its matchup with Alabama as a favorite - a testament to their steady defense and physical play.
And then there’s Oregon vs. Texas Tech, easily the most volatile matchup left.
It’s a coin-flip game where a handful of big plays could swing everything.
For Ohio State, the formula hasn’t changed. The Buckeyes have the talent, the depth, and the playoff experience to make a serious run. But the same themes keep popping up: red-zone efficiency, offensive line consistency under pressure, and capitalizing on every possession against elite defenses.
Those issues haven’t derailed the season - yet. But with Miami looming and a potential semifinal on the horizon, there’s no more room for error.
The bye week wasn’t just a breather - it was a final tune-up. Now it’s time to find out if the Buckeyes are ready to execute when it matters most.
New Year’s Eve is coming fast. So are the answers.