No. 5 Oregon def. No. 12 James Madison
No. 5 Oregon rolled past No. 12 James Madison 51–34 on Saturday night in a College Football Playoff opener. Quarterback Dante Moore accounted for five total touchdowns as the Ducks scored on their first five possessions, piling up 34 points on just 21 plays. Oregon’s quick start showcased its speed and dominance up front, immediately putting the Dukes on their heels.
The scoring surge was briefly halted late in the first half when Moore threw an interception on a deflected pass, but Oregon’s control never wavered. The Ducks resumed their dominance after halftime, blocking a James Madison punt that was returned for a touchdown and pushing their point total past 50 before the end of the third quarter.
Moore finished with four touchdown passes, two interceptions, and a rushing score. Malik Benson caught two touchdown passes, while Jeremiah McClellan and Jamari Johnson accounted for the others. Oregon’s offense was balanced and explosive, consistently overwhelming a James Madison defense that struggled to keep up sideline to sideline.
By the end of the third quarter, Oregon was averaging more than 10 yards per carry, with Dierre Hill Jr. and Jordon Davison each surpassing 60 rushing yards on just five carries. The Ducks improved to 12–1 and advanced to face Texas Tech in a quarterfinal matchup at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, marking their first playoff win since the 2014 season.
No. 9 Alabama def. No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24
No. 9 Alabama rebounded from a disastrous start to defeat No. 8 Oklahoma 34–24 on Friday night in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide surrendered 17 unanswered points early but responded with a dominant stretch in which they scored 27 consecutive points to seize control of the game.
Oklahoma raced out to a 17–0 lead midway through the second quarter, capitalizing on Alabama’s sluggish offense. The Tide, which went three-and-out on their first three possessions, finally found rhythm when Ty Simpson connected for a touchdown to spark the comeback. Less than 10 minutes later, Alabama had erased the deficit and tied the game before halftime.
Simpson finished with 232 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Alabama’s defense delivered the turning point when Zabien Brown returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown. The Crimson Tide played clean, disciplined football after falling behind, avoiding costly mistakes and controlling the tempo throughout the second half.
After Oklahoma briefly cut the lead to three early in the fourth quarter, Alabama answered with a 6-yard touchdown run by Daniel Hill to seal the win. Alabama advances to face No. 1 seed Indiana and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza in a Rose Bowl quarterfinal on Jan. 1.
No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 11 Tulane 41-10
No. 6 Ole Miss cruised past No. 11 Tulane 41–10 on Saturday, advancing to the second round of the College Football Playoff with a blowout performance. The Rebels scored touchdowns on their first two drives to take a 14–0 lead and never allowed the Green Wave to seriously threaten.
Tulane managed to hang around for much of the first half, but Ole Miss slammed the door early in the third quarter. After forcing a punt to open the half, the Rebels marched 80 yards in seven plays, capped by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Trinidad Chambliss to De’Zhaun Stribling that pushed the lead to 24–3.
Ole Miss’ offense was explosive throughout the night, finishing with 497 total yards and producing four plays of 25 yards or more. The Rebels consistently stretched the field and punished Tulane for defensive breakdowns, maintaining control from start to finish.
With the win, Ole Miss advanced to a CFP quarterfinal showdown against No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. The dominant win reinforced the Rebels’ status as a legitimate national title contender heading into the postseason’s next round.
No. 10 Miami def. No. 7 Texas A&M 10-3
No. 10 Miami leaned on a strong defensive effort to beat No. 7 Texas A&M 10–3 in a tense College Football Playoff matchup on Saturday. The Hurricanes broke a scoreless tie late, as Malachi Toney hauled in an 11-yard touchdown reception with less than two minutes remaining to provide the decisive points.
Miami’s defense set the tone all night, frustrating an Aggies offense that entered the game averaging more than 36 points per game. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed was under constant pressure, absorbing seven sacks and committing multiple turnovers as Miami repeatedly collapsed the pocket and forced errant throws.
Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. powered the Hurricanes offensively, posting a career-high 172 rushing yards on 17 carries. Despite missed opportunities from kicker Carter Davis, who missed three field goals after entering the game with only two misses all season, Miami remained composed and relied on its defense to keep the game within reach.
A late interception sealed the win and sent Miami into the next round of the playoff. The Hurricanes advance to the Cotton Bowl, where they will face No. 2 seed Ohio State on Dec. 31, continuing their pursuit of a first national championship since 2001.
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Matchups
- Orange Bowl: (No. 4) Texas Tech vs. (No. 5) Oregon
- Rose Bowl: (No. 1) Indiana vs. (No. 9) Alabama
- Sugar Bowl: (No. 3) Georgia vs. (No. 6) Ole Miss
- Cotton Bowl: (No. 2) Ohio State vs. (No. 10) Miami
