The College Football Playoffs are here! Before I get into my picks for round one, let’s look at the 4 teams with byes this week.
#1: Indiana
BIG 10 Champions, 13-0
Round one opponent: Bye
Where are the Indiana doubters now? I’ve been hearing how overrated the Hoosiers are since Curt Cignetti’s hiring in 2024, but now I’m not hearing much. Indiana efficiently took down the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday night, with Fernando Mendoza clinching the Heisman Trophy in a strong performance. These guys are legit, and can easily take any team that comes their way.
#2: Georgia
SEC Champions, 12-1
Round one opponent: Bye
Per usual. The Bulldogs were about what we expected this year: A complete juggernaut, led by Gunner Stockton at QB, featuring a strong running game and defense. The 2025 Georgia Bulldogs were different from their predecessors in one major way that you recognized if you watched them this year. Unlike the Stetson Bennett era Bulldogs, Georgia wasn’t putting up high scoring blowouts, but instead consistently winning by 1-2 scores. However, that changed pretty drastically when they blew out Alabama in the SEC championship game on Saturday, but I’ll get into that later. Georgia is just as strong a contender as they’ve always been under Kirby Smart, and I expect them to go far.
#3: Ohio State
BIG 10 runner up, 12-1
Round one opponent: Bye
For the first time in 370 days, the Ohio State Buckeyes have lost a football game. What a time to be alive. Ohio State’s BIG 10 championship loss single handedly made the playoffs 5 times more interesting, now that we know the Buckeyes won’t just run everyone over like they did last year. That being said, Buckeye dominance is definitely still a possibility. Don’t forget that Ohio State was a missed field goal away from this game going to overtime, possibly changing the course of the season. To write off the Buckeyes this winter would be a massive mistake, one that I definitely won’t be making.
#4: Texas Tech
BIG 12 champions, 12-1
Round one opponent: Bye
This team is legit, and if you think otherwise I don’t know what team you’ve been watching. Well, assuming anyone who questions Texas Tech actually watches them might be generous. Led by Heisman finalist snub Jacob Rodriguez and QB Behren Morton, the Red Raiders are a force even greater than the 2010s Patrick Mahomes led rosters. However, this Texas Tech team is something greater. This team won’t be like the TCU of the 2022-2023 season. This is the beginning of a new college football powerhouse. Welcome back Big 12.
#12 JMU @ #5 Oregon
The Dante Moore led Ducks might be just a tier below the four teams previously mentioned, but don’t mistake that for them being any less of a contender. This team can go blow for blow with any team in college football. If they pull off a win this week, they’ll take on Texas Tech in the quarter finals. If that isn’t the definition of must-watch, I don’t know what is. If Wayne Knight and the JMU running game can overcome the Oregon defense, this game might just be closer than we think. As fun as a JMU upset would be, the idea of a Texas Tech-Oregon matchup is too good to not root for. Sorry JMU.
My pick:Oregon
#11 Tulane @ #6 Ole Miss
I genuinely can’t wait to see this Ole Miss crowd. The Lane Kiffen saga has energized the Ole Miss faithful, who were already rabid for a playoff run. Interim head coach Pete Golding seems to have the locker room’s support. Kiffen’s departure, if anything, has completely changed the Rebels into a team playing for something. And a team playing for something is a team you don’t want to play. On the other side, Tulane is a strong team that deserves to be here, and definitely shouldn’t be written off. The issue is that nasty 5 touchdown loss against Ole Miss from September. The Green Wave are indisputably a better team than they were back in week 4, but is the improvement drastic enough for them to pull off the upset? I don’t think so. This one’ll definitely be closer than 35 points, but still enough for Ole Miss to pull off a win.
My pick: Ole Miss
#10 Miami @ #7 Texas A&M
This one’s interesting. Two incredibly choke-prone teams facing off to see who wants it less. This game will be defined by the QB matchup, Marcell Reed vs Carson Beck. Beck is more experienced in the big game, but his success has been inconsistent. Marcell Reed on the other hand is new to the playoffs. Reed is the better quarterback, but Beck’s weapons could give him the boost. Malachi Toney has been one of college football’s best receivers, but KC Concepcion has had an exceptional season in his own right. At running back Mark Fletcher Jr has the edge over Reuben Owens II. On the defensive side, they’re fairly even, with A&M averaging more turnovers, while Miami allows fewer points per game. This is about as much of a toss up as it gets. I’m going against my instincts here, but I’m picking A&M. This Aggies team is battle tested, and that’s going to give them the advantage here.
My pick: Texas A&M
#9 Alabama @ #8 Oklahoma
Could Alabama not have been #10. Then we could’ve been spared a rematch. Don’t tell me Bama @ Texas A&M and Miami @ Oklahoma wouldn’t have been better than this. Alabama has pretty thoroughly shut down any belief that I might’ve had in them with a struggle against Auburn and a blowout at the hands of Georgia. Oklahoma wins.
My pick: Oklahoma
!!FCS!!
This is such a good semifinals I need to talk about it
Illinois State @ #12 Villanova
Unseeded Illinois State is just a game away from the FCS national championship. Such an underrated story that no one seems to be talking about. Unfortunately that story is coming to an end. The Villanova Wildcats. So much for them being “Just a basketball school”. The Cats are on a run, and I’m here for it. Please give me a scholarship.
My pick: Villanova
#3 Montana @ #2 Montana State
The Brawl of The Wild. Just about the opposite of Villanova-Illinois State. Two juggernauts going against each other for a National Championship berth and a 306 pound trophy. The November matchup this year went to Montana State, but it was close and a flip wouldn’t be a shocker. This is an interesting matchup with ticket prices higher than the previously mentioned FBS matchups. I’m sure there are journalists from Montana or with more FCS knowledge than me that could do this game justice, so I’ll just leave you with my pick and let you find them on your own. I have Montana State completing the sweep and advancing to the national championship game.
My pick: Montana State
