College Football Playoff results

College football playoff results for the first full Saturday of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff delivered a mix of defensive grinds and offensive fireworks. While the higher seeds generally protected their home turf, the Miami Hurricanes pulled off a massive road upset in College Station, proving that seeding is just a number in this new era of post-season football.

Understanding the College Football Playoffs

Here is the breakdown of the three pivotal matchups from Saturday.

Miami Stuns Texas A&M in College Station Defensive Struggle

Final Score: No. 10 Miami 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3

In a game dominated by two of the nation’s elite defensive fronts, the Miami Hurricanes silenced a crowd of over 104,000 at Kyle Field. For three quarters, both offenses remained stuck in neutral, with the only points coming from a 21-yard Carter Davis field goal. Texas A&M finally tied the game 3–3 midway through the fourth, but Miami quarterback Carson Beck engineered a clinical late drive.

With just 1:44 remaining, Beck found Malachi Toney for an 11-yard touchdown to secure the 10–3 win. The Hurricanes’ defense was the story, holding the Aggies to a single field goal and constant pressure in the backfield. Miami now advances to the Cotton Bowl to face No. 2 Ohio State on New Year’s Eve.

Ole Miss Dominates Tulane in Oxford to Secure Sugar Bowl Berth

Final Score: No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10

The Ole Miss Rebels showed no signs of distraction despite the high-profile absence of Lane Kiffin, routing the Tulane Green Wave 41–10. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was the star of the afternoon, accounting for three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) in a game that was over by halftime.

Ole Miss jumped to a 14–0 lead in the first eight minutes and never looked back. The Rebel defense swarmed Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff, forcing multiple turnovers and stopping the Green Wave on several key fourth downs. With the win, Ole Miss moves on to a massive SEC-on-SEC quarterfinal matchup against No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Oregon’s High-Octane Offense Overpowers James Madison in Eugene

Final Score: No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34

The nightcap in Eugene featured the highest-scoring game of the weekend as Oregon fended off a gritty James Madison squad. Ducks quarterback Dante Moore was nearly flawless, throwing for 313 yards and four touchdowns while adding a score on the ground.

Oregon led 34–6 at the half, but JMU refused to quit, racking up over 500 yards of total offense against the Ducks’ defense. However, every time the Dukes threatened to close the gap, Oregon responded with a big play, including a 15-yard blocked punt return by Jayden Limar. The Ducks’ 51–34 victory sets up an intriguing New Year’s Day showdown against No. 4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.

2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal Preview

The field is set for the quarterfinals. After a wild opening round, the top four seeds—who earned a first-round bye—will now host the winners of this weekend’s games.

For fans following along in Oklahoma, here is your schedule for the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day matchups.

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

• Matchup: No. 10 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
• Location: AT&T Stadium — Arlington, TX
• Time: 6:30 PM CST
• TV: ESPN
• The Story: Miami’s elite defense travels to Texas again to see if they can slow down the defending champion Buckeyes.

Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026

Capital One Orange Bowl

• Matchup: No. 5 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders
• Location: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, FL
• Time: 11:00 AM CST
• TV: ESPN
• The Story: A high-flying offensive battle kicks off the New Year as the Ducks travel across the country to face the Big 12 champions.

Rose Bowl Game

• Matchup: No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers
• Location: Rose Bowl Stadium — Pasadena, CA
• Time: 3:00 PM CST
• TV: ESPN
• The Story: Alabama looks to carry the momentum from their Norman comeback into the “Granddaddy of Them All” against the undefeated, top-seeded Hoosiers.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

• Matchup: No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels vs. No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs
• Location: Caesars Superdome — New Orleans, LA
• Time: 7:00 PM CST
• TV: ESPN
• The Story: An all-SEC rematch under the lights in New Orleans. Can Ole Miss pull off the upset without Lane Kiffin, or will Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs remain “hard to kill”?

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