College Football Playoff Bracket Re-seeded: Miami Leapfrogs Alabama, Bowl Matchups Shift
The College Football Playoff (CFP) landscape has been wild this season. Road teams are finally making some noise and shaking up the rankings.
As we re-seed the remaining eight teams, fans should gear up for some wild matchups on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Miami’s gritty 10-3 win over Texas A&M has pushed the Hurricanes above Alabama, though the top matchups haven’t changed much.
Let’s take a closer look at this reshuffled bracket and all the narratives that’ll keep college football fans glued to their screens.
Contents
The Impact of Miami’s Upset Victory
Miami’s win over Texas A&M showed off their toughness and defensive chops. That victory bumped them up in the standings and made the CFP bracket way more interesting.
Ohio State is still locked in for the Cotton Bowl. Alabama still draws Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
The real fun comes from the deeper changes in the bracket. Some of these quarterfinals are going to be wild.
Ohio State’s Dominance and Motivations
Ohio State keeps rolling, holding onto their Cotton Bowl spot even after a recent loss. They have the best defense in the country, giving up just 8.2 points per game.
The Buckeyes are fired up, especially after losing the Big Ten title to Indiana. Oddly enough, they could win back-to-back national titles without ever winning the Big Ten.
That’s a bizarre scenario, but it adds some spice to their quarterfinal against Miami.
Indiana’s Unprecedented Run
Indiana’s climb to the CFP’s top seed is honestly kind of wild. They’re the last undefeated team in the FBS and are hunting for their first CFP win after falling short last season.
They did take a big hit with star defensive end Stephen Daley going down. That could hurt them against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, but Indiana’s shown a lot of grit so far.
The Group of Six Debate
The place of Group of Six schools in the CFP is always up for debate. Critics love to point out recent blowouts, like James Madison and Tulane losing by double digits.
Still, upsets happen. Maybe not often, but they’re part of what makes college football fun.
Remember Northern Illinois taking down Notre Dame as a four-touchdown underdog last season? Nobody saw that coming.
Lopsided Results: A CFP Feature
Since 2014, the average CFP margin of victory is 17.5 points. For Group of Six teams, it’s even wider—21.5 points per loss.
Even so, letting smaller programs in gives them a shot, and that’s worth something. The bigger worry? A possible Super League or Almighty Alliance of the biggest brands, which could push the Group of Six out entirely.
Reshuffling the Bracket: Fresh Matchups
With the eight teams re-seeded, we’ve got some fresh and genuinely interesting quarterfinals on deck. Let’s check out these pairings and what might unfold.
No. 8 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana (Rose Bowl)
This one’s unchanged, and honestly, why mess with it? It’s a showcase for two coaches on the rise—Curt Cignetti and Kalen DeBoer.
Indiana’s No. 1 seed status and Rose Bowl favorite tag over Alabama says a lot about their season. But Alabama’s experience makes this a can’t-miss game.
No. 7 Miami vs. No. 2 Ohio State (Cotton Bowl)
Another matchup that stays the same: Miami vs. Ohio State. Both teams are tough up front and share some recruiting battles, which adds a little extra tension.
Miami’s coming in hot after their upset, but Ohio State’s defense is a wall. Should be a good one.
No. 5 Ole Miss vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (Orange Bowl)
This re-seeded matchup is all about new faces. Ole Miss and Texas Tech have both leaned heavily on the transfer portal to reload.
Texas Tech is top-three nationally on both sides of the ball. Ole Miss isn’t far behind—10th on offense, 22nd on defense. This one’s a battle to see who can claim blue blood status next.
No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia (Sugar Bowl)
The Sugar Bowl brings a mentor vs. student storyline: Dan Lanning against Kirby Smart. Last time they met, Georgia crushed Oregon in Lanning’s head-coaching debut.
This time, the gap’s a lot smaller. Should be a much closer—and way more entertaining—game.
Conclusion
The reshuffled CFP bracket is setting up some seriously exciting quarterfinal matchups. Powerhouse programs are everywhere you look.
There’s a real chance for some wild upsets and unforgettable moments. College football on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day? Can’t beat it.
If you’re hungry for more details or want a deeper dive, check out the original article on CBS Sports.
