First-Round College Football Playoff Predictions: Alabama, Oklahoma, Miami, Texas A&M Showdowns
The College Football Playoff is finally here, and this year’s matchups look set to deliver some truly wild moments. The first round starts off with a bang—marquee teams, big names, and plenty of storylines to chew on.
Alabama gets a shot at redemption against Oklahoma in a rematch from the regular season. Miami faces Texas A&M, Tulane squares off with Ole Miss, and James Madison takes on Oregon.
Winners move on to the quarterfinals, where top seeds Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech are waiting. The road to the national championship game on January 19 is anything but predictable.
Let’s take a closer look at the first round matchups and see what could be in store.
Contents
Alabama vs. Oklahoma: A Clash of Titans
Alabama and Oklahoma are set to reignite their rivalry, and there’s a lot riding on this one. The Crimson Tide want payback after dropping the regular-season game, despite outgaining Oklahoma by nearly 200 yards.
Turnovers and red-zone woes doomed Alabama last time. That can’t happen again if they want to advance.
Keys to Victory
For Alabama, it’s simple: protect the football and cash in on scoring chances. Quarterback Ty Simpson has to keep his cool and avoid the costly mistakes from their last meeting.
Oklahoma’s defense, which ranks 93rd nationally in yards per play, has to find a way to slow down Alabama’s offense. Not exactly an easy task.
- Alabama’s Strengths: They rack up yardage, have a loaded roster, and there’s no shortage of experience on the sideline.
- Oklahoma’s Challenges: The offense sputters, especially when it comes to running the ball.
Most folks—Chris Hummer and Brad Crawford included—think Alabama squeaks out a win here. Probably closer than Tide fans would like.
Miami vs. Texas A&M: A Battle of the Trenches
This might just be the most interesting game of the bunch. Miami and Texas A&M both thrive at the line of scrimmage, so expect a hard-fought, physical contest.
Texas A&M loves to run the ball, but Miami’s rush defense is among the best in the country. Something’s gotta give.
Key Matchups
The outcome probably comes down to the run game and which quarterback can step up. Miami’s offensive line is great at protecting the passer, but the run game is just okay.
Texas A&M’s defense will have its hands full with Miami’s Malachi Toney, who’s always a threat to break off a big play. That guy’s a game-changer if he gets loose.
- Texas A&M’s Edge: Home crowd and steady game management from coach Mike Elko.
- Miami’s Strength: They know how to force turnovers—20 takeaways this season isn’t a fluke.
Hummer’s going with Texas A&M, but Crawford thinks Miami can pull off the upset. Turnovers could be the difference—wouldn’t be the first time.
Tulane vs. Ole Miss: David vs. Goliath
Tulane’s got a mountain to climb as they head to Oxford to face Ole Miss. They’re one of just two Group of Five teams in the playoff, and the odds are stacked against them.
Ole Miss rolled over Tulane in the regular season, almost doubling their yardage and exposing some real issues in Tulane’s secondary.
Challenges for Tulane
The Lane Kiffin saga adds a bit of uncertainty for Ole Miss, since he’s off to LSU now. Still, the Rebels are heavy favorites, and it’s hard to argue with that.
- Ole Miss’s Dominance: They control the line and rack up yards like it’s nothing.
- Tulane’s Improvement: They’ve looked better since that last meeting, but is it enough?
Even with Tulane’s progress, both Hummer and Crawford see Ole Miss advancing. Hummer’s expecting a bigger margin than Crawford, but either way, it’s an uphill battle for the Green Wave.
James Madison vs. Oregon: An Uphill Battle
James Madison, the other Group of Five squad, faces a huge test against Oregon. The Ducks are blazing fast and loaded with NFL-level talent up front.
It’s a tough matchup, to put it mildly.
Oregon’s Advantages
Oregon’s speed and depth make this a lopsided affair on paper. They’ve had time to regroup and are laser-focused on chasing a national title after falling short last season.
James Madison’s coach Bob Chesney is also prepping for his new gig at UCLA, which probably doesn’t help the Dukes’ chances.
- Oregon’s Strengths: Speed, talent, and plenty of prep time.
- James Madison’s Challenges: The talent gap is real, and coaching distractions aren’t ideal.
Both Hummer and Crawford expect Oregon to cruise. Hard to argue with that prediction.
Looking Ahead
We’re heading into the first round of the College Football Playoff, and honestly, the buzz is real. The winners from these matchups will get their shot at the top four seeds—Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech—on December 31 and January 1.
There’s a lot riding on every single play. It’s wild how every little decision could end up making the difference.
If you’re hungry for more predictions and insights, the full article on CBS Sports is worth a look.
