Quarterfinal Playoff Predictions; Bowl predictions for the next two days

The College Football Playoff Quarterfinals are right upon us and it couldn’t be more electric. The coaching soap opera, the NIL/transfer portal dysfunction, all of that can be thrown by the wayside and we can concentrate on these riveting playoff matchups now . No.2 Ohio State squares off with No. 10 Miami in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Wednesday at 6:30 P. M. CT on ESPN. Then on Thursday, to kick it off, No. 5 Oregon locks horns with the No.4 Red Raiders of Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl at 11 A.M. CT on ESPN. The No.9 Crimson Tide competes with the No.1 Indiana Hoosiers and Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Fernando Mendoza in what looks like a rainy Rose Bowl at 3 P.M. CT on ESPN after the Orange Bowl. And that night, the No.6 Rebels of Ole Miss with the great Pete Golding and stellar Trinidad Chambliss face the No.3 Georgia Bulldogs and the prolific Kirby Smart at 7 CT in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in N’Awlins on ESPN. There are four other bowl games besides these classics that look riveting as well. Previews and predictions for those as well. Here is the upcoming slate of phenomenal football action as we close in on 2026.

Bowls/Playoff Record thus far. Overall in the 2025 season.

SU: 7-3, 167-54, 76%; ATS: 6-4 102-119, 46%; Over/Under: 7-3, 115-106, 52%

***All times Central***

Playoff Predictions

Thursday

Rose Bowl

No.9 Alabama (11-3) vs. No.1 Indiana (13-0)

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, 89,702.

3 P.M.

ESPN

Chris, Kirk, Holly, Kris

Indiana by 7 1/2, 47 1/2

The story of this 112th edition of the “Grandaddy of them All” is the weather, somewhat unfortunately. It’s predicted to be wet and sloppy in Pasadena. The Crimson Tide is a pretty substantial underdog. It’s about Mendoza, the Indiana running game and its defense according to a lot of “experts.” But the Crimson Tide plays exceptional defense too, and LT Overton is back on one bookend of the defense and a guy I really like, running back Kevin Riley, is back for the Tide also. I like the four and five star talent of the Crimson Tide better here. It’s going to be a slugfest in what is predicted to be a rainy and muddy field. Give me the Crimson Tide to pull off the upset and head to the semis with a full head of steam to face the Texas Tech-Oregon winner. If it doesn’t rain as much, I’m still taking the Tide.

Alabama 14, Indiana 10

Wednesday

Goodyear Cotton Bowl

No.10 Miami (11-2) vs. No.2 Ohio State (12-1)

AT&T Stadium, Jerry country, Arlington, TX. (80,000-100,000-can expand)

6:30 P.M.

ESPN

Dave, Dusty, Taylor, Quint

Buckeyes by 9 1/2, 41 1/2

Some serious defense in this game, but I like the experienced quarterback Carson Beck over the inexperienced Julian “Just” Sayin, and a strong running game that is equal to the Buckeyes as well as a ferocious defense that is every bit as good as Ohio State’s. Give me the Canes.

Miami 20, Ohio State 17

Thursday

Capital One Orange Bowl

No. 5 Oregon (12-1) vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1)

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, 65, 326

11 A.M.

ESPN

Tess, Jess, Katie, Stormy

Ducks by 2 1/2, 51 1/2

Give me stellar linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and superb defensive end David Bailey and the Red Raiders to move on and face the Crimson Tide in the Chick-fil-A Bowl Friday, 1/9/26, at 6:30 P.M. CT on ESPN. Love this Red Raider defense.

Texas Tech 24, Oregon 21

Allstate Sugar Bowl

No.6 Ole Miss (12-1) vs. No.3 Georgia (12-1)

Caesars Superdome, New Or-leans, 73,208

7 P.M.

ESPN

Sean, Gregory, Molly, Laura

Them Dawgs by 6 1/2, 56 1/2

I like a really, really dynamic football game here. What a job Pete Golding has done with the team, and, even more impressively, what a job quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels players have done through all of this Kiffin turmoil. They’ve hung tough through it all. I like this to be a phenomenal game, but for Kirby and his Dawgs to just get through a physical, riveting contest. You hate to see anybody lose this game. Both teams are so likeable. Georgia moves on to face Miami in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at 6:30 P.M. CT Thursday, 1/8/26 on ESPN.

Georgia 35, Ole Miss 31

Today’s Bowl Games

Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl

Tennessee (8-4) vs. Illinois (8-4)

Nissan Stadium, Nashville, 69,143

4:30 P.M.

ESPN

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Vols by 2 1/2, 62 1/2

I like the slight upset here. Feel like Illinois is more excited to be in this game than Tennessee is. But expecting a very close contest.

Illinois 31, Tennessee 30

Valero Alamo Bowl

No. 16 USC (9-3) vs. TCU (8-4)

Alamodome, San Antone, 64,000

8 P.M.

ESPN

Bob, Louis, Dana

USC by 5 1/2, 56 1/2

Give me the upset. If you can, this one is worth staying up for. I’m done writing for a few days, so I’m going to try. Should be a lot of offensive fireworks.

TCU 35, USC 34

Wednesday’s Bowl Games

ReliaQuest Bowl

No.23 Iowa (8-4) vs. No.14 Vanderbilt (10-2)

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, 65, 618

11 A.M.

ESPN

Roy, Sam, Taylor Davis

Commodores by 5 1/2, 46 1/2

He’s flamboyant and controversial, but I love the guy. He’s ruffled some feathers, but Diego Pavia has done so much on and mostly off the football field for Vanderbilt University. Did he not have a strong argument for the Heisman Trophy? He threw for 3,192 yards, completed 242-of-340, 71%, passed for 27 TDs against 8 ints, and rushed for 826 yards and 9 TDs. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Mendoza (226-of-316, 72%, 2,980 yards, 33/6, 240 rush yards, 6 TDs, SEC vs. Big Ten schedules) and Heisman voters. It could have even been better for the Dores this season, but they’ll take 11-2, and with five star quarterback Jared Curtis from Nashville Christian coming into the fold for the 2026 season, Diego and the Dores finish strong, some of them look to their future on the next level, while the underclassmen highly anticipate a 2026 season on the West End.

Vanderbilt University 28, Iowa 14

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

No.18 Michigan 9-3) vs. No.13 Texas (9-3)

Camping World Stadium, Orlando, 57,000

2 P.M.

ABC

Mark, Roddy, Alyssa

Horns by 7 1/2, 48 1/2

I like Arch and the Horns to take care of business as Arch sets his sights on a proilfic 2026 season.

Texas 35, Michigan 14

Six games featured in a blockbustuh Saturday in College Football/ College Football Playoff recap and a look ahead in the Playoff

There are several opt outs for these upcoming bowl games within the most recent landscape of college football that we’re in right now. Nevertheless, it doesn’t totally take the entertainment value out of these games to me. There are some nice matchups on Saturday in bowl season as we “matriculate” through the bows and the phenomenal playoff. The No.9 seeded Crimson Tide pulled off the mild upset in Norman, defeating the No.8 Oklahoma Sooners, 34-24, with Ty Simpson, Lotzeir Brooks and Zabien Brown standing out, among others. The Crimson Tide is getting healthier and healthier and looks to be highly competitive with No.1 Indiana, which they’ll square off with in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Thursday, New Year’s Day, 1/1/26, at 3 P.M. CT on ESPN.

Another quarterfinal playoff matchup features No.2 Ohio State taking on No.10 Miami, which went to College Station and won impressively, 10-3, with a stellar defense and running game. Miami is a force, just like Ohio State. That game will be the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, 12/31/25, at 6:30 P.M. CT on ESPN.

On New Year’s Day at 11 A.M. on ESPN, No.4 Texas Tech will face No. 5 Oregon, a 51-34 winner over No.12 James Madison last Saturday. That will take place in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Red Raiders defense versus the explosive Ducks’ offense should be riveting viewing.

And the nightcap on New Year’s Night will feature a classic SEC duel with the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels, impressive 41-10 winners over No. 11 Tulane last Saturday in Oxford, taking on the No.3 Georgia Bulldogs in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in N’Awlins at Caesars Superdome at 7 CT on ESPN. Georgia defeated the Rebels earlier this season in Athens, 43-35, but that was with Lame on the Rebels’ sideline. We’ll see if any upsets transpire in these classic encounters. The underdogs, Bama, Miami, Texas Tech and Ole Miss, are all very good football teams as are the teams they are facing.

So, it will be stellar football viewing come December 31st/ Jan 1st. In the meantime, here are the upcoming bowl matchups this Saturday. All the bowls will lead up to the denouement of the Playoff games. There are six matchups Saturday, tomorrow, that White’s World Sports Confidential is breaking down along with predictions for which team will emerge victorious.

Playoff Record, First Bowl game-like record installment/ Overall

SU: 3-1, 163-52, 76%; ATS: 2-2 98-117, 45%; Over/Under: 3-1, 111-104, 52%

Saturday’s Games, all times Central

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Penn State (6-6) vs. Clemson (7-5)

Yankee Stadium, the Bronx, was up there 2 weeks ago for my daughter’s wedding. Had a blast. 50,000. Extremely cold two weeks ago. Expecting 6 inches tonight. Should be OK with snow, but cold at game time with temperatures in the low 30’s. Standard in the Northeast this time of year.

11 A.M.

ABC

Dave, Dusty, Taylor

Clemson by 3 1/2, 48 1/2

Penn State won their last three games under interim coach Terry Smith. Matt Campbell, formerly of Iowa State, is taking over right after the Pinstripe. Dabo and the Tigers won their last 4 games including defeating South Carolina @ Columbia, 28-14. A lot of opts out for this one, but Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (235-of-353, 67%, 2,750 yards, 16 TD’s, 6 ints), and running back Adam Randall (779 yards, 9 TDs) are “hopefully!” going to play. That’s what a couple of young guys said on a flight Beth and I were on out of Atlanta a few years back after the pilot must have said “hopefully, we’ll be leaving soon” a dozen times as we were stuck on the tarmac for 45 minutes. For that “hopeful!” reason that Klubnik and Randall will play, I’ll take the Tigers.

Clemson 24, Penn State 20

Wasabi Fenway Bowl

UConn (9-3) vs. Army (6-6)

Fenway Park, Baaston

1:15 P.M.

ESPN

Wes Durham, Steve Addazio, Dana Boyle

Army by 9 1/2, 43 1/2

Though it’s not been an Army-type year under the great Jeff Monken, give me the Cadets to excel Saturday in Fenway over a UConn team that lost its coach, Jim Mora Jr., to Colorado State. The Huskies had a nice season, but Army is more stable at this point. It’ll be 24 in Boston at kickoff, but those are cold weather teams, so no problem.

Army 31, UConn 14

Pop-Tarts Bowl

No.22 Georgia Tech (9-3) vs. No. 12 BYU (11-2)

Camping World Stadium, Orlando, 60, 219

2:30 P.M.

ABC

Mark, Roddy, Quint

BYU by 4 1/2, 55 1/2

BYU was one win away from making the 12 team playoff, but the Red Raiders of Texas Tech defeated them twice this season, at home, and in the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington, TX. They had a really nice season though and are a strong team, soI like them to prevail over a pretty solid Yellow Jackets team.

BYU 34, Georgia Tech 28

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

No.22 North Texas (11-2) vs. San Diego State (9-3)

University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M., 39,224

4:45 P.M.

ESPN

Lowell Galindo, Aaron Murray (why did then GA coach Mark Richt not get Murray clock the ball in the 2012 SEC Champ game? Murray wanted to. Could have allowed Georgia to defeat the Crimson Tide), Lauren Sissler

UNT by 5 1/2, 52 1/2

The Aztecs are missing key players on offense, but North Texas lost its coach, Eric Morris, to Oklahoma State, and its starting quarterback is transferring. This Aztecs defense is pretty good, also. I’l take the upset.

San Diego State 23, North Texas 21

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

No. 19 Virginia (10-3) vs. Missouri (8-4)

EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL., 67,164

6:30 P.M.

ABC

Bob, Louis, Kris

Mizzou by 3 1/2, 44 1/2

Could be an electric game, except for the opts outs. Still should be entertaining. Chandler Morris, UVA’s starting quarterback, is playing, while freshman Matt Zollers will get the start for the Tigers, as starter Beau Pribula opted out. Thank you may I have another…upset.

Virginia 21, Missouri 20

Kinder’s Texas Bowl

LSU (7-5) vs. No.21 Houston (9-3)

NRG Stadium, Houston, TX.

8:15 P.M.

ESPN

Tom, Jordan, Cole

Houston by 2 1/2, 41 1/2

LSU has been in a state of disarray, but Lane is swooping in to save the day. But he’s not coaching in this one and the Bengal Tigers might not win if he was coaching in this one. Ole Miss sure looks fine without him with Pete Golding in charge. Cougars quarterback Conner Weigman has completed 204-of-319, 64%, for 2,475 yards, 21 TDs against 9 ints. He is playing, and Michael “Martin” Van Buren will get the start for the Bengal Tigers. Van Buren is 78-of-125, 62%, for 743 yards 5 TDs and 2 ints in 3 starts and some relief. Former starter Garrett Nussmeier is opting out after being injured in the Alabama game on Saturday, November 8th and not playing after that. Nuss decided it’s time to move on. I still like a good game here, nonetheless.

Houston 24, LSU 21

Four games headline the 2025 First Round of the College Football Playoff

The No.9 Alabama Crimson Tide squares off with the No.8 Oklahoma Sooners in a rematch of an earlier regular season game, in which the Sooners defense got the “takeaways” by a margin of 3-0 and came away victorious, 23-21, at Bryant-Denny. The Sooners also defeated the Tide in 2024 in Norman, 24-3. So Alabama feels like it has a lot to prove, and this is the Playoff, so the matchup is even more intense. Jam Miller and Josh Cuevas are expected back at running back and tight end, respectively for Alabama. Their losses have had a pretty significant impact on the team, so Kalen and the team will welcome them back in the fold.

The Sooners have that tenacious defense, but the Tide’s defense is strong, too, so it’s a battle of attrition in Norman Friday Night at 7 P.M. CT on ABC/ESPN. Three other win or else firsrt round playoff games feature No. 10 Miami @ No.7 Texas A&M, in another key heavyweight matchup. No.11 Tulane plays @ No.6 Ole Miss with Pete Golding calling the shots on the sideline for the Rebels. Then the nightcap Saturday features No.12 James Madison @ No. 5 Oregon.

Here’s a look at the action along with predictions.

Week 15 Record, Championship Saturday:

SU: 3-3, Overall, 160-51, 76%; ATS: 2-4, 96-115, 45%; Over/Under: 3-3, 108=103, 51%

One Game Friday, three Saturday. All times are Central

Friday

No.9 Alabama (10-3) @ No.8 Oklahoma (10-2)

Memorial Stadium, Norman, 80,126 

7 P.M.

ABC/ESPN

Chris, Kirk, Holly, Laura

Sooners  by 1 ½, O/U 41 ½

I like the Tide to be ready this time, but for this game to be extremely hard fought, a Thrilla in Manilla like-game. I’ll take the Tide defense to get one more takeaway than the Sooners. It’s not really who’s better; it’s more about who survives. I’ll take the Crimson Tide to advance, barely, which is expected in a hard-nosed, defensive contest like this, and face No.1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, Thursday, 1/1/26, at 3 P.M. CT on ABC/ESPN.

Alabama 17, Oklahoma 14

Saturday

No. 10 Miami (10-2) @ No.7 Texas A&M (11-1)

Kyle Field, College Station, TX., 102,733

11 A.M.

ABC/ESPN

Sean, Gregory, Molly, Taylor

A&M by 3 ½, 48 ½

I’ll take the Aggies at home before 102,700+ fans at Kyle Field to advance to the quarters and face No.2 Ohio State Wednesday, 12/31/25, at 6:30 P.M. CT, in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. A&M-Miami will be a black belt battle as well.

Texas A&M 24, Miami 20

No. 11 Tulane (11-2) @ No.6 Ole Miss (11-1)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxvegas, 64, 038

2:30 P.M.

***TNT/TBS/HBO Max/ truTV***

Tess, Jess, Katie, Quint

Rebs by 17 ½, 57 ½

I like what I’m hearing from Coach Golding. Tulane’s put together a nice season, but Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and his team are too much for the Green Wave to handle. With a victory, the Rebels will advance to play Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Thursday, New Year’s Day, 1/1/26, at 7 P.M. CT on ESPN. That’ll be a rematch of a game in Athens earlier this season, which Georgia won,. 43-35. 

Ole Miss 35, Tulane 17

No. 12 James Madison (12-1) @ No.5 Oregon (11-1)

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR., 60, 000

6:30 P.M.

***TNT/TBS/HBO Max/truTV***

Bob, Louis, Kris, Stormy

Oregon by 21 ½, 47 ½

I like Dan Lanning to have his team ready to deliver in the Playoff this year. They are an underdog threat to go the distance. With the victory, Oregon will play No. 4 Texas Tech in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Thursday, New Year’s Day, 1/1/26, at 11 A.M. CT on ESPN.

Oregon 38, James Madison 14

College Football, Week 15, Championship Weekend, Previews/Predictions

Championship weekend is headlined by No.9 Bama vs No. 3 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, No.1 Ohio vs. No.2 Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indy, and No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No.1 BYU in the Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Multiple playoff implications exist in these matchups along with the right to be conference champion. These contests along with No. 17 UVA vs. Duke, at 7-5?, in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, No. 20 Tulane vs. No.24 North Texas in the American Conference Championship Game in N’Awlins, and, it’s hard to fathom this, but No. 25 James Madison vs. Troy in the Sun Belt Championship in Harrisonburg, Virginia, is part of the playoff equation if Duke were to defeat Virginia. So a ton at stake in these conference championship games. Major upheaval in the coaching profession led by that guy who went to LSU. He’s Lame on this Blog from now on. Not going to refer to him in any other context except Lame, because that’s exactly what he is. He’s got offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. calling plays for Ole Miss when it enters the playoff. At first that sounded pretty cool on Lame’s part. But when you found out that LSU will pay him what Ole Miss would have paid him bonus-wise in the playoff, meaning he gets $150K for taking the team to the Playoff, he gets $250K for reaching the quarters. For advancing to the semis, he’d receive $500K. For an appearance in the Championship Game, he would get $750K. And for winning it all, he’d make $1 Million. So, if Lame is fortunate enough and the team he deserted wins it all, he would earn $2.65 Million. Nice, Lame. Guy’s still a joke in my book. You can’t trust him. He’ll turn on you. He may do well in Baton Rouge, but if he does, he may just hop on a plane and head to an NFL city to coach that team. He ruined any goodwill he had gained in college football with his latest antics. He’s public enemy number one in Oxford and in other places throughout college football. LSU opens up its SEC season next fall in Oxford. That’ll be must watch TV.

Pete Golding has taken over in Oxford. Excellent recruiter, and has become a very good defensive coordinator at Ole Miss. I say give Pete a shot. He’s loyal and Ole Miss needs loyalty after that con artist left town. Ole Miss is No.6 in the Playoff Rankings. So, as of today, they’ll host the No.11 seed in the first round Friday, 12/19, or Saturday, 12/20. You’re almost pulling for the Rebels. They got a raw deal. So did the Ole Miss fans. Jimmy Sexton is part of the problem, too, as he is the agent for Kiffin and several other coaches in College Football. He just wheels and deals the most money he can get out of schools with tremendous buyouts. He’s part of the reason the sport is out of control. I don’t know what you do about him. College Football has a lot to address in the offseason: buyouts, agents, coaches leaving their teams during the season, the Playoff format. A lot to improve upon. I’m in favor of a 16 team playoff now as Vanderbilt, Texas and Miami or Notre Dame may be left out. I guess you can throw Utah in there, too. Expand the field. Greg Sankey can make that happen.

Tulane Coach Jon Sumrall is going to Florida, but will coach the Green Wave Friday and if they make it into the Playoff. South Florida Coach Alex Golesh is now an Auburn Tiger, which will be challenging. It’s to be determined on Golesh. Memphis Coach Ryan Silverfield goes to Arkansas to become its head coach. Interesting and head spinning jumping around in the coaching world. Penn State still doesn’t have a coach as BYU’s Kalani Sitake decided to stay put after the great Indiana Coach Curt Cignetti took a massive extension at Indiana instead of going to Penn State earlier this season. Sitake was extended for several years and for $9 Million a year. So Penn State might be getting desperate. Otherwise, pretty normal times in college football last weekend.

But let’s now turn our attention to the Championship Games with riveting matchups throughout the lineup. Can the Crimson Tide knock off the Georgia Bulldogs again? The Tide defense keeps the Tide in it, and if Ty can make some plays in the passing game, that would be critical for the Tide’s chances. And the Alabama defense will have to contain Gunner Stockton, running back Nate Frazier Jr. and the Georgia arsenal on the perimeter led by Zachariah Branch. If they can do that, they have a shot. That’s a tall order, but possible. Prediction below. We’ll see who’s more for real in the Big Ten, Ohio State or Indiana. Both look to be outstanding, but the competition has been Miller Light for both teams many Saturdays.

BYU vs Texas Tech in the Big 12 has major playoff implications. Win or lose, No.4 Texas Tech is in the field. BYU HAS to win to make it into the field.

Will have those three games and the other matchups this weekend that are relevant to the playoff.

Here are analyses and predictions.

Record:

Last Week: Straight up: 15-5, Overall: 157-48, 77%; ATS: 7-13, 94-111, 46%; O/U: 8-12, 105-100, 51%.

Four games Saturday, 2 games Friday. All times Central.

SEC Championship Game

No.9 Alabama (10-2) vs. No. 3 Georgia (11-1)

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 75,000

3 P.M.

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly, Laura

Georgia by 2 1/2, 48 1/2

Everybody knows it’s extremely hard to defeat a team the caliber of Georgia once in a season, and twice in one season is almost unheard of. But I like Kalen, Ty and the Crimson Tide defense to do just that. Alabama will probably rise to No.5 or 6 if they win. No.4 means they’d have to hurdle Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon and Texas Tech, which will be tough. Still a first round home game at Bryant-Denny is at stake. If the Tide loses, it could be tough sledding come Sunday. But I’ll take them over Georgia. Georgia is 1-9 against Alabama since 2015 and Kirby Smart is 1-7 and 0-2 versus Coach DeBoar.

Alabama 24, Georgia 23

Big Ten Championship Game

No.1 Ohio State (12-0) vs. No.2 Indiana (12-0)

Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, 70,000

7 P.M.

FOX

Gus, Joel, Jenny

Buckeyes by 4 1/2, 47 1/2

Give me Cignetti and the Hoosiers. Believe in them.

Indiana 27, Ohio State 24

Big 12 Championship Game

No. 4 Texas Tech (11-1) vs. No. 11 BYU (11-1)

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX., 80,000

11 A.M.

ABC

Tess, Jess, Katie, Kris

Red Raiders by 12 1/2, 49 1/2

Texas Tech shellacked BYU in their first meeting in Lubbock on Saturday, November 8th, 29-7.. I like Coach Sitake and BYU to give the Red Raiders everything they want this time, but for Texas Tech to prevail at the end and earn a first round bye in the Playoff. Unfortunately, BYU won’t make it in, but they’ve had a highly successful season in 2025. LJ Martin is a phenomenal running back for the Cougars as he’s rushed for 1,134 yards and 8 TDs. He’s a load to bring down at 6’2″, 220. But stud linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and their other stud DE, David Bailey, lead the team to victory.

Texas Tech 24, BYU 21

ACC Championship Game

No. 17 Virginia (10-2) vs. Duke (7-5)

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C., 75,037

7 P.M.

ABC

Sean, Gregory, Molly, Taylor

UVA by 4 1/2, 58 1/2

How did Duke even qualify for this? Head to head and common opponent records were a wash with four other teams including Miami that ties for 2nd in the ACC. What got Duke over the top was the combined win percentage of each tied team’s ACC opponents. Essentially a strength of schedule metric. So here Duke is. Like Virginia to win and make its way into the playoff. Great story for Coach Tony Elliott and the Hoos.

Virginia 35, Duke 24

Friday’s Games

Sun Belt Championship

Troy (8-4) @ No. 25 James Madison (11-1)

Bridgeforth Stadium, Harrisonburg, VA., 24,877

6 P.M.

ESPN

Anish, Andre, Carc

JMU by 23 1/2, 47 1/2

I like James Madison, but I like the Trojans to make it tough for a while. I’m picking UVA to defeat Duke, but if Duke were to win that would make an interesting scenario or semi-crisis for the committee whether to pick Duke or James Madison. I like for Virginia to take care of business though. If Duke won, I would take Duke over James Madison. They’re better than James Madison.

James Madison 31, Troy 17

American Athletic Championship

No.24 North Texas (11-1) @ No. 20 Tulane (10-2)

Yulman Stadium, NOLA, 30,000

7 P.M.

ABC

Mark, Roddy, Quint

North Texas by 2 1/2, 67 1/2

“It could be worse, it could be raining,” as was said in Monty Python. Decent chances of rain in the Crescent City, so I’ll go with a lower scoring game here with North Texas prevailing and making it into the Playoff.

North Texas 24, Tulane 20