The intense competition is now truly underway.
Twelve squads have been whittled down to eight following the initial four contests, with the nation’s top four seeded teams set to enter the College Football Playoff action next week.
The preliminary matches saw two surprising outcomes (considering initial placements), as Alabama triumphed over Oklahoma in Norman, and Miami secured a victory against Texas A&M in College Station. Prior to the quarter-final stage, our team convened to assess and order the remaining eight contenders based on their championship prospects.
Following a voting session and several discussions, these are the final rankings.
8. Miami
The Hurricanes secured a place among the last entrants in the College Football Playoff bracket, seemingly validating the Selection Committee’s choice by visiting College Station and overcoming Texas A&M, a squad frequently positioned within the nation’s top four throughout the season.
Their next challenge is a journey to the Cotton Bowl, where they will confront a team that consistently held the top national ranking for much of the year.
Miami’s defensive unit effectively neutralized the Aggies last Saturday, and contrary to some opinions, Rueben Bain Jr. will present a significant challenge for the Buckeyes. However, Ohio State possesses its own formidable defense, featuring potential first-round selections like Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, and Sonny Styles, which will undoubtedly pose considerable difficulties for Carson Beck and his teammates.
7. Alabama
The consistent strategy employed by the Crimson Tide throughout the season was key to Alabama’s victory against Oklahoma.
Ty Simpson contributed two scoring throws, and Zabien Brown executed a crucial interception returned for a touchdown, altering the match’s trajectory and guiding the Crimson Tide to a 34-24 triumph over the Sooners.
Alabama’s ground attack has struggled perpetually this season, with the Crimson Tide averaging a mere 109.9 rushing yards per game, placing them 118th nationally. This situation could necessitate Simpson carrying the offensive burden in the Rose Bowl against Indiana, a team boasting one of the nation’s premier pass defenses. Is Simpson capable of delivering an career-defining performance? If the Crimson Tide aims to progress, such an effort may be essential.
6. Ole Miss
Any anxieties regarding Ole Miss’s concentration following the Lane Kiffin situation were quickly dispelled as they surged to a 7-0 lead against Tulane in just three plays on Saturday. Mirroring their regular season form, the Rebels decisively defeated the Green Wave 41-10 in Oxford, securing their progression to the quarterfinals.
Ole Miss ensured the game was never competitive, with the duo of Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy overwhelming Tulane, contributing a total of three rushing scores that afternoon. The Rebels’ defense also performed admirably, forcing three turnovers, including one during the Wave’s initial drive when they were nearing scoring territory.
This victory establishes a New Year’s Day confrontation with Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, a repeat of their regular season encounter where the Bulldogs secured a 43-35 win. Ole Miss enters this contest with the nation’s third-ranked offense according to SP+, but they might face a significant challenge. Kewan Lacy, who scored two touchdowns against the Bulldogs in October, sustained a bruised shoulder in Saturday’s game, making his availability a crucial point of concern over the coming week.
5. Oregon
On Saturday evening, the Ducks swiftly established a 34-6 advantage against James Madison, appearing as one of the country’s elite teams during the initial half.
However, a less impressive second half saw the Dukes outscore Oregon 28-17, culminating in a 51-34 final score. This was sufficient for Oregon to advance to the quarterfinals, yet head coach Dan Lanning expressed considerable dissatisfaction.
“A certain benchmark exists here,” Lanning stated. “There is definitely an expectation for performance. Our athletes are aware of this, and they understand what championship-level football entails — and the latter half of the game did not reflect that.
“Failing to replicate the first-half success in the second half is unequivocally disheartening, and I believe our players will undoubtedly glean lessons from this experience.”
The upcoming schedule promises greater difficulty, as the Ducks are now slated to confront Texas Tech’s potent offensive unit alongside one of the nation’s top defenses. Will the squad that performed in the first half against James Madison emerge, or the one witnessed in the second?
The team that appears will likely dictate their Orange Bowl outcome.
4. Texas Tech
This offseason, the Red Raiders heavily utilized the transfer portal, a choice that yielded instant positive returns. Texas Tech boasts a formidable defensive line, featuring four transfer players, among them potential first-round selections David Bailey and Romello Height. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, whose stellar play placed him in Heisman Trophy discussions, serves as the core of this group, which ranked fifth in overall defense and tied for sixth nationally with an average of three sacks per contest.
However, one should not underestimate Texas Tech’s offense, which achieved the second-highest scoring average in the country. Quarterback Behren Morton effectively distributes the ball, and the Red Raiders were recognized as one of the nation’s leading teams in third-down conversions.
A potential formidable obstacle? Oregon’s defense, which concluded the season ranked fourth nationally in total defense.
3. Georgia
The Sugar Bowl is set to host a re-engagement from earlier this season, when Georgia exploded for 17 points in the final quarter to overcome Ole Miss with a 43-35 scoreline.
Significant developments have transpired since that initial meeting, particularly Lane Kiffin’s relocation from Oxford to Baton Rouge. Yet, for this second encounter, Georgia’s consistent capability to secure victories through diverse methods remains unchanged. While the Bulldogs demonstrated prowess in high-scoring affairs — their conquest of Ole Miss being one instance, and their win against Tennessee another — Georgia has also proven adept at grinding out less aesthetically pleasing wins this year. Examples of such include their victories over Georgia Tech (16-9) and Auburn (20-10).
Ole Miss will bring one of the nation’s premier offensive units to New Orleans. However, Kirby Smart has benefited from additional weeks for strategic preparation, ensuring his 12th-ranked defensive squad will be fully prepared.
2. Ohio State
It is crucial to recall that the Buckeyes were merely one successful 4th-and-1 play, or a short missed field goal, away from potentially defeating the Hoosiers and claiming the top seed for themselves.
Instead, Ohio State was positioned as the second seed and will now confront the lowest-ranked remaining team in the bracket, the Miami Hurricanes. Quarterback Julian Sayin, a Heisman finalist, directs one of the country’s most potent aerial offenses, and gifted wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are anticipated to be near full health for the Cotton Bowl, having both been sidelined at various points this season.
The more significant concern for the Buckeyes lies in their potential Fiesta Bowl opponent, should they overcome the Hurricanes. Kirby Smart and Georgia’s formidable defense would present a substantial obstacle prior to a possible appearance in the National Championship Game.
1. Indiana
Will the Hoosiers’ remarkable season continue its impressive trajectory?
Indiana achieved an undefeated record for the first time since the 1945 campaign, when they recorded a 9-0-1 standing in the Western Conference, the precursor to the Big Ten. Fernando Mendoza secured the university’s inaugural Heisman Trophy, and the Hoosiers enter the CFP quarterfinals holding the top national ranking.
They also benefit from a favorable pairing in the Rose Bowl against No. 9 Alabama, thus bypassing Brent Venables’ formidable defense. Nevertheless, the Crimson Tide will pose its own difficulties, bolstered by a defensive unit that revitalized Alabama’s season and quarterback Ty Simpson, who performed exceptionally in the victory over Oklahoma with two touchdown passes. Beyond Mendoza, a key factor that could swing momentum in Indiana’s favor is their defensive strength. Alabama’s inconsistent rushing attack might struggle against Indiana’s run defense — ranked fourth nationally — potentially forcing Simpson into a pass-heavy role in the Rose Bowl.
This would be against Indiana’s 12th-ranked pass defense.
