College Football Playoff 2025: A Quarter-Final Preview - ESPN
Just Win, Baby: The Quest for the Next Round
In the world of college football, the only thing that matters is winning. The hand-wringing over who should be included in the 12-team playoff is now a distant memory. All that matters is advancing to the next round, and four teams will do just that this weekend. It all began on Friday when Alabama defeated Oklahoma, setting up a showdown with top-seeded Indiana in the Rose Bowl on January 1st.
Three more teams will get their chance on Saturday, starting with Miami's trip to Texas A&M, with the winner facing Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl. ESPN's college football writers are already looking ahead, so let's take a closer look at those quarterfinal matchups.
The Rose Bowl: A Showdown of Titans
No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana
When: January 1st, 4 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN
Indiana, led by coach Curt Cignetti, had a historic 2024 season, and they're looking to build on that success. The Hoosiers became the only FBS team to go undefeated, winning their first outright Big Ten title since 1945 and securing the top seed in the CFP field. They navigated a tougher Big Ten schedule, taking down Oregon, Iowa, and Penn State on the road, and capping it off with a 13-10 win against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.
Indiana's offense and defense are both ranked in the top 10 nationally in key statistical categories. However, they'll need to find greater efficiency in key fourth-down situations to advance in the CFP. The Hoosiers ended the season 8 of 16 on fourth down, which is tied for 90th nationally.
Alabama: A Comeback Story
Alabama might not have looked as good as they did in September and October, but they still showed they had another gear to kick into. In the opening round rematch, Alabama stormed back from a 17-0 deficit against Oklahoma, flipping the script from their previous loss to the Sooners. The Crimson Tide played mistake-free football, and they'll need to do it again when they meet No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
Freshman wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks joined elite company as only the fifth Alabama pass catcher to record two receiving scores in a CFP game. He caught five passes for 79 yards in his CFP debut, finishing as the Crimson Tide's leading receiver in the 34-24 win.
Can Alabama Limit Its Mistakes?
Alabama will need to limit its mistakes and have quarterback Ty Simpson play like the Heisman-caliber quarterback we saw over the first half of the season. The Crimson Tide beat Oklahoma at its own game in the first round, forcing quarterback John Mateer into timely errors and pouncing on miscues. If they can couple that with composed, accurate quarterback play from Simpson, they have the tools to give Indiana trouble.
The Big Questions: Can Indiana Advance in the CFP?
Indiana's offense and defense are both ranked in the top 10 nationally, but they'll need to find greater efficiency in key fourth-down situations to advance in the CFP. The Hoosiers ended the season 8 of 16 on fourth down, which is tied for 90th nationally. Can they successfully execute a balanced offense and overcome their fourth-down struggles to beat Alabama?
The stage is set for an exciting quarter-final matchup, and the question remains: who will advance to the next round? The answers will be revealed on the field, and the college football world will be watching with bated breath.
