The First Round Frenzy Of College Football: A No Holds Barred Look At the First Round Of the College Football Playoff

Nothing beats the smell of playoff football in December. We’ve spent months arguing over rankings, strength of schedule, and whether the committee actually watches the games or just throws darts at a board. But now? Now we just have the games. And looking at this slate, we’re in for a weekend of chaos, rematches, and the kind of drama usually reserved for reality TV reunions.

Here is your unfiltered guide to the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff.

Alabama at Oklahoma: The College Football Playoff Grudge Match In Norman

Friday, 8 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN)

If you like defensive slugfests where every yard feels like a root canal, clear your Friday night schedule. This isn’t just an 8 vs. 9 matchup; it is a rematch of a game that set teeth on edge just over a month ago. Oklahoma scraped by with a 23-21 win in Tuscaloosa, fueled largely by Alabama handing out turnovers like they were Halloween candy.

Here is the reality for the Crimson Tide: their run game has vanished. It’s gone. Poof. And without it, Quarterback Ty Simpson is looking less like a savior and more like a guy trying to solve a Rubik’s cube while being chased by a bear. Defenses have figured out that if you heat him up, the Bama offense stalls out.

On the flip side, the Sooners aren’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard either in college football. They rely on the “boom or bust” model. They sputter for three quarters and pray for an explosive play to save the day. The atmosphere in Norman is going to be electric because the Sooner faithful have been waiting for a moment like this for years. But don’t expect a shootout. This one feels like it’s going to be decided by which defense blinks first, or which offense manages to not trip over its own shoelaces in the fourth quarter.

The Pick: Oklahoma edges it out in a heavy-hitting, ugly, beautiful mess. 20-16.

Miami at Texas A&M: The Noon Kickoff Tragedy

Saturday, Noon ET (ABC/ESPN)

First off, a moment of silence for the fans at Kyle Field who have to bring playoff energy at noon. It is a crime against college football, frankly. But if any matchup can wake you up faster than a double espresso, it’s this one.

This is strength versus strength in the trenches. We are talking about Texas A&M’s offensive line against Miami’s defensive front—a collision of immovable objects that will likely decide the game. The Aggies were unbeaten until late November for a reason: they are chameleons. They can beat you through the air, ground you into dust with clock-eating drives, or hit you with a big play.

Miami, meanwhile, has been riding a rollercoaster. They dropped games they had no business losing to Louisville and SMU, but they managed to right the ship just in time. The question is, which version of these teams shows up? The A&M that imploded against Texas, or the one that looked invincible for 10 weeks? The Miami that plays down to its competition, or the one with the elite defensive line in college football?

The Pick: The Aggies have too many ways to win, provided they wake up in time for kickoff. 28-27.

Tulane at Ole Miss: The Coaching Carousel Bowl

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Welcome to the most awkward game of the weekend. We have Tulane Head Coach Jon Sumrall already packing his bags for Florida, and Lane Kiffin pulling the rip cord at Ole Miss to head to LSU. It’s like watching a couple go on one last date after they’ve already agreed to see other people.

This is another rematch, but don’t look too closely at the first game unless you’re an Ole Miss fan. The Rebels dismantled the Green Wave 45-10 back in Week 4. Tulane has too much ground to make up here. While the narrative of “distracted coaching staffs” is fun to toss around, talent usually wins out. The Rebels might be dealing with the emotional fallout of the Kiffin news, but rallying around each other despite the noise is a classic college football trope for a reason. It usually works.

The Pick: The Rebels roll, drama and all. 38-17.

James Madison at Oregon: The Duck Hunt

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT)

Look, I love a Cinderella story as much as the next guy. And James Madison has a puncher’s chance here for two specific reasons: they can run the rock, and Oregon is allergic to stopping the run. Plus, the Ducks are banged up. If you squint, you can see a world where JMU shortens the game, keeps Oregon’s offense on the sidelines, and makes things uncomfortable in Eugene.

But let’s snap back to college football reality. The talent gap here is wider than the Columbia River. Even with key injuries, Oregon closed the season by thumping USC and Washington. They have depth that JMU simply cannot match for four quarters. The Dukes might keep it interesting for a half, maybe even scare the crowd a bit, but Oregon’s firepower is inevitable. If this one gets out of hand early, feel free to flip over to whatever NFL game is on.

The Pick: The Ducks waddle on to the next round. 38-20.