The 2025-26 College Football Playoff quarterfinals kicked off with a big upset on New Year’s Eve, as No. 10 seed Miami knocked off defending national champion and No. 2 seed Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. The Hurricanes’ defense and timely scoring propelled them into the semifinals, ending the Buckeyes’ hopes of repeating as champions. All of the games are now complete. Ole Miss won at the end over Georgia. IU took care of business. Results, highlights, and the updated bracket are included for you below.
2025-26 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Results & Recaps
Here’s the 2025-26 College Football Playoff quarterfinals results and more for you.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (December 31, 2025 – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX)
No. 10 Miami 24, No. 2 Ohio State 14
Miami delivered the biggest upset of the playoff so far, jumping out to a 14-0 halftime lead and holding off a second-half Buckeyes rally. Quarterback Carson Beck connected with Mark Fletcher Jr. for a touchdown pass, while defensive back Keionte Scott returned an interception 72 yards for a score. Late in the game, CharMar Brown added a rushing touchdown to seal the victory.
Ohio State, led by quarterback Julian Sayin and star receiver Jeremiah Smith (157 yards, 1 TD), fought back to within three points but could not overcome early deficits and turnovers. The loss ends the Buckeyes’ season and their bid for back-to-back titles.
Capital One Orange Bowl (January 1, 2026 – Noon ET, ESPN – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL)
No. 5 Oregon 23, No. 4 Texas Tech 0
Oregon’s defense stole the show in a stunning shutout victory, forcing four turnovers and holding Texas Tech’s high-powered offense scoreless- the first CFP shutout in a decade. Quarterback Dante Moore managed the game efficiently (26-of-33 for 234 yards, 1 INT), while running back Jordon Davison punched in two short touchdowns. Freshman cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. starred with two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Atticus Sappington added three field goals. The Ducks advance despite a modest offensive output, capitalizing on short fields from turnovers.
Rose Bowl Game (January 1, 2026 – 4 p.m. ET, ESPN – Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA)
No. 1 Indiana 38, No. 9 Alabama 3
The undefeated Hoosiers made a statement in Pasadena, dominating Alabama from start to finish in one of the most lopsided CFP quarterfinals ever. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns on efficient passing (14-of-16), while the Indiana defense stifled the Crimson Tide, holding them to just 193 total yards and forcing multiple stops. Running backs Kaelon Black (99 yards, 1 TD) and Roman Hemby added rushing scores. Alabama avoided a shutout with a late field goal but suffered its worst postseason loss in program history under Kalen DeBoer. Indiana advances as the only remaining unbeaten team.
Allstate Sugar Bowl (January 1, 2026 – 8 p.m. ET, ESPN – Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA)
No. 6 Ole Miss 39, No. 3 Georgia 34
In a wild SEC rematch, Ole Miss rallied with 20 fourth-quarter points to stun Georgia and advance. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss delivered a heroic performance, driving the Rebels into field-goal range late, where kicker Lucas Carneiro nailed a 47-yard game-winner with seconds remaining (some reports note record-setting earlier FGs from 55+ yards). The Rebels overcame an early deficit, capitalizing on big plays and a strong finish despite Georgia’s efforts from Gunner Stockton (multiple TDs). Ole Miss avenges its regular-season loss and keeps its season alive under interim leadership.
Updated Playoff Bracket to Semifinals
The 12-team bracket is fixed with no reseeding. Winners advance as follows:
Semifinal 1: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (January 8, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Miami (Cotton Bowl winner) vs. Winner of Sugar Bowl (Ole Miss)
Semifinal 2: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (January 9, 2026 – 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Winner of Orange Bowl (Oregon) vs. Winner of Rose Bowl (Indiana)
National Championship (January 19, 2026 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL)
Fiesta Bowl winner vs. Peach Bowl winner
Printable Bracket Overview (Text Version)
Semifinals (Jan 8-9)
Cotton Bowl Winner —————–\
(Miami) }—- Fiesta Bowl —-\
/ \
Sugar Bowl Winner ——————————————\
(Ole Miss) \
}—- National Championship (Jan 19)
Orange Bowl Winner ——————————————\ /
(Oregon) / /
/
Rose Bowl Winner ——————————————-/
(Indiana) Peach Bowl
Updated Printable 2025-26 College Football Playoff Bracket
Here’s our updated, printable 2025-26 college football playoff bracket for you. You can also save or print it to PDF format.
Key Highlights & Storylines
- Miami’s Cinderella Run Continues: The No. 10 seed Hurricanes, who squeaked into the playoff and won a low-scoring first-round game at Texas A&M (10-3), have now taken down the defending champs. Their defense forced crucial turnovers, and Carson Beck showed poise in big moments.
- Ohio State’s Shocking Exit: The Buckeyes struggled with field position and offensive rhythm early, despite strong performances from Jeremiah Smith and running back Bo Jackson.
- Oregon’s Defensive Masterclass: The Ducks delivered the first shutout in CFP history since 2016, smothering Texas Tech with four turnovers. Brandon Finney Jr.’s multi-takeaway performance headlines a unit that flipped the script on an expected shootout.
- Ole Miss’ Dramatic Comeback: The Rebels exploded for 20 points in the fourth quarter, with Trinidad Chambliss engineering a late drive and Lucas Carneiro’s clutch field goal sealing the upset. This marks Ole Miss’ first CFP semifinal appearance and ends Georgia’s repeat hopes in a high-scoring thriller.
Semifinal Projections
Peach Bowl Favorite: Oregon’s defensive dominance makes them a tough matchup. If Indiana advances, it sets up a potential rematch (Indiana handed Oregon its only loss); Alabama’s pedigree could create a classic.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 10 Miami (Cinderella run continues) vs. No. 6 Ole Miss (momentum from comeback win). The Rebels’ explosive offense could challenge Miami’s opportunistic defense.
The expanded playoff continues to deliver drama. Stay tuned to SportsBrackets.net for full New Year’s Day updates, final bracket refreshes on January 2, printable PDFs, and semifinal previews as the road to the national championship in Miami heats up! You can checkout the odds for each teaming winning the ship at the start of the postseason here. We also have the initial college football playoff bracket in PDF here for you too.
