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Kyle Bonagura<\/p>\n
Close<\/p>\n
Kyle Bonagura<\/p>\n
ESPN Staff Writer<\/span><\/p>\n Mark Schlabach<\/p>\n Close<\/p>\n Mark Schlabach<\/p>\n ESPN Senior Writer<\/span><\/p>\n Sep 21, 2025, 12:10 PM ET<\/span><\/p>\n Week 4 did not produce any seismic upsets, but as always, there were plenty of eye-opening results that impacted the College Football Playoff picture and beyond.<\/p>\n Among the games that altered perceptions were Indiana’s dismantling of Illinois, decisive wins by Texas Tech (at Utah) and Ole Miss (over Tulane), and road victories by Syracuse (at Clemson) and Michigan (at Nebraska).<\/p>\n As in last season’s inaugural 12-team CFP, the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams, will make the field. Unlike last year, the four highest-ranked teams (not necessarily conference champions) will be awarded first-round byes. The other eight teams will meet in first-round games at the campus sites of seeds Nos. 5 through 8.<\/p>\n From there, the quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in what had been the New Year’s Six bowls, with this season’s national championship game scheduled for Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.<\/p>\n All of that is just the tip of the iceberg, though. Apart from the playoff is the 35-game slate of bowl games, beginning with the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 13.<\/p>\n We’re here for all of it.<\/p>\n ESPN bowl gurus Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are projecting every postseason matchup, including their breakdowns of how the playoff will play out, and we’ll be back every week of the season until the actual matchups are set.<\/p>\n Jump to a section:<\/strong> First-round games (at campus sites)<\/strong><\/p>\n Friday, Dec. 19\/<\/strong>Saturday, Dec. 20<\/strong><\/p>\n Times and networks TBD.<\/p>\n Bonagura: <\/strong>No. 12 South Florida at No. 5 LSU Bonagura: <\/strong>No. 11 Texas Tech at No. 6 Miami Bonagura: <\/strong>No. 10 Texas at No. 7 Florida State Bonagura: <\/strong>No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 8 Indiana First-round breakdown<\/strong><\/p>\n Bonagura: <\/strong>Two teams worth highlighting this week are Indiana and Texas Tech, both of which had huge wins against conference teams that were in these projections a week ago (Illinois and Utah). These games weren’t just wins, they were statements. Indiana beat Illinois by 53 and Tech beat Utah by 24.<\/p>\n For Texas Tech, the win should establish the Red Raiders as the favorite in the Big 12 — a conference that will have a tough time getting two teams in the playoff. For Indiana, the road is more difficult — but it’s manageable<\/em>. The only ranked teams left on its schedule are Oregon and Penn State, so if the Hoosiers hold serve in the games they’re favored in and finish 10-2, that should be good enough to get in the playoff. Of course, this appears to be a team that can go toe-to-toe with anyone, so it’s premature to write off any games as losses.<\/p>\n Defensive linemen Mikail Kamara (6) and Tyrique Tucker celebrate after a sack during Indiana’s romp over Illinois.\u00a0Robert Goddin\/Imagn Images<\/p>\n Schlabach: <\/strong>It was another wild Saturday, and my playoff bracket has three new teams after Illinois, Tulane and Utah were on the wrong side of blowouts.<\/p>\n Texas Tech spent a boatload of cash boosting its roster this past offseason, and it paid off in Saturday’s 34-10 victory at Utah. The victory puts the Red Raiders and Iowa State in the driver’s seat in the Big 12 race, and those teams won’t play each other in the regular season. In fact, Texas Tech doesn’t face another Big 12 opponent that is currently ranked in the AP poll the rest of the way.<\/p>\n Indiana’s 63-10 rout of No. 9 Illinois put the rest of the Big 10 on notice. It was the Hoosiers’ first victory over a top-10 opponent in five years, and its most lopsided win over one in school history. The Hoosiers play at Oregon on Oct. 11 and at Penn State on Nov. 8, so there won’t be any questions about their strength of schedule if they get back into the CFP for the second straight season.<\/p>\n USF, which beat Boise State and Florida earlier this season, returns to my 12-team bracket. The Bulls blasted FCS program South Carolina State 63-14, and they’re my fifth conference champion after Tulane lost 45-10 at Ole Miss on Saturday. I also strongly considered Memphis, which knocked off Arkansas 32-31 at home.<\/p>\n Wednesday, Dec. 31<\/strong><\/p>\n CFP quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic<\/strong> Thursday, Jan. 1<\/strong><\/p>\n CFP quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl<\/strong> CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential<\/strong> CFP quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl <\/strong> Quarterfinals breakdown<\/strong><\/p>\n Bonagura: <\/strong>The tastiest hypothetical quarterfinal matchup here is Georgia vs. Miami, which would feature Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck against his former team. The downside is that storyline would be so dominant everyone would quickly get tired of hearing about it.<\/p>\n Ohio State vs. Oklahoma looks good too, but then again that’s the whole point of the playoff. These are all enticing games.<\/p>\n Watch your favorite events in the newly upgraded ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you. Sign Up Now<\/p>\n Schlabach: <\/strong>These potential matchups would produce some intriguing storylines, with Florida State and Miami potentially meeting for a second (or third?) time. The Hurricanes have already taken down USF and Florida, and they’ll play the Seminoles on the road Oct. 4. Those teams could potentially meet again in the ACC championship game.<\/p>\n Ohio State and Texas Tech have much in common in terms of spending big bucks in the transfer portal, and Oregon and LSU would be a matchup of two of the best quarterbacks in the FBS: Garrett Nussmeier and Dante Moore.<\/p>\n Georgia and Penn State have played just once in the past 43 years. The Bulldogs defeated the Nittany Lions 24-17 in the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl.<\/p>\n Thursday, Jan. 8<\/strong><\/p>\n CFP semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl<\/strong> Friday, Jan. 9<\/strong><\/p>\n CFP semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl<\/strong> Monday, Jan. 19<\/strong><\/p>\n CFP National Championship<\/strong> National championship breakdown<\/strong><\/p>\n Bonagura: <\/strong>Ohio State is still the favorite on paper, but has an interesting test Saturday against Washington at Seattle, which can be a tough place to play. And Husky Stadium will surely be electric for this one. The more important game this week is Oregon at Penn State, where the winner will be well on its way to the Big Ten title game.<\/p>\n Schlabach: <\/strong>I had all but one of my top four seeds advancing to the semifinals. A Georgia-Miami matchup in the Fiesta Bowl would be good drama, as Kyle noted in his quarterfinals breakdown.<\/p>\n Oregon and Ohio State won’t play each other in the regular season, but they could certainly meet in the Big Ten championship game. They played twice last season, with the Ducks winning 32-31 at home during the regular season, and the Buckeyes flipping the script with a 41-21 victory in a CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Saturday, Dec. 13<\/strong><\/p>\n Cricket Celebration Bowl<\/strong> LA Bowl<\/strong> Tuesday, Dec. 16<\/strong><\/p>\n IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl<\/strong> Wednesday, Dec. 17<\/strong><\/p>\n StaffDNA Cure Bowl<\/strong> 68 Ventures Bowl<\/strong> Friday, Dec. 19<\/strong><\/p>\n Myrtle Beach Bowl<\/strong> Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl<\/strong> Monday, Dec. 22<\/strong><\/p>\n Famous Idaho Potato Bowl<\/strong> Tuesday, Dec. 23<\/strong><\/p>\n 2 Related<\/p>\n Boca Raton Bowl<\/strong> New Orleans Bowl <\/strong> Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl<\/strong> Wednesday, Dec. 24<\/strong><\/p>\n Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl<\/strong> Friday, Dec. 26<\/strong><\/p>\n GameAbove Sports Bowl<\/strong> Rate Bowl<\/strong> SERVPRO First Responder Bowl<\/strong> Saturday, Dec. 27<\/strong><\/p>\n Go Bowling Military Bowl<\/strong> Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl<\/strong> Wasabi Fenway Bowl<\/strong> Pop-Tarts Bowl<\/strong> Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl<\/strong> Isleta New Mexico Bowl<\/strong> TaxSlayer Gator Bowl<\/strong> Kinder’s Texas Bowl<\/strong> Monday, Dec. 29<\/strong><\/p>\n Birmingham Bowl<\/strong> Tuesday, Dec. 30<\/strong><\/p>\n Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl<\/strong> Music City Bowl<\/strong> Valero Alamo Bowl<\/strong>\n
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Playoff picks | Quarterfinals
Semis, title game | Bowl season<\/p>\nCollege Football Playoff<\/h2>\n
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 12 South Florida at No. 5 Oregon<\/p>\n
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 11 Indiana at No. 6 Penn State<\/p>\n
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 10 Texas A&M at No. 7 Florida State<\/p>\n
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 9 Texas Tech at No. 8 Oklahoma<\/p>\nCFP quarterfinals<\/h2>\n
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
7:30 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> No. 7 Florida State vs. No. 2 Oregon
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 LSU<\/p>\n
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Noon, ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> No. 5 LSU vs. No. 4 Penn State
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 7 Florida State vs. No. 2 Miami<\/p>\n
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
4 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> No. 9 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 9 Texas Tech vs. No. 1 Ohio State<\/p>\n
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
8 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> No. 6 Miami vs. No. 3 Georgia
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 3 Georgia<\/p>\nThe enhanced ESPN App<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
CFP semifinals, national championship game<\/h2>\n
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
7:30 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> No. 5 LSU vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 2 Miami<\/p>\n
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
7:30 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 2 Oregon
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 1 Ohio State<\/p>\n
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
7:45 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Schlabach: <\/strong>No. 2 Miami vs. No. 1 Ohio State<\/p>\nComplete bowl season schedule<\/h2>\n
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Alabama State vs. South Carolina State
Schlabach:<\/strong> Jackson State vs. South Carolina State<\/p>\n
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
9 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Cal vs. UNLV
Schlabach:<\/strong> Washington vs. UNLV<\/p>\n
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> South Alabama vs. Miami (Ohio)
Schlabach: <\/strong>Western Kentucky vs. Georgia Southern<\/p>\n
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Buffalo vs. Cincinnati
Schlabach:<\/strong> Northern Illinois vs. Troy<\/p>\n
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
8:30 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Southern Miss vs. Middle Tennessee
Schlabach:<\/strong> Old Dominion vs. Central Michigan<\/p>\n
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
Noon, ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> East Carolina vs. Marshall
Schlabach:<\/strong> East Carolina vs. James Madison<\/p>\n
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Mississippi State vs. NC State
Schlabach: <\/strong>South Carolina vs. Virginia<\/p>\n
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
2 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Ohio vs. Fresno State
Schlabach:<\/strong> Ohio vs. Utah State<\/p>\nEditor’s Picks<\/h2>\n
Flagler Credit Union Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
2 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> UConn vs. Northern Illinois
Schlabach:<\/strong> Boise State vs. Toledo<\/p>\n
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
5:30 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>James Madison vs. Jacksonville State
Schlabach: <\/strong>Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech<\/p>\n
Frisco, Texas
9 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> North Texas vs. Texas State
Schlabach: <\/strong>North Texas vs. New Mexico State<\/p>\n
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Boise State vs. Arizona
Schlabach: <\/strong>Hawai’i vs. Tulane<\/p>\n
Ford Field (Detroit)
1 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Rutgers vs. Toledo
Schlabach: <\/strong>Rutgers vs. Buffalo<\/p>\n
Chase Field (Phoenix)
4:30 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Houston vs. Maryland
Schlabach:<\/strong> Baylor vs. Michigan State<\/p>\n
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
8 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Army vs. Appalachian State
Schlabach: <\/strong>UCF vs. San Diego State<\/p>\n
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
11 a.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Pitt vs. Memphis
Schlabach: <\/strong>SMU vs. Navy<\/p>\n
Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York)
Noon, ABC<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Duke vs. Iowa
Schlabach: <\/strong>Clemson vs. Maryland<\/p>\n
Fenway Park (Boston)
2:15 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Clemson vs. Tulane
Schlabach:<\/strong> NC State vs. Memphis<\/p>\n
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Georgia Tech vs. TCU
Schlabach:<\/strong> Georgia Tech vs. Utah<\/p>\n
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m., CW Network<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Bowling Green vs. New Mexico
Schlabach: <\/strong>Bowling Green vs. Fresno State<\/p>\n
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Utah State vs. Western Kentucky
Schlabach: <\/strong>Wyoming vs. Texas State<\/p>\n
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
7:30 p.m. ABC<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Louisville vs. Alabama
Schlabach:<\/strong> Syracuse vs. Alabama<\/p>\n
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9:15 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Iowa State vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach:<\/strong> TCU vs. Ole Miss<\/p>\n
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
2 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>South Carolina vs. Old Dominion
Schlabach: <\/strong>Mississippi State vs. Pittsburgh<\/p>\n
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
2 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura: <\/strong>Baylor vs. Louisiana Tech
Schlabach: <\/strong>Houston vs. Jacksonville State<\/p>\n
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
5:30 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> Minnesota vs. Auburn
Schlabach:<\/strong> Illinois vs. Auburn<\/p>\n
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9 p.m., ESPN<\/em>
Bonagura:<\/strong> BYU vs. USC