Overview
- Saturday’s slate features No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M at noon ET on ABC/ESPN, No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss at 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT/Max, and No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT/Max.
- Texas A&M is listed as roughly a 3 to 3.5‑point favorite over Miami with totals in the high 40s, while Ole Miss (~17.5) and Oregon (~21) enter as sizable favorites according to multiple sportsbooks.
- Winners advance to quarterfinal bowls: Miami–Texas A&M to face No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, Tulane–Ole Miss to meet No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and James Madison–Oregon to play No. 4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.
- The opener between No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma was played Friday night in Norman, with the winner set to face No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
- Storylines include Miami’s debated at‑large selection over Notre Dame, first CFP appearances for Miami and Texas A&M, A&M’s elite pass rush against Miami’s protection, Kyle Field’s crowd, and coaching transitions at Ole Miss (Pete Golding in for Lane Kiffin), Tulane (Jon Sumrall to Florida after the run), and James Madison (Bob Chesney set for UCLA).