National semifinal spots hang in the balance as the College Football Playoff’s quarterfinals kick off on New Year’s Eve and Day. With the top four seeds enjoying first-round byes, the bracket has set the stage for four high-stakes bowl games that will decide who advances to the national championship.
Quarterfinal Matchups
The playoff’s top four seeds-No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers, No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs, and No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders-were paired with the lowest-seeded teams that advanced from the first round.
- Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama. Indiana, led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, seeks its first bowl win since 1991. Alabama, the most decorated CFP era program, beat No. 8 Oklahoma 34-24.
- Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami. Miami, the lowest seed to advance, scored its only touchdown in the final two minutes of regulation to defeat No. 7 Texas A&M 10-3 in its CFP debut.
- Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss. Ole Miss, after head coach Lane Kiffin left for LSU, rolled past No. 11 Tulane 41-10. Georgia’s last meeting with Ole Miss ended 43-35.
- Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon. Texas Tech, a Big 12 champion with the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense (42.5 ppg) and No. 3 scoring defense (10.9 ppg), faces Oregon, which opened 34-6 at halftime against No. 12 James Madison.
Game Schedule and Times
The quarterfinals will unfold over two days:
| Bowl | Opponents | Date | Time (ET) | Time (CT) | Time (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Ohio State vs. Miami | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
| Orange | Texas Tech vs. Oregon | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 12 p.m. | 11 a.m. | 9 a.m. |
| Rose | Indiana vs. Alabama | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 4 p.m. | 3 p.m. | 1 p.m. |
| Sugar | Georgia vs. Ole Miss | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 8 p.m. | 7 p.m. | 5 p.m. |
Bowl Venues
The games will be played at iconic stadiums across the country:
- Cotton Bowl – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Orange Bowl – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Rose Bowl – Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
- Sugar Bowl – Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
Broadcast and Streaming
All four quarterfinal contests will air on ESPN and can be streamed on ESPN.com and the ESPN app. Fans can also watch the games on local affiliates that carry the network.
Semifinals and Championship Preview
The semifinals will take place from Thursday, Jan. 8 to Friday, Jan. 9. The Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, will host one matchup, followed by the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The national championship game will be held on Monday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET in Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida-the same venue as the quarterfinal Orange Bowl.
Key Takeaways
- Indiana faces Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 at 4 p.m. ET.
- Ohio State meets Miami in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
- Georgia will play Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. ET.
- Texas Tech takes on Oregon in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1 at noon ET.
- All games stream on ESPN’s platforms and air on national television.
The College Football Playoff quarterfinals promise drama and high-level competition, with each game determining who earns a spot in the national championship. Whether you’re rooting for a Heisman-winning quarterback or a team that upset the odds, the next two days will deliver the excitement that makes college football a must-watch sport.
