Moving the Chains: Takeaways from College Football Playoffs 2025 – First Round Games

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#8 Oklahoma went into their game against #9 Alabama as 1 ½ point favorites, probably because (a) they were playing at home and (b) they beat the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa by 2 points in the regular season.  But it’s always difficult beating the same SEC team twice in one year.  No one can attest to that more than Alabama, as they beat Georgia by 3 points back in September and then lost to them by that same number – only this time it was 3 touchdowns rather than points – in the SEC championship a few months later.

The Sooners jumped to an early 17 – 0 lead and appeared to be in total control of the game.  Then suddenly the once-dormant Crimson Tide woke up and put 17 points of their own on the board in the closing 7 minutes of the first half, thereby tying the game at halftime.  Alabama struck first in the second half with an early touchdown, and the seemingly shell-shocked Oklahoma team never recovered.  

Despite a significant advantage statistically in Oklahoma’s favor – 362 to 260 in total yards, 18 to 12 in first downs, 7/18 third down efficiency versus 2/12, and 33 minutes controlling the ball – they fell short where it counted most: putting points on the scoreboard.  With their 34 – 24 win, Alabama became the first team in the 12-team playoff era to win a playoff game on the road.  Next up for the Crimson Tide: #1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.  

#7 Texas A&M against #10 Miami pitted the two teams that collaborated to put checkmarks into Notre Dame’s ‘L’ column in the first two games of the season, effectively eliminating the Fighting Irish from the playoffs.  For that: my heartfelt gratitude.

The Aggies and the Hurricanes were scoreless at halftime as the two teams combined to miss four field goals in every conceivable way: wide left, wide right, blocked, and – naturally – a doink.  Miami scored the game’s only touchdown right after the two-minute warning to put a national television audience out of its collective misery.  Final score: Miami – 10, Texas A&M – 7.

Just as in the Oklahoma-Alabama game, the losing team dominated the statistics: 326 to 278 in total yards, 21 to 12 in first downs, and 8/18 versus 3/12 in third down efficiency.  Miami followed in Alabama’s footsteps and became the second team in the 12-team format to win a road game.  Next up for Miami: #2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban was pretty vocal about having Tulane and James Madison (the school, not the 4^th President of the United States) in the playoffs.  On that I have two comments: (1) it’s the committee’s fault for overthinking the criteria for making the playoffs – why not just select the top 12 teams PERIOD?  Or better yet, the top 8? – and (2) Saban dropped the mic when he asked if they would allow ‘the winner of Triple-A, the International League, or whatever they call it’ in the World Series?’  

Look no further than the results of their respective games for an answer: 

• #6 Ole Miss – 41, #11 Tulane – 10.  Next up for Ole Miss: #3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

• #5 Oregon – 51, #12 James Madison (again, the school; not the POTUS) – 34.  Next up for Oregon: #4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.

It appears the playoff committee has some work to do.  They might want to consider doing away with rankings until the end of the season rather than before the first game is even played.