With the College Football Playoff finally here, the Oregonian/OregonLive sports staff returns with its final predictions for the 2025-2026 season.
No. 5 Oregon starts its CFP campaign with a matchup against 12-seed James Madison on Saturday, in what will be the first-ever playoff game held at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks are a heavy favorite, and many of our experts predict them to make a deep playoff run after beating the Dukes.
In addition to UO hosting JMU, this weekend’s first-round CFP slate includes showdowns between No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 10 Miami and No. 7 Texas A&M, as well as No. 11 Tulane and No. 6 Mississippi.
Our staff has made predictions for all playoff games from now until the championship on Jan. 19. Check out the picks below.
No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma
Game details: 5 p.m. PT Friday at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma
TV channel and live stream: ABC and ESPN
Latest line: Sooners by 1½
Over/under: 40½
Ryan Clarke: Alabama 31, Oklahoma 20
James Crepea: Alabama 28, Oklahoma 21
Nick Daschel: Oklahoma 27, Alabama 23
Aaron Fentress: Oklahoma 27, Alabama 24
Sean Meagher: Alabama 28, Oklahoma 26
Joel Odom: Alabama 27, Oklahoma 20
Bill Oram: Oklahoma 28, Alabama 21
No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M
Game details: 9 a.m. PT Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas
TV channel and live stream: ABC and ESPN
Latest line: Aggies by 3½
Over/under: 48½
Ryan Clarke: Miami 21, Texas A&M 20
James Crepea: Miami 21, Texas A&M 14
Nick Daschel: Miami 31, Texas A&M 27
Aaron Fentress: Texas A&M 31, Miami 30
Sean Meagher: Texas A&M 35, Miami 24
Joel Odom: Texas A&M 23, Miami 21
Bill Oram: Miami 42, Texas A&M 35
No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Mississippi
Game details: 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi
TV channel and live stream: TNT, HBO Max and truTV
Latest line: Rebels by 17½
Over/under: 56½
Ryan Clarke: Mississippi 35, Tulane 13
James Crepea: Mississippi 35, Tulane 14
Nick Daschel: Mississippi 38, Tulane 24
Aaron Fentress: Miss 40, Tulane 17
Sean Meagher: Mississippi 38, Tulane 21
Joel Odom: Mississippi 35, Tulane 16
Bill Oram: Mississippi 38, Tulane 17
No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon
TV channel and live stream: TNT, HBO Max and truTV
Latest line: Ducks by 20½
Over/under: 47½
Ryan Clarke: Oregon 45, James Madison 7
James Crepea: Oregon 35, James Madison 7
Nick Daschel: Oregon 45, JMU 10
Aaron Fentress: Oregon 41, JMU 16
Sean Meagher: Oregon 42, James Madison 17
Joel Odom: Oregon 38, James Madison 19
Bill Oram: Oregon 40, JMU 13
QuarterfinalsCotton Bowl: Miami-Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Ohio State 31, Miami 17
James Crepea: Ohio State 35, Miami 14
Nick Daschel: Ohio State 34, Miami 17
Aaron Fentress: OSU 33, Texas A&M 20
Sean Meagher: Ohio State 35, Texas A&M 24
Joel Odom: Ohio State 31, Texas A&M 21
Bill Oram: Ohio State 31, Miami 24
Orange Bowl: JMU-Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech
Game details: 9 a.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 1 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Oregon 27, Texas Tech 20
James Crepea: Oregon 28, Texas Tech 21
Nick Daschel: Oregon 30, Texas Tech 24
Aaron Fentress: Oregon 27, Texas Tech 24
Sean Meagher: Oregon 37, Texas Tech 35
Joel Odom: Oregon 30, Texas Tech 24
Bill Oram: Oregon 38, Texas Tech 30
Rose Bowl: Alabama-Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana
Game details: 1 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Indiana 34, Alabama 24
James Crepea: Indiana 35, Alabama 28
Nick Daschel: Indiana 34, Oklahoma 24
Aaron Fentress: Indiana 29, Oklahoma 20
Sean Meagher: Indiana 33, Alabama 23
Joel Odom: Indiana 28, Alabama 17
Bill Oram: Indiana 10, Oklahoma 7
Sugar Bowl: Tulane-Mississippi winner vs. No. 3 Georgia
Game details: 5 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 1 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Georgia 20, Mississippi 10
James Crepea: Georgia 28, Mississippi 21
Nick Daschel: Georgia 30, Mississippi 7
Aaron Fentress: Georgia 30, Mississippi 22
Sean Meagher: Georgia 28, Mississippi 20
Joel Odom: Georgia 25, Mississippi 22
Bill Oram: Georgia 45, Mississippi 35
SemifinalsFiesta Bowl: Cotton vs. Sugar winners
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Ohio State 23, Georgia 20
James Crepea: Ohio State 28, Georgia 21
Nick Daschel: Georgia 29, Ohio State 23
Aaron Fentress: Ohio State 27, Georgia 26
Sean Meagher: Ohio State 28, Georgia 21
Joel Odom: Georgia 31, Ohio State 21
Bill Oram: Ohio State 42, Georgia 41
Peach Bowl: Orange vs. Rose winners
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT Friday, Jan. 9 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Indiana 30, Oregon 24
James Crepea: Indiana 35, Oregon 24
Nick Daschel: Oregon 31, Indiana 23
Aaron Fentress: Indiana 30, Oregon 23
Sean Meagher: Indiana 27, Oregon 24
Joel Odom: Oregon 34, Indiana 24
Bill Oram: Oregon 30, Indiana 20
National ChampionshipSemifinal winners
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Ohio State 25, Indiana 21
James Crepea: Ohio State 28, Indiana 24
Nick Daschel: Georgia 28, Oregon 17
Aaron Fentress: Ohio State 22, Indiana 20
Sean Meagher: Ohio State 33, Indiana 31
Joel Odom: Georgia 30, Oregon 27
Bill Oram: Ohio State 32, Oregon 31