Lots of duds and one spectacular game that made up for them. Thank goodness for Ole Miss and Georgia, one of the best CFP games I’ve ever watched. It sets up the semis without some major names. We’ve seen Ohio State, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Alabama all get bounced before the semis. There is a new wave in college football and that’s a good thing for the sport. Here is our 2025-26 season College Football Playoff Semifinals preview and predictions.
Fiesta Bowl – No. 6 Ole Miss vs No. 10 Miami
I am excited about this one. It’s been some time since we’ve seen either of these teams on a stage like this. I was beginning to wonder if Miami was ever going to get back to this sort of relevance ever again. Mario Cristobal has had his fair share of ups and downs, but he has finally prevailed in the current season. How about Ole Miss? Lane Kiffin left them high and dry and this team has done nothing but laughed in his face about it. Their win over Georgia was improbable and has me believing that they might just be a team of destiny.
The X-Factor: Carson Beck
I think this game comes down to how Carson Beck will perform on the biggest stage of his career. He was knocked out of last year’s CFP when he played for Georgia and didn’t have this opportunity. How will he respond this time with a golden opportunity to not just go to a National Championship but also prove to NFL scouts that he can help a franchise. Ole Miss is going to put up major points, it’s what they do. Beck had just 138 passing yards a week ago. However, when they needed him, he pulled through. Miami relies on their running game, but they’ll need more than that.
Prediction: A team of destiny is a hard thing to mess with and when I watched how calm, cool and collected Trinidad Chambliss was in the face of the Georgia defense, I was convinced right then and there that this team was special. Wait another year, Miami. Ole Miss 29 Miami 26
Peach Bowl – No. 1 Indiana vs No. 5 Oregon
How about those Hoosiers? They are playing in a flippin’ semifinal game. If you had your doubts or some reservations that maybe this team was a fluke, they should have fully disappeared when they dismantled the greatest college football program of this generation with ease at the most historic venue in all of college sports. Oregon should be sweating bullets because while they performed against Texas Tech and shut them down, this is a completely different offense.
The X-Factor: Put Oregon in the dirt
Okay, maybe that is a little extreme but that’s what happened the last time these two teams played. While the Ducks did grab a pick six off Fernando Mendoza, I wouldn’t say that game very close as Oregon only had one offensive touchdown. If Indiana can control Oregon’s offense again and limit their playmakers, this game will be tough for the Ducks to win.
Prediction: They are the number one team in the country and the most dominant team in college football; I am not picking against the Hoosiers. Indiana 31 Oregon 26