Roll Tide Wire staff predictions for CFP quarterfinal round

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Roll Tide Wire staff predictions for CFP quarterfinal round

The road to the national championship takes another step forward this week when the CFP quarterfinal round takes place on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

A round which produced many upsets last season, the CFP quarterfinals this year feature four games to take place this Wednesday and Thursday. Those games will be played once again at some of college football's top bowl game venues, starting Wednesday night in the Cotton Bowl.

Following on Thursday will also be the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl for what is a loaded New Year's Day slate.

Here is a look at Roll Tide Wire's predictions for every game during the CFP quarterfinal round.

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Miami Hurricanes

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day, right, and Miami (FL) Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal pose with the Field Scovell Trophy after talking to media during a Cotton Bowl press conference at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas prior to their College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup on Dec. 30, 2025.

  • When: Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
  • Predictions:
    • Matt Melton: Ohio State 27, Miami 16
    • Steve Holley: Ohio State 24, Miami 16
    • Rob King: Ohio State 34, Miami 14
    • Jake Boico: Ohio State 28, Miami 14

Ohio State and Miami kickoff the CFP quarterfinal round Wednesday night for the No. 2 vs. No. 10 seeded matchup in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. All of Roll Tide Wire predicts an Ohio State win over the Hurricanes, with this matchup also set to be the Buckeyes' third consecutive season playing in the Cotton Bowl.

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Oregon Ducks

  • When: Thursday, Jan. 1, at noon ET on ESPN
  • Predictions:
    • Matt Melton: Texas Tech 27, Oregon 30
    • Steve Holley: Texas Tech 23, Oregon 24
    • Rob King: Texas Tech 14, Oregon 28
    • Jake Boico: Texas Tech 27, Oregon 34

The New Year's Day slate gets underway Thursday afternoon when No. 4 seed Texas Tech and No. 5 seed Oregon meet in Miami for the Capital One Orange Bowl. Nearly all of Roll Tide Wire projects a one-possession showdown between the Red Raiders and Ducks, a matchup in which Oregon is the unanimous pick.

Indiana Hoosiers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti and Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen Deboer pose for a photo Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, during a coaches press conference ahead of the Rose Bowl at the Sheraton Grand Los Angeles.

  • When: Thursday, Jan. 1, at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
  • Predictions:
    • Matt Melton: Indiana 28, Alabama 30
    • Steve Holley: Indiana 27, Alabama 20
    • Rob King: Indiana 28, Alabama 21
    • Jake Boico: Indiana 35, Alabama 38

The CFP quarterfinal matchup for No. 9 seeded Alabama takes place in Pasadena against No. 1 seed Indiana for the Rose Bowl Game. Roll Tide Wire is split as to if Alabama can pull the upset in Pasadena.

Georgia Bulldogs vs. Ole Miss Rebels

  • When: Thursday, Jan. 1, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
  • Predictions:
    • Matt Melton: Georgia 33, Ole Miss 27
    • Steve Holley: Georgia 28, Ole Miss 21
    • Rob King: Georgia 24, Ole Miss 21
    • Jake Boico: Georgia 27, Ole Miss 20

The lone rematch from earlier this season in the CFP quarterfinal round comes in the Allstate Sugar Bowl from New Orleans between No. 3 seeded Georgia and No. 6 seed Ole Miss, a game which the Bulldogs won earlier this year in Athens, 43-35. Roll Tide Wire unanimously goes with the Bulldogs once again, but also in a close, one-possession contest.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football vs. Indiana among CFP quarterfinal game predictions

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