These Wisconsinites will compete in the CFP quarterfinals

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These Wisconsinites will compete in the CFP quarterfinals

Eight teams remain alive for the 2025 national championship in FBS college football, and several Wisconsinites will suit up for their teams over the next two days, looking for a berth in the semifinals.

These are the players with state ties looking for college football immortality.

Carson Hinzman, Ohio State (St. Croix Central)

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Carson Hinzman (75) motions during the Big Ten Conference championship game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Dec. 6, 2025. Ohio State lost 13-10.

The 6-5 senior offensive lineman is the Buckeyes starting center and was named a first-team All American by the American Football Coaches Association. He brought 21 career starts into the 2025 season and still has eligibility remaining, though he graduated from OSU in April 2025.

Cole Wisniewski, Texas Tech (Sparta)

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 08: Cole Wisniewski #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders gestures to the crowd during the first half of the game against the BYU Cougars at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 08, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

The senior safety earned honorable-mention All-Conference in the Big 12 this year. He's appeared in 13 games and sits third on the team in tackles (72), including five for loss. This is his only year with the program; he was with FCS power North Dakota State and played a role on national championship teams in 2021 and 2024. He was a consensus FCS All-American in 2023 but missed all of last season with a foot injury. He has a sack and two forced fumbles this season with Texas Tech. Sparta won its first playoff game in school history with him on the roster in 2018.

Riley Nowakowski, Indiana (Marquette, Wisconsin transfer)

Indiana's Riley Nowakowski (37) runs ffor a touchdown during the Indiana versus Wisconsin football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.

After transferring from the University of Wisconsin, the tight end made 28 catches this season for 445 yards and five touchdowns, with another rushing score in a breakout season with the Hoosiers. He played in 40 games with 10 starts over his five seasons in the Wisconsin program from 2020-24, playing fullback, tight end and linebacker during his tenure. He was a standout linebacker at Marquette University High School.

Drew Evans, Indiana (Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin transfer)

Indiana Hoosiers offensive lineman Drew Evans (62) celebrates with fans Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, after winning the Big Ten football championship against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The offensive lineman is a redshirt junior who began his college career at Wisconsin, though he transferred after the 2022 season before seeing any action. He started eight games at left guard this year for the Hoosiers though missed three more with injury, one year after an Achilles injury late in the season forced him to miss Indiana's playoff run. But he was back for the Big Ten title game.

Xavier Lucas, Miami (Wisconsin transfer)

The sophomore defensive back was the subject of a legal dispute between Wisconsin and Miami after the Hurricanes lured him away from Madison. As a true freshman in 2024, Lucas saw action in 11 games with an interception and three pass breakups, an eye-popping rookie year. He's played in 12 games this year, with two tackles for loss, a sack, interception and six pass breakups, plus a forced fumble.

Skyler Hill-Howard, Texas Tech (Greenfield)

Texas Tech's Skyler Gill-Howard looks on during warmups before the Big 12 Conference championship football game, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The senior defensive lineman is a former Division II player who transferred from Northern Illinois and was with the program for the first time this season. He was Big 12 defensive player of the week in September but has been limited to six games because of an ankle injury that required surgery. He has 2.5 tackles for loss and returned an interception for a touchdown this season. He was a standout football player and wrestler with the Hustlin' Hawks.

Austin Leibfried, Indiana (Mt. Horeb)

The backup center redshirt freshman offensive lineman appeared in eight games this season after appearing in four last year as a true freshman. He guided Mt. Horeb to three conference championships in the Badger Conference during his high-school career and was the conference's offensive lineman of the year as a senior.

Mitch Verstegen, Indiana (Kaukauna)

The redshirt freshman offensive lineman has not seen the field yet in his career. He was the Fox Valley Association offensive lineman of the year as a senior.

Anthony Chung, Indiana (Homestead)

The redshirt sophomore defensive back appeared in 11 games this season, making four tackles with three passes defended. He joined the program as a walk-on after getting named the North Shore Conference defensive back of the year as a senior.

Blake Thiry, Indiana (Prairie du Chien)

The tight end hasn't seen the field, but he was last year's Wisconsin small-school offensive player of the year.

Sam Coufal, Miami (Kettle Moraine)

The redshirt sophomore defensive lineman appeared in two games this year for the second season in a row. Coufal was named Wissports.net's defensive lineman of the year as a senior at KM in 2022.

Schedule of College Football Playoff games

All games on ESPN

  • Dec. 31: Miami vs. Ohio State in Cotton Bowl, 6:30 p.m. CT
  • Jan. 1: Oregon vs. Texas Tech in Orange Bowl, 11 a.m. CT
  • Jan. 1: Alabama vs. Indiana in Rose Bowl, 3 p.m. CT
  • Jan. 1: Ole Miss vs. Georgia in Sugar Bowl, 7 p.m. CT
  • Jan. 8: Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl winners meet in Fiesta Bowl, 6:30 p.m. CT
  • Jan. 9: Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl winners meet in Peach Bowl, 6:30 p.m. CT
  • Jan 19: FBS National Championship in Miami Gardens, Florida, 6:30 p.m. CT

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: These Wisconsinites will compete in the CFP quarterfinals

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