Week after week of predictions and prognostications have lastly given solution to the School Soccer Playoff. Starting Friday night time, when No. 9 Alabama takes on No. 8 Oklahoma, this 12 months’s bracket will slim the sphere in quest of the 2025 nationwide champion.
On paper, two of the opening-round video games appear like absolute thrillers: the aforementioned rematch between the Crimson Tide and the Sooners and the fascinating showdown between No. 10 Miami (Fla.), which leapfrogged Notre Dame within the remaining CFP rankings, and No. 7 Texas A&M. Every of those groups have sufficient expertise to win the entire thing if they will get previous this weekend.
The opposite two video games appear pretty simple, with No. 6 Ole Miss internet hosting No. 11 Tulane in a replay of a lopsided common season contest, and No. 12 James Madison flying throughout the nation to tangle with No. 5 Oregon. Each the Rebels and Geese are sizable favorites of their respective matchups, however maybe one of many groups from outdoors the ability conferences can conjure a little bit of magic on the largest stage. Solely time will inform.
That stated, listed here are my CFP bracket predictions:
First Spherical
No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma (Friday, Dec. 19)
Winner: Oklahoma
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA – NOVEMBER 29: Peyton Bowen #22 and Taylor Wein #44 of the Oklahoma Sooners have fun a turnover on downs in opposition to the Louisiana State Tigers in the course of the fourth quarter at Gaylord Household Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photograph by Stacy Revere/Getty Photographs)
There was a lot unrest surrounding Alabama in current weeks that it’s truthful to surprise in regards to the head house of the Crimson Tide gamers and coaches coming into the CFP. A bit greater than a month in the past, on Nov. 15, Alabama turned the ball over 3 times in a slim loss to this similar Oklahoma workforce. A bit greater than two weeks in the past, on Nov. 29, the Crimson Tide squandered a 17-0 lead in opposition to struggling Auburn and wanted a late landing move from quarterback Ty Simpson to wideout Isaiah Horton to emerge from the Iron Bowl unscathed. A bit greater than every week in the past, on Dec. 6, Alabama was thumped by No. 3 Georgia, 28-7, in a largely non-competitive SEC championship sport through which the offense seemed confused at greatest and inept at worst. And over the previous few days, because the Crimson Tide have been making ready for his or her most necessary sport of the season, rumors are swirling about head coach Kalen DeBoer’s potential candidacy at Michigan, given his uneven first two seasons in Tuscaloosa. That’s lots of drama and outdoors noise to beat.
Few individuals would query the concept that Alabama’s high gear eclipses something Oklahoma has proven itself to be able to this season. In spite of everything, the Crimson Tide defeated 4 consecutive top-16 opponents earlier this 12 months. However DeBoer’s squad hasn’t reached that stage in fairly a while. Due to that, Alabama’s marketing campaign may finish with a thud.
No. 10 Miami (Fla.) at No. 7 Texas A&M (Saturday, Dec. 20)
Winner: Texas A&M
(David Buono/Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
Statistically talking, Miami’s offensive line has been among the many greatest within the nation this season. The Hurricanes have allowed the fifth-fewest tackles for lack of any FBS program (42), they usually’re tied with three different groups for the seventh-fewest sacks allowed (11). Quarterback Carson Beck, a high-profile addition within the switch portal, has solely been pressured on 14.7% of his dropbacks, based on Professional Soccer Focus, which is down from 21.3% at Georgia in 2024. The offensive line’s greatest participant, proper sort out Francis Mauigoa, was named a first-team All-American by the Related Press earlier this week.
However the forgiving nature of the Hurricanes’ pleasant ACC schedule — none of Miami’s convention opponents appeared within the remaining CFP rankings earlier this month — means they haven’t encountered a defensive entrance fairly just like the disruptive unit ready for them at Kyle Subject this weekend. Texas A&M is tied for first nationally in sacks (14.0) and ranks third in tackles for loss (104), becoming a member of Oklahoma (115) and Indiana (112) as the one applications above the century mark this season. 9 totally different gamers have tallied a minimum of 4 tackles for loss, headlined by large edge rusher Cashius Howell (14). Howell, a senior, additionally earned first-team All-America honors earlier this week after ending tied for fourth nationally in sacks with 11.5, most within the SEC. That could be an excessive amount of for Miami to deal with within the trenches.
No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss (Saturday, Dec. 20)
Winner: Ole Miss
(Justin Ford/Getty Photographs)
Together with Alabama vs. Oklahoma, that is the second of two rematches this season within the opening spherical. In contrast to the sooner tilt between the Crimson Tide and the Sooners, which got here right down to a fourth-quarter discipline purpose and may need gone both method, there was nothing remotely shut in regards to the September conflict between Tulane and then-No. 13 Ole Miss. That sport ended as a 35-point romp in favor of the Rebels, which is why it’s tough to see this weekend’s battle going some other method — at the same time as this system navigates a brand new path ahead with out head coach Lane Kiffin, who left for a similar job at LSU.
In some respects, the primary matchup between Tulane and Ole Miss could be considered as a turning level for the Rebels’ season, on condition that it was the primary time Kiffin had formally named Trinidad Chambliss the beginning quarterback. A switch from Division II Ferris State, which is roughly three hours northwest of Detroit, Chambliss responded by finishing 17 of 27 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to the Inexperienced Wave whereas additionally working the ball 14 instances for a further 112 yards. He shortly established himself as one of many premier dual-threat quarterbacks within the nation and would end the season having gained a minimum of 50 speeding yards on 5 separate events. That Chambliss wound up eighth within the Heisman Trophy voting — together with two first-place votes — regardless of serving because the Rebels’ backup for the primary three video games speaks to how dominant he was down the stretch.
If Tulane couldn’t cease him then, as a first-time starter, it’s unlikely the Inexperienced Wave will have the ability to cease him now.
No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon (Saturday, Dec. 20)
Winner: Oregon
As each a person workforce and a program, James Madison deserves large credit score for reaching the CFP. Solely 5 years have handed because the Dukes have been enjoying on the FCS stage, wanting to make the bounce to FBS below former head coach Curt Cignetti, now the mastermind at Indiana. Cignetti promptly guided JMU to an 8-3 file in the course of the Dukes’ first season of FBS competitors and 11 wins of their second earlier than leaving to take over the Hoosiers. His substitute, Bob Chesney, sustained that momentum with a 9-4 mark in 2024 — capped by a victory over Western Kentucky within the Boca Raton Bowl — after which put collectively arguably the best marketing campaign at school historical past this fall.
The Dukes now enter Saturday’s date with Oregon having received 11 consecutive video games, together with 9 by double digits, after storming by way of the Solar Belt with relative ease. Underneath the present tips utilized by the CFP choice committee, the Dukes completely deserve their place within the discipline.
However what’s additionally true is that James Madison’s showdown with Oregon has the potential to change into a lopsided farce. As a result of as spectacular because the Dukes could be statistically — they’re tied for tenth nationally in scoring offense (37.3 factors per sport) and sit tenth in scoring protection (15.8 factors per sport) — Chesney’s workforce compiled these numbers whereas enjoying a schedule that ranked 121st out of 136 in problem. The one high quality opponent James Madison confronted this season was unranked Louisville in early September, and the Cardinals pulled away from the Dukes for a cushty 28-14 victory. What Chesney & Co. will face this weekend at Autzen Stadium, the place future NFL draft picks line each side of the ball, is totally different than something they’ve seen earlier than. This one could possibly be ugly.
Quarterfinals
Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M (Dec. 31)
Winner: Ohio State
Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon (Jan. 1)
Winner: Texas Tech
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma (Jan. 1)
Winner: Indiana
Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss (Jan. 1)
Winner: Georgia
Semifinals
Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 2 Ohio State (Jan. 8)
Winner: Georgia
Peach Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (Jan. 9)
Winner: Indiana
Nationwide Championship
CFP Nationwide Championship: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 3 Georgia (Jan. 19)
Champion: Georgia
Michael Cohen covers school soccer and school basketball for FOX Sports activities. Observe him at @Michael_Cohen13.
