The championship path to Miami: College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchups set
One round down, three to go.
The College Football Playoff field is down from 12 teams to eight — including the hometown Miami Hurricanes — after the first round of games as we get closer to the Jan. 19 national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Here’s a recap of how the first round unfolded and a quick look at the four quarterfinal contests which will take place on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
First-round recap
No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24: Alabama erased a 17-point first-half deficit to become the first road team to win a first-round College Football Playoff game since the field expanded to 12 teams and put opening-round contests on the home campus of the higher seed. Quarterback Ty Simpson threw two touchdowns to Lotzeir Brooks, included the go-ahead 30-yard score early in the third quarter, Zabien Brown had a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown, and Daniel Hill added a rushing touchdown for Alabama.
No. 10 Miami 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3: Malachi Toney scored the go-ahead 11-yard touchdown with 1:44 left in regulation to back a stellar performance by the Hurricanes’ defense that included three turnovers, seven sacks, nine tackles for loss and a blocked field goal.
No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10: Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw for 282 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more to lead the Rebels to a blowout win over the American Conference champion Green Wave. Ole Miss led 14-0 after the first quarter, 17-3 at halftime and 27-3 after three quarters.
No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 26: Dante Moore threw for four touchdowns, two of which went to Malik Benson, to lead the Ducks to a commanding first-round win. Oregon led 34-6 at halftime, but James Madison scored 28 points in the second half to attempt to keep the game competitive down the stretch.
Quarterfinal matchups
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Cotton Bowl (7:30 p.m.): No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Miami
Thursday, Jan. 1
Orange Bowl (noon): No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon, Orange Bowl (noon)
Rose Bowl (4 p.m.): No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama
Sugar Bowl (8 p.m.): No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
Semifinals
Fiesta Bowl (Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m.): Winner of Cotton Bowl vs. Winner of Sugar Bowl
Peach Bowl (Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m.): Winner of Rose Bowl vs. Winner of Orange Bowl
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