And now, 14 Final Thoughts from the College Football Playoff first round, in which ESPN got exactly what it paid for from its two games, while TNT might have been better off showing Christmas movies.

1. You could almost hear the cathartic roar from South Florida when Miami freshman safety Bryce fitzgerald picked off Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed in the end zone to seal a 10-3 first-round win. Fitzgerald was not yet born the last time Miami played a game with national championship stakes, back in 2002, when the reigning dynasty of that era won its 34th straight game to reach the BCS championship against ohio State.

The Buckeyes ended that streak in a controversial double-overtime win at the Fiesta Bowl. Miami hasn’t played in a postseason game with national title implications since. So it’s a pretty big deal that Mario cristobal’s 10th-seeded team is headed to the Cotton bowl for a CFP quarterfinal date with … No. 2 Ohio State.

2. saturday’s matinee at Kyle Field marked the first time in the brief history of the 12-team CFP that a first-round game was decided in the final seconds. It was a slog, but it was an exciting one, as two tough defenses kept two usually explosive offenses out of the end zone for 58 minutes.

But there where also ghastly special teams galore. In particular, Canes kicker Carter Davis missed three manageable field goals. When Miami’s stud freshman receiver Malachi Toney fumbled at midfield with seven minutes left in a 3-3 game, I figured we were about to witness another gut-wrenching, mistake-filled Miami loss under Cristobal.

Instead, All-American defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. sacked Reed on a third-and-6 to get his team the ball back, running back Mark Fletcher jr. broke a 56-yard run and Toney scored a redemptive 11-yard touchdown on a nifty third-and-5 sweep called by offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson.Reed nearly led the Aggies back down the field before throwing his fourth second-half interception in two games.

No, I’m not going to declare “The U is back!” just yet.

3. The 11-2 Canes, who didn’t enter the CFP field until eight days after their last game, will face a 12-1 foe that did not trail in the second half all season until its most recent game. Though, that doesn’t necessarily mean Ohio State-Miami is a mismatch. I say that primarily as Bain and Miami’s defense are special. they had seven sacks Saturday, bottling up Reed both passing and running. They held A&M’s running backs to 2.8 yards per carry. They’re certainly capable of slowing down Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith and company, as Indiana did.

The problem is the other side of the ball. Carson Beck was just 14 of 20 for 103 yards against the Aggies. He’ll need to be a much bigger factor if the Canes hope to pull off the upset. If they do, then I’ll consider declaring, “The U is …”

Was this the best win for the Hurricanes in more than two decades?@Manny_Navarro breaks down No. 10 Miami’s victory over No. 7 Texas A&M ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/lc7z4sOfiL

– The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) December 21, 2025

4. For Texas A&M, the high of its 11-0 start gave way to a buzzkill of an ending. first, the Aggies imploded in the second half and lost 27-17 to bitter rival Texas, missing the SEC Championship.

College Football Playoff Takeaways: Georgia Looks Dominant, G5 Struggles Continue

The College Football playoff kicked off with a bang, and several key storylines emerged from the first round of games. Here’s a breakdown of what we learned.

Georgia is the Team to Beat

Let’s be clear: Georgia is playing at another level right now. Their dominant performance against Florida State in the Orange Bowl wasn’t just a win; it was a statement.Quarterback Gunner Stockton looked incredibly poised, and the defense was, as usual, relentless. They completely dismantled a team many considered a national championship contender. Don’t expect them to be caught off guard again this year.

Michigan Handles Alabama, But questions Remain

Michigan secured a hard-fought victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, but it wasn’t the comfortable win some predicted. While JJ McCarthy played well, the Wolverines didn’t completely control the game. Alabama, even with Milroe’s struggles, hung tough. Michigan will need to play a more complete game to advance further in the playoffs. Their running game, typically a strength, was relatively quiet.

Washington survives Texas in a Thriller

Washington’s narrow escape against Texas in the Sugar Bowl was a classic. Michael Penix Jr. proved once again why he’s one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, delivering in clutch moments. However, the Huskies’ defense continues to be a concern. They allowed Texas to move the ball effectively throughout the game. Washington’s offensive firepower will keep them in games, but their defensive vulnerabilities could be their undoing against Georgia or Michigan.

G5 Programs Face an Uphill Battle

The struggles of Group of Five (G5) teams continued in the New Year’s Six/CFP bowls. James Madison lost to Wisconsin as feared. (Though JMU deserves credit for rallying in the second half to cover the spread.) G5 teams held their own over the first nine years of the CFP, going 4-5 in New Year’s Six/CFP bowls from 2014-22, but since then, it’s been four straight blowout losses. Three of the G5 teams involved were ranked in the 20s (2023 Liberty, 2025 Tulane and JMU).

Probably not a coincidence the trend began right as several of the best G5 programs (Cincinnati, UCF, Houston and SMU) moved up to Power Four leagues, and the end of transfer restrictions made it easier to raid those teams’ rosters.

Ole Miss Looks Solid Under Pete Golding

We saw zero evidence Saturday that Lane Kiffin’s departure had any negative impact on No. 6 Ole Miss’s players.Rebels QB and new AT&T customer Trinidad Chambliss was his usual efficient self.Kewan Lacy broke two long runs. and while Jake Retzlaff and Tulane moved the ball at times, newly promoted head coach Pete Golding’s defense stuffed all four of the Green Wave’s fourth-down attempts and forced three turnovers.

But 12-1 Ole Miss faces a stiffer challenge against No. 3 Georgia in the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl quarterfinal. In the Rebels’ only loss of the season, Chambliss led the offense to five straight touchdowns and a 35-26 lead against Georgia in Athens. But then Kirby Smart’s defense shut them out in the fourth quarter, while QB Gunner Stockton threw his third and fourth TDs to win 43-35.

Georgia’s defense only got stingier from there. While it’s hard to imagine the Dawgs manhandling chambliss and Lacy like they did Alabama in the SEC championship, the onus will be on Ole Miss’s defense to keep them in it.

The Golding Era has begun.

In their first game without Lane Kiffin,Ole Miss and new head coach Pete Golding picked up the program’s first Playoff win.