College Football Playoff: First Round Guide and Preview
College Football Bowl Season is here, which means it’s time to crown a champion. The 12-team College Football Playoff gets underway on Friday, Dec. 19, and continues with Quarterfinal games on New Year’s Eve and Jan. 1, followed by the Semifinals on Jan. 8-9, and the National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 19.
Here’s a preview of the First Round games and how to watch with DISH. Remember, with DISH Multi-View, you can watch up to four channels at once, and with DISH Anywhere, you can watch Bowl Games no matter where you are this holiday season? Not a DISH subscriber? Follow this link to find the best offer and subscribe to DISH today!
College Football Playoff: First Round
No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma
When: Friday, December 19 – 8:00 pm ET
Where: Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma
What Channel: ABC and ESPN (Channel 140 on DISH)
The first game of the first round of the College Football Playoff is arguably the most intriguing of the bunch. Just one month ago, Alabama and head coach Kalen DeBoer lost to the Sooners 23-21 in Tuscaloosa. Now the rematch is set in Norman and features an elite Oklahoma defensive unit going up against an Alabama offense that has been inconsistent. Alabama will hope to get some players back from injury, but the key in this game is the Oklahoma offense, which continues to scrape by with lackluster performances. Quarterback John Mateer and wide receiver Isaiah Sategna have come through when the team needs them but have struggled at times. A night playoff game in Norman, Oklahoma is must-see TV.
No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M
When: Saturday, December 20 – 12:00 pm ET
Where: Kyle Field in College Station, Texas
What Channel: ABC and ESPN
It’s a dream come true for Texas A&M fans everywhere that their beloved Aggies have finally made the College Football Playoff. And for it to come with a home game at Kyle Field? They’re ecstatic. Sure, they would have loved to beat Texas and make it to the SEC Championship, but this isn’t a terrible consolation. A&M went the entire season undefeated before that hiccup against their hated rival, and since then, the college football community has pointed out that A&M’s strong SEC record comes at the hands of playing all the teams in the lower half of the conference. Yes, the Aggies avoided the top seven teams in the SEC; they did not play Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, or Tennessee this season and lost to Texas. So, there is some chatter about how “real” Mike Elko’s team is. On the flip side, you have Miami, a team that “snuck” into the playoff over Notre Dame. The fallout has mostly brought more attention to the Fighting Irish than the Hurricanes, and head coach Mario Cristobal is fine with that. Quarterback Carson Beck will look to show the world that he still is a top quarterback in the country, but he will have to cut down on his turnovers. Similarly, A&M quarterback Marcel Reed has shown that he too can suffer from turnovers. Both teams have elite defenses, so this one is going to be a must-watch.
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 20 Tulane
When: Saturday, December 20 – 3:30 pm ET
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi
What Channel: TNT (channel 138 on DISH)
Ole Miss and Tulane is the second first-round game that is a rematch from the regular season. The Rebels easily handled the Green Wave 45–10 in Oxford back in September. But that was when Lane Kiffin was coaching the Rebs. The polarizing coach is now the head coach at LSU and left the Ole Miss program in typical Lane Kiffin fashion: with oodles of drama. Kiffin hoped he would be able to coach Ole Miss after taking the LSU job, but that was not something the athletic department was ever going to approve. Now with the dust settled, Kiffin has allowed his offensive coaching staff to return to Oxford to coach the remainder of the CFP. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was named permanent head coach, and the Rebs are ready to make a run behind electric quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. On the flip side for Tulane, their coach is allowed to coach the Green Wave despite being hired by the University of Florida two weeks ago. Jon Sumrall is doing double duty and passed the first test by winning the American Conference, securing the Green Wave a spot in the playoff. They are currently 17.5-point underdogs.
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 24 James Madison
When: Saturday, December 20 – 7:30 pm ET
Where: Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon
What Channel: TNT
It’s the year 2025 and we have two G5 schools in the College Football Playoff. This is no slight to James Madison, but rules are rules, and the Dukes were one of the five highest-ranked conference champions. They too are a program whose coach was hired by another program. But UCLA has allowed Bob Chesney to coach JMU through the playoff, and most college football prognosticators believe that will not extend past Saturday. To put it simply, Oregon is a wagon and has a talent advantage all over the field. Is there a chance we get some 2007 Boise State - Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl magic? Probably not.
College Football Playoff: Quarterfinals
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic - No. 2 Ohio State vs. Winner of No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami
When: Wednesday, December 31 – 7:30 pm ET
Where: AT&T Stadium (Cotton Bowl) in Arlington, Texas
What Channel: ESPN
Capital One Orange Bowl - No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Winner of No. 5 Oregon/No. 24 James Madison
When: Thursday, January 1 – 12:00 pm ET
Where: Hard Rock Stadium (Orange Bowl) in Miami Gardens, Florida
What Channel: ESPN
Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential - No. 1 Indiana vs. Winner of No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama
When: Thursday, January 1 – 4:00 pm ET
Where: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
What Channel: ESPN
Allstate Sugar Bowl - No. 3 Georgia vs. Winner of No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 20 Tulane
When: Thursday, January 1 – 8:00 pm ET
Where: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
What Channel: ESPN
College Football Playoff: Semifinals
Vrbo Fiesta Bowl - TBD vs. TBD
When: Thursday, January 8 – 7:30 pm ET
Where: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
What Channel: ESPN
Chick-fila-A Peach Peach Bowl - TBD vs. TBD
When: Friday, January 9 – 7:30 pm ET
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
What Channel: ESPN
College Football Playoff – National Championship
CFP National Championship Game
When: Monday, January 19 – 7:30 pm ET
Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
What Channel: ESPN
