College Football Playoff - National Championship

      Hello Football friends and welcome to the National Championship! We've reached the end of our 2025-2026 season journey and it's brought us to Miami, Florida where the hometown Hurricanes take on the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers. It still seems impossible to say Indiana has a shot at going 16-0 in football with a National Championship victory, but here we are. The Hoosiers and Hurricanes have shown nothing but toughness throughout the entirety of both the playoffs and the season as a whole. This post will give my prediction of the game along with some transfer portal thoughts, highlights from my first ever AFCA Coaches Convention and some thoughts on potential playoff expansion being discussed. As always, there's so much going on in college football, so let's dive right into it.

     Starting with my recent trip to Charlotte, NC, I attended my first American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Convention. This was a great experience to connect and learn from coaches all around the United States and even some from international programs. As I continue to look for opportunities to expand my career into college football, this was a great first step in building those all-too-important connections. I was also able to attend multiple sessions where coaches at various levels talked through some X's and O's. There were some very unique systems and fantastic drills I plan on using in my coaching career. A special shoutout to Coach Zacharias from Richmond as his presentation on how DBs can decipher WR stems off the snap was so much fun, especially for myself who played both positions back in the day. Appreciate all the coaches that presented and took the time to connect with me.

     Throughout the convention, one message was very clear from the coaches, the transfer portal and NIL dealings are a mess right now. This convention was actually a bit thin in some of the higher level coaches attending because of the transfer portal over lapping. I also had the chance to meet with some fellow journalists who cover college football for the Athletic. A great group of writers that everyone should go look up if they have the chance, starting with David Ubben, co-host of my favorite College Football Podcast: Bunch Formation. While talking with the sports writers, we were approached by an FCS head coach who gave us quite the story about a typical interaction in the portal. I'll leave the specifics out of the blog as it wasn't a formal interview, but the story he gave explained how an athlete he was recruiting for his program was offered a walk-on position with $100,000 NIL deal at a Power 4 FBS school. The head coach talked with the athlete between visits as he was supposed to visit the FCS school next, explaining that his school would be giving him a scholarship, room and board along with a smaller NIL package. Highlighting how that $100k would be split up for various expenses including school, housing, food, insurance and taxes, he encouraged the athlete to still visit his program before making a final decision. The athlete ultimately decided to cancel his flight (and effectively his visit) to the FCS school, but because he was in between visits the Power 4 school was no longer allowed to pay for him to fly back to their campus or to home. The FCS school was expected to pick up the next air fare tab for the athlete's official visit, but because the athlete canceled, they had no obligation. So the athlete effectively stranded himself in whatever airport hub he was at while between visits and the compliance office of the P4 school was calling the FCS school trying to get them to pay the bill to fly that kid home. I wonder if they used some of his NIL deal to buy his tickets.

     In addition to the large dollar signs being thrown around, many coaches explained to myself and others how most of these athletes are getting bad advice from family members or makeshift agents who were looking for a quick pay day. Another FCS coach who spoke on a panel explained that any player with the opportunity to play college football at the D3, D2, NAIA or D1 levels of any kind are in roughly the top 8% of all football players, if you make it to D1, you're in the top 4%. So athletes looking to jump around from one division to another for a big pay day, are not appreciating what their current opportunities are. We saw a good example of that in this cycles as well over 1,000 players at each level were left stuck in the portal. Some likely pushed toward the promise of a bigger payday by an agent. Another head coach from the D2 ranks explained that while his school has become very portal heavy in their recruitment, he refuses to discuss NIL packages with athletes until later in the recruitment processes - "If your first conversation with me involves asking how much money we have for you or telling me to talk to your agent, we're done. I can't call your agent when you drop a pass." Also on that panel was Baylor head coach, Dave Aranda. He explained how finding the right type of player is just as important as spending the money in the right areas. It can be difficult to have more of your money on the sideline because guys aren't developed enough, and you have to find the difference between a kid who wants to play and who wants to win. "Guys who want to play [football] are focused on money, gear and attention. Guys who want to win are focused on development and football." Truly a great experience at AFCA and I loved all the new perspectives shared around so many unique parts of this sport.

     Shifting my thoughts to the current playoff expansion discussions going on, I have very little to say other than LEAVE IT BE! The reports of a 16-team or 24-team playoff are extremely frustrating when you have seen the success of the 12-team playoff in just the two years of existence. I think an adjustment needs to be made with the committee and a BCS type computer system should be brought in for extra metrics, but the 12-team playoff has been phenomenal. Over the past two seasons, you've had 20 different teams in the playoffs overall, 13 different teams in the quarterfinals, 8 different teams in the semifinals and 4 different teams playing for the National Title. The 12-team playoff has enhanced the regular season and it gives a pathway for all 136 teams in Division 1 FBS football. We finally have a system that can squeeze out whatever parity is available in this sport, despite some of the biases pushing certain teams and conferences forward. I get the money game and how all the conferences and big wigs want to make more money, but sacrificing more passion and integrity of this sport for a few more games is ridiculous. The SEC does not have 7 teams capable of winning a national title, same for the BIG 10. As a Husker fan and football analyst, I study the BIG 10 a lot. The three best teams (Indiana, Ohio State and Oregon) got into the field, USC, Michigan and others were not good enough. The regular season games have to matter. There has to be a consequence for losing an October or November game instead of saying "no big deal, we'll still be in the top 24 teams for the bracket". Expanding the playoffs does nothing in terms of getting higher quality games, it's simply for larger amounts of money. I'm the last person who would want to see fewer football games, but at the cost of minimizing the importance of what these game mean in unacceptable. I believe the playoffs should stay at 12, this system has proven to be a good one with providing a pathway for every team, while ensuring every game you play has both rewards and consequences.

College Football Playoff National Championship

#10 Miami Hurricanes vs #1 Indiana Hoosiers

     After three straight wins on the road and outside their home state, the Hurricanes get to play for the National Title at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Rugged play on the line of scrimmage and smart decisions by veteran QB Carson Beck have led the 'Canes back to the promised land under alumni Head Coach Mario Cristobal. Miami's revived run game is led by Junior RB, Mark Fletcher Jr., who's racked up nearly 400 yards on the ground in the playoffs alone. Beck has been patient in the pocket and does well to take what the defense gives him with underneath throws. His legs proved to be a difference-maker against Ole Miss, scrambling for first downs and the winning touchdown at key points in the game. They'll look to get the ball in to the hands of star wideout Malachi Toney early and often. Toney is one catch away from his 100th of the season and already has over 1,000 yards to go with his 9 touchdowns.  Defensively, the Hurricanes love to create havoc in the backfield as Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor combining for 19 total sacks on the season, helping Miami rank 1st in the nation with 47 sacks overall. They have been able to get pressure on everyone this season, but can they do it against Indiana? The Hoosiers have steamrolled every team in their way, boasting a national best +473 scoring margin. Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza executes this offense flawlessly behind a star-studded offensive line, and always seems to make the right decision with the ball. Miami's secondary is likely to struggle against Indiana's wide array of pass catchers, especially with multiple injuries and a first half targeting suspension in that sector of the field for the Hurricanes. Mendoza and his wideouts have been so good this season many people overlook the true power of this Indiana offense, running the ball wherever and whenever they want. The Hoosiers rank 12th in the nation with nearly 220 rush yards per game and average 5.3 yards per carry. The 1-2 punch of Roman Hemby and Kealon Black is hard to understate when there's more than 2,000 yards of turf behind their cleats this season, but the violence and vision these backs run with will certainly put Miami's 6th ranked run defense to the test. Indiana's defense is one of the nation's best as well, especially when forcing teams off the field on third down. Just over 30% of those conversions have been made this year and Miami could be in for a rude awakening if they get behind the chains. I do believe this could be an entertaining game for a while, but Indiana has looked completely dominant all season long, especially in the playoffs. Miami has the talent, they've shown their toughness in these Playoffs, but I don't think Carson Beck will be able to handle this defense. I don't think Mario Cristobal will out coach Curt Cignetti, and I don't think the U of Miami is tough enough to hang with the Indiana Football Hoosiers. As weird as it is to say, Indiana is your 2025-2026 National Champion as they defeat the Hurricanes 34-17. What an amazing college football season this has been. Thank you all for sticking with me throughout it and I'll have more thoughts to come after the game. Enjoy the Natty!

My first AFCA Coaching Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

College Football Playoff Semi-Finals

      We're nearing the end of our College Football season as there are just 3 games left until we crown a new champion! Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon and Indiana are the 4 teams that remain, meaning we will be witnessing some history with Miami being the only team to win a national title (most recently in 2001) and Ole Miss claiming 1960 for a national title with a 10-0-1 record. Both BIG 10 representatives have never won a national title although Oregon has been close on a few occasions. We'll break down each game and what to expect from our semi-final matchups. These should be two great games, so let's dive in!

Bowl Game/Postseason Record: 26 - 14

College Football Playoff Semi-Finals:

#10 Miami vs #6 Ole Miss - VRBO Fiesta Bowl

     The Hurricanes and the Rebels meet in the desert for our first semi-final matchup. These are two teams with conflicting styles as Ole Miss is ready for a shoot out any day of the week, but Miami plans to suffocate their opponents on the line of scrimmage. The Hurricanes did just that in their win against Ohio State, racking up 5 sacks on Julian Sayin for -42, 7 tackles for loss and dominating time of possession by nearly 7 minutes. The Buckeyes gave a strong push late in the second half, but ultimately the power of Miami's front from both sides of the ball won them this game. Carson Beck has been playing very well the last month and a half, throwing just 1 picks since the loss to SMU. He hasn't had to make many big throws, thanks to the emergence of their ground game under a healthy Mark Fletcher Jr. who is averaging 7.3 yards per carry throughout the playoffs. The Rebels' defense played very well against Georgia, allowing just 124 yards on the ground. The Bulldogs haven't been great at running throughout the season, but the dual-threat abilities from Gunner Stockton did give Ole Miss some headaches on 3rd down. They'll need to contain Carson Beck and try to keep Miami in 3rd and long situations so he can't nickel and dime them up the field with short passes. Ole Miss does have the ability to get pressure though, recording 2 sacks and 9 tackles for loss against Georgia. I was very impressed at how the Landsharks pursued the ball carrier, stretching Georgia's run game horizontal more often than not. That aggressive pursuit on the ball gives me hope they can compete on the lines with Miami. If they handle their business up front, Trinidad Chambliss could have yet another big game. In their two losses, Miami struggled to contain Miller Moss and Kevin Jennings in the pocket. Both of those players, along with Chambliss, are fantastic at extending plays and creating some magic during the scramble drill. The Ole Miss receivers are very much on the same page with Chambliss, even when he goes off script. This will put a lot of pressure on the Hurricanes' secondary. Be sure to watch how often they give up a chunk play because of Chambliss evading pressure. If Ole Miss starts fast, this is their best chance to win. Put Miami in a hole and make Carson Beck the feature player, not Mark Fletcher Jr. You cannot let the Hurricanes dictate the tempo and script of the game. We all know Ole Miss is playing with a lot of pride, their situation with Lane Kiffen might be the most motivating among all teams left in the field. However, the dominance on the line of scrimmage shown by Miami in the first two rounds has been eye-opening. If Ole Miss can't get the jump, I expect the Hurricanes to slowly suffocate them and Chambliss will be under a lot of heat from Reuben Baine Jr. and Ahkeem Mesidor. Look for them to be in the backfield a lot and I'll go with Miami 30-24.

#1 Indiana vs #5 Oregon - Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

     A BIG 10 rematch is set for semi-final number two as the Indiana Football Hoosiers take on the Mighty Ducks of Oregon. The first round went to Indiana as they got one of their statement wins on the season, defeating Oregon at Autzen Stadium 30-20. It's the only blemish on another great season from the Ducks, but can they finish the job this time? Oregon did their best to make a statement last week in the quarter-finals, shutting out Texas Tech 23-0. While the defense was on display, the Red Raiders did limit Oregon to just 64 yards rushing and 309 total yards. I wouldn't expect the Hoosiers' defense fall far from that as Alabama didn't even reach 200 total yards. In the last meeting Indiana racked up 6 sacks and 8 tackles for loss, keeping Dante Moore under constant pressure. The Hoosiers are great about keeping opponents behind the chains, allowing just 28% conversion rate. The Ducks rank 27th in the nation with 45% conversion rate for third downs, but they aren't afraid to go for it on fourth if necessary, converting 18/30 for 60%. I trust both of these coaches to build fantastic game plans, especially for a semi-final game. However, Dan Lanning's squads always seem to miss the right play at the right time in these big games. Oregon has had a few games where they looked a little flat this season, and Indiana seems ready to smash anyone in their path. This will be a phenomenal battle in the trenches, and don't forget Oregon can rush the passer well too with 29 sacks on the season. However, this Indiana team seems like they're destined to dance in some confetti, so I'm calling the Indiana Football Hoosiers to win this game 27-17. Watch how the Indiana Oline moves people around late in the game. They get stronger as the game goes on and that's hard to match.

Thank you for reading my semi-final playoff predictions and enjoy the games!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando

December 29 - January 2nd Bowl Games & CFP 2nd Round

      Hello football fans, we've got one more week full of Bowl Games as the post season marches on. This post will cover the all the games this week including the quarter-final matchups of the College Football Playoffs. Enjoy!

Bowl Record: 16 - 7

Bowl Game Predictions:

Georgia Southern vs Appalachian State - JLab Birmingham Bowl

     We've got a Sun Belt East Division Conference rematch for the Birmingham Bowl as App state opted in at 5-7 to take the place of various opt out teams. The first rendition of this game took place in Boone, NC as the Eagles defeated the Mountaineers 25-23. Both teams were hot on offense, racking up over 400 yards a piece and more than 20 first downs. The Mountaineers had a strong second half comeback, but it wasn't quite enough. I expect both QBs to be firing once again, as the pass defense in this game is abysmal with GSU ranking 112th in the nation and App State ranking 134th. the Eagles have a bit more momentum, winning 3 of their last 5 games, while App State only won 1. It's not often I pick the same team to win, but I'll go with Georgia Southern to take round two of the season as well. Eagles beat the Mountaineers 37-28.

Coastal Carolina vs Louisiana Tech - Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl

     The Chanticleers will have a new head man next season with former Missouri State Head Coach, Ryan Beard, coming over. However, they'll be under the direction of Interim HC Jeremiah Johnson for this bowl game. The Chants struggled on both sides of the ball this season, but after 3 straight losses giving up 45 points or more, the defense is a primary concern in this game. Louisiana Tech is averaging 27.7 points per game, but the last two weeks of the season they scored 34 & 42. The Bulldogs have rotated in a few QBs throughout the season, but it looks like Junior Trey Kukuk has taken over as of late, rushing for 172 yards and 3 TDs against Missouri State, showing off his dual-threat abilities. Their ground game has been strong all season, and if they can pick up good gains early in this one, Coastal could have a tough time slowing them down as the Chants rank 131st in rush defense. I always enjoy rooting for Coastal Carolina, but I'm going with the Bulldogs to run away with this one 30-17.

Tennessee vs Illinois - Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl

     Despite not beating a single opponent with a record above .500 this season, Tennessee was ranked for a majority of the year. They'll be squared up against the only Orange team in the BIG 10, Illinois. I had the Illini as my dark horse team to reach the College Football Playoffs, and sneak in as the 4th BIG 10 team in the field. Road games proved to be the achilles heel for this team, losing 3 key conference games on the road and failing to get much offense going, averaging just 15 points in those 3 road losses. Both squads will be without a few key players who are headed to the NFL Draft, but we do have a great QB matchup for this game. Joey Augilar of Tennessee and Luke Altmyer of Illinois can light up opposing defenses, and both rank in the top 30 for completion percentage in the nation. Augilar will be without his top target, Junior Wideout Chris Brazzle III, who's accounted for nearly 1/3 of the passing yards on Joey's stat sheet, but he does have a very dynamic RB in DeSean Bishop to take some of the pressure off with 6.0 yards per carry. Illinois run defense ranked in the middle of the BIG 10 conference, so if they can't stop Bishop early then more passing lanes will open up as they have to load the box. Offensively for the Illini, let Luke Altmyer lead the show. He makes great decisions with his throws and has multiple wideouts to throw to. I expect Illinois to grind this game to a slower pace, and Brent Belima always seems to have a trick up his sleeve in the Bowl Games. Give me Illinois 23-20 over Tennessee.

#16 USC vs TCU - Valero Alamo Bowl

     Our night cap of bowl action should give us quite a bit of fireworks with two offenses averaging over 30 points per game. Unfortunately, the Coaching Carousel, NFL Draft and Transfer Portal have hit both these teams fairly hard, so we'll see a lot of new names and faces out on the field. Starting with the Horned Frogs, OC Kendal Briles is headed to South Carolina, and star QB Josh Hoover has entered the Transfer Portal. They do have two dynamic backs with Jeremy Payne (5.7 yard per carry average) and Kevorian Barnes (4.6 yard per carry average) to provide some rushing attack, but breaking in a new QB won't be easy for Sonny Dykes. For the Trojans, Defensive Coordinator D'Anton Lynn has been poached by conference foe Penn State, and star Safety Kamari Ramsey has entered the NFL Draft along with their leading wideout, Makai Lemon. The Trojans run game has been effective at times this season, but injuries have dampened the impact of that unit. Lucky for them, QB Jayden Miava is still around, and if his Junior campaign is any indication of his talents, I would look at him as a dark horse Heisman for next year. Miava has nearly 3,500 pass yards to his name this season to go along with 23 TDs and 8 picks. He's added another 6 TDs on the ground and had USC on the edge of College Football Playoff Consideration. I think he'll have a big night and TCU has too many offensive pieces to replace for this game. Fight On as the Trojans win 38-24.

#23 Iowa vs #14 Vanderbilt - ReliaQuest Bowl

     The Hawkeyes and Commodores meet in Tampa for a hard-nosed battle between the BIG 10 and SEC. So far in bowl season the BIG 10 has done very well, currently holding a 6-1 record. The SEC has been lacking in bowl success thus far, sitting at 2-6 with one of those wins coming against their own. Regardless, this game puts one of the BIG 10's best defenses against the Heisman runner-up in Diego Pavia. He's been sensational in his two years at Vandy, racking up more than 4,000 total yards and 36 TDs this season. Iowa doesn't allow much offense to occur, ranking 6th in both Total and Scoring defense. However, the true threat the Hawkeyes bring in this game is on special teams. They rank 1st in the nation averaging nearly 30 yards per punt return and have 3 TDs brought back on punts this season. Iowa does a fabulous job of forcing teams into 3rd down and then getting off the field. Pavia and the Commodores have been one of my favorite teams to watch this season, falling short in two tough road games with Alabama and Texas. Those two losses kept them out of the Playoffs, and I don't think Pavia is one to leave something unsaid on his way out the door with his last college game. I think Iowa can put up a better fight than most against Vandy, but this is one where I'll side with the SEC. Anchor Down and Pavia puts on one last show for College Football. Vanderbilt 26, Iowa 21.

Arizona State vs Duke - Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl

     Two different Devils are set to dance in El Paso, both with their own unique styles. Starting with Arizona State, I think HC Kenny Dillingham and the players are going to be relieved to get back on the field following a lot of drama over the past month. The Sun Devils have been battered by injuries this year, but still found themselves in a fight amongst the best of the Big XII. They'll be a bit short-handed as a number of players are headed for the transfer portal, but ex-Husker Jeff Sims has done well in place of Sam Leavitt, and I'll give him his flowers, he's a big part of them winning 3 of their last 4 games. On the Blue Devils sideline, HC Manny Diaz and company walk into this game with an 8-5 record, a 3-game win streak and an ACC Championship Trophy. Tiebreakers gave them the shot, and they took it. QB Darian Mensah was fantastic this year, throwing for more than 3,600 yards with 30 TDs and just 5 picks. I don't trust this Duke team much, but there was a lot of drama with ASU over the break. I like Kenny Dillingham a lot and am glad he's staying in Tempe, but this season needs to wrap up so he can help move the program forward. Give me the Blue Devils to beat the Sun Devils 30-23.

#18 Michigan vs #13 Texas - Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

     Speaking of off-field drama, Michigan one-upped everyone over the past month, firing HC Sherrone Moore for cause after word of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member had been leaked. The Wolverines now have Kyle Whittingham in charge after he stepped down from Utah, but this team is likely in some shambles after that mess. Texas comes in on a high after winning 4 of their last 5, including knocking A&M out of the SEC Championship game. I'll be the first to say they proved me wrong because I thought this season was going off the rails back in October, but they did not quit. Arch Manning is improving well at QB, which is expected now that he's had time to actually play instead of just be propped up by media hype. He's got the offense in much better rhythm, but he'll be without run support as both CJ Baxter and Quintrevion Wisner are not playing in this game. This allows Michigan to make the Horns very one dimensional, something Texas should be looking to do the other way. Freshman QB Bryce Underwood has been good this season, but if a team sells out to stop the run, he's not quite ready to win it all with his arm. Expect a heavy dose of pressure from Texas' front 7, despite a few folks opting out of this game. The Longhorns rank 11th in sacks with 38 on the year, but Bryce is slippery in the pocket. Texas seems better prepared for success in this game with Steve Sarkisian not having a scandal, so I'll give another nod to the SEC with Texas defeating Michigan 31-21.

Rice vs Texas State - Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

     The Rice Owls find themselves as one of the Bowl alternatives at 5-7. They take on in-state foe with the Bobcats of Texas State, soon headed to the new PAC-12. Texas State had a 5-game losing streak in the middle of their season, but 4 of those loses were by just one score. This team has a very high-powered offense, ranking 12th in points per game with 36.1, 6th in total offense, averaging more than 475 per game. The Owls pulled off a few unexpected wins over the season, but after being out-scored 108 to 27 in their final two games, I'm not sure they'll be able to keep pace with Texas State. Looking for a big game from the Bobcats as they run away with it 45-21.

Navy vs Cincinnati - Autozone Liberty Bowl

     The Midshipmen were left out of the American Championship due to tiebreakers, but don't for a minute think this team didn't deserve their marks this season. Navy won its final three games of the season while Cincy found themselves on a 4-game skid. The Bearcats have many players in the Transfer Portal, including QB Brenden Sorsby. A number of their defensive players are also in the portal, so look for a lot of new faces to be playing for Cincy. Similar to the UConn/Army game, this doesn't set up well for the Bearcats. Navy will look to run all over them, led by Senior QB Blake Horvath, who's got 25 total TDs this season. He'll end his college career with an impressive outing and lead the Midshipmen to their 11th win of the season. Navy beats Cincy 31-21.

#17 Arizona vs SMU - Trust & Will Holiday Bowl

     One of my most anticipated matchups of Bowl Season comes in the Holiday Bowl with the Wildcats and the Mustangs. I've loved watching both of these teams throughout the season and am excited as both programs continue to grow under their respective head coaches. Starting with SMU, Rhett Lashlee had the Ponies on the brink of another ACC Championship in just their 2nd season with the conferences. Each one of their losses are late-game, one-score heartbreakers, so this team is not far out from another Playoff bid. Star QB Kevin Jennings needs a few weapons from the portal for next year, as he's accounted for 2/3 of SMU's total offensive yards this season. He's been a one-man Show Pony this year, accounting for 30 TDs. His QB counter-part on the Arizona sideline, Noah Fafita, plays a similar role for the Wildcats. He's accounted for 64% of Arizona's total offensive yards this season and has 29 total TDs to his name. Brent Brennan has done a fantastic job with this team, ending year 2 on a 5-game win streak. I'm excited for the offensive show in this game with two fabulous QBs. Look for these two on Heisman ballots next year, and in this one just enjoy the show. I really do like both of these teams, but Arizona has been hot to end the season, so I'll take the Wildcats to beat the Mustangs 38-34.

Wake Forest vs Mississippi State - Duke's Mayo Bowl

     Two feisty upset-minded teams in their respective conferences fight for the right to have their head coach get a bucket of Duke's Mayo dumped on them. The Demon Deacons and the Bulldogs look to end their season on a high note. Mississippi State came so close all season long to pulling upsets, but couldn't quite get the victory done. Wake pulled off a few upsets, but fell short in a few other games. It's hard to find any big factors that give one team the edge in this game, so I'm going to pick Wake Forest strictly off vibes. Demon Deacons 33, Bulldogs 27.

Nebraska vs #15 Utah - SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl

     My Huskers take on the Utes in their first game since 2005 without Kyle Whittingham. Morgan Scalley steps in as the new head man in Salt Lake City, and he's got plenty of firepower at his disposal. Scalley has been with Utah for a while as the coach in waiting, so the Utes won't miss much of a beat in their coaching change. Nebraska is looking for back-to-back bowl wins for the first time since 2008-2009 under Bo Pelini. They'll be without star RB Emmett Johnson as he's off to the NFL, and a number of coaching changes puts some game-planning questions on the table. QB TJ Lateef is expected to start after partially tearing his hamstring against Iowa, and he will still have weapons on the outside to throw to. Nebraska's offense will need to score quickly, especially as Utah's defense ranks 16th in scoring, allowing just 18.7 points per game. There are a number of question marks in the trenches for both sides following a few NFL draft departures from Utah, so whichever team establishes a run game early will certainly have an advantage. Defensively, the Blackshirts will have their hands full against Devon Dampier and the Utes offense. They take good care of the rock as Dampier has just 5 picks on the season with 29 total touchdowns. Tackling him is key as if Dampier gets loose, drives will be extended and the Huskers will fall behind quickly. A special teams spark would be extremely helpful in this game for Nebraska. While I think Utah is the team to win this game, I've picked Nebraska all season purely for love of my school. The season has unfolded very close to what I predicted, but maybe we'll get a bowl game surprise. All we can do is hope, but let's say Nebraska finally steps up and beats a ranked team. Wouldn't that be a wild twist to end 2025 with? GO BIG RED as they upset Utah 26-23. That's a pick from the heart, but if I was picking with my head I'd say Utah 34, Nebraska 17.

College Football Playoff Quarter-Finals:

#10 Miami vs #2 Ohio State - Goodyear Cotton Bowl

     The first of our quarter-final matchups gives us a 2002 Fiesta Bowl rematch between the Buckeyes and the Hurricanes. Ohio State had a BYE in the first round while Miami went into College Station and knocked off Texas A&M 10-3. The Hurricanes bring a formidable defensive front to Dallas, ranking 4th in sacks (41), 12th in tackles for loss (88) and 11th in opponent 3rd down conversion (31.4%). Offensively I still don't trust Carson Beck much, but the run game with Mark Fletcher Jr. was certainly a boost against A&M. Ohio State has playmakers all over the field, but none better than WR Jeremiah Smith, a Miami native. He's nearly impossible to guard and will be a tough matchup for all of Maimi's secondary. Their goal needs to be getting pressure early and often. The Buckeye's offensive line were overrun by Indiana in the BIG 10 Championship, so expect for Ryan Day to make adjustments and give QB Julian Sayin some extra blockers in the pocket. This game is hard to predict as Miami's defense looked better than expected at A&M, but I think Ohio State still has too much talent. Buckeyes beat Miami 27-21.

#5 Oregon vs #4 Texas Tech - Capital One Orange Bowl

     The Ducks and the Red Raiders meet in South Florida for a chance to move on in the College Football Playoffs. Oregon fell to Ohio State in this round last season, trying to make amends this year against Texas Tech. Both teams stumbled just once this year, so this is truly a battle of two of the nation's best. Oregon is led by QB Dante Moore, who's accounted for 3,046 pass yards and 30 total TDs. He'll be up against one of the nation's top defenses as Texas Tech seemingly lives in opposing backfields with 39 sacks and 96 tackles for loss. Offensively, both of these teams feast on big plays, ranking in the top 3 of plays of more than 20 yards. Oregon will look to get their ground game going early, but stopping the run could be a different story. The Ducks gave up 186 rush yards to James Madison in the first round, so expect the Red Raiders to test the defense early and often. I've been high on Oregon all year, but Texas Tech looks like a team built for this kind of game. Linebackers David Bailey and Jacob Rodriguez are my key factors and I expect them to make a couple of key stops to seal this game for Texas Tech. Guns up, Wreck 'em as the Red Raiders win 27-21 over the Ducks.

#9 Alabama vs #1 Indiana - Rose Bowl

     The Alabama Crimson Tide take on the Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl as the SEC and BIG 10 collide once again. One of College Football's blue bloods against one of the historically worst programs, but the latter is favored. Alabama comes in having turned things around midway through the game with Oklahoma, after being down 17-0 to start. The Tide struggled late in the year, and I'm anxious to see how they hold up against the physicality of Indiana. The Hoosiers are a bruising football team, focused on causing havoc in the backfield. Indiana ranks 6th with 39 sacks on the season and 3rd in opponent 3rd down conversions, allowing just 27%. The Hoosiers will be without star defensive linemen Kellen Wyatt and Stephen Daley. However, they do get their leading receiver, Omar Cooper Jr. back to help Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. Alabama's defense stepped up against Oklahoma, but there are plenty of holes to be found. The Hoosiers are much more balanced on offense, so if the Tide can't make them one dimensional, they'll be in trouble. Alabama will look to keep Ty Simpson clean in the pocket, which should be easier since the Hoosiers will be down a couple of stars. However, Curt Cignetti isn't afraid of dialing up unique blitzes, so Bama will need to get the run game going to open up passing lanes. Nothing would make me happier than a Hoosier beat down on the Crimson Tide, but I'll settle for a close win as well. I truly think Indiana is the better team after watching these two play throughout the season, and they're going to prove it out in Pasadena tomorrow. Indiana beat Bama for the roses and for the playoff win 31-24.

#6 Ole Miss vs #3 Georgia - Allstate Sugar Bowl

     An SEC rematch with the Rebels and the Bulldogs playing for higher stakes on the line. Georgia has been on a tear late in the season, most notably avenging their loss against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Ole Miss is looking to avenge their only loss on the season as the Bulldogs won the shootout between the hedges earlier this year. Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy are the key factors in this game, acting as the spark plug for the Rebels' offense. They'll need to be at there best, because Georgia's offense will be hard to stop. We could be in for another shootout, and that's where I get nervous for the Rebels. They need to force a turnover or two to win this game, and Georgia tends to be the team to get turnovers. I'll take the Bulldogs once again, it's just so hard to beat them in the playoffs. I'm rooting for the Rebels, but I'll say Georgia wins 38-28.

FCS National Championship:

Illinois State vs Montana State

     The Red Birds of Illinois State have nearly completed the impossible, winning every game on the road, as major underdogs, to earn a spot in the FCS National Championship. They're taking on the Bobcats of Montana State who are looking to make amends from last year's 3 point loss to North Dakota State. Both offenses are sensational, and if you've got time you need to tune into this game. Montana State is favored, they've got the pedigree. But there's something special about this Illinois State team. I picked the bobcats last year, and I do like their team a lot. But this is a special season, so give me the Red Birds in a Natty run unmatched by anyone. Illinois State defeats Montana State 37-31.

Thanks for reading all my bowl game predictions and be sure to look for my upcoming CFB Playoff Predictions as we move through the post-season. GO BIG RED!

#CFBKnowItAll

Alex Fernando