CFP Recap: Indiana Demolishes Bama, Miami Stuns Ohio State

The Day the Earth Stood Still

January 1, 2026, will be remembered as the day the College Football world was turned upside down. In the most stunning Quarterfinal round in the history of the sport, the two biggest brands in the sport—Alabama and Ohio State—were not just beaten; they were humbled.

Rose Bowl: (1) Indiana 38, (9) Alabama 3

Pasadena, CA - "They played a Big Ten schedule." "They haven't played anyone." "Alabama is battle-tested."

Indiana heard the noise. And then they silenced it.

The Hoosiers' defense, led by coordinator Bryant Haines, put on a masterclass, holding Jalen Milroe and the Crimson Tide offense to a singular field goal. It was complete dominance. On offense, Kurtis Rourke was surgical, throwing for 3 touchdowns. Indiana didn't just win; they physically dominated Alabama at the line of scrimmage. Curt Cignetti told us he wins. He wasn't lying.

Cotton Bowl: (10) Miami 24, (2) Ohio State 14

Arlington, TX - The "U" is officially back. Cam Ward, playing with the swagger of Miami legends past, extended plays and frustrated the Buckeyes' pass rush all night. Ohio State's offense sputtered in the red zone, settling for field goals while Miami capitalized with touchdowns. The Buckeyes' $20 million roster is going home, and Mario Cristobal has Miami in the Semi-Finals.

The Other Two

While the upsets stole the headlines, the other two games were equally compelling:

• Orange Bowl: (5) Oregon 23 - (4) Texas Tech 0. The Ducks' defense pitched a shutout against the high-flying Red Raiders. Simply suffocating.
• Sugar Bowl: (6) Ole Miss 39 - (3) Georgia 34. In a game that featured 900+ yards of offense, Jaxson Dart made one more play than Carson Beck. Lane Kiffin finally gets his signature win over Kirby Smart.

Semi-Final Matchups

The Final Four is set for next week:

• Fiesta Bowl (Jan 8): (6) Ole Miss vs. (10) Miami
• Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Jan 9): (1) Indiana vs. (5) Oregon

Devy Stock Watch

For those in Devy (Developmental) leagues, these games shifted the landscape:

• Stock Up: Cam Ward (QB, Miami). Ward looked like the best player on the field against an NFL-laden Ohio State defense. His ability to create off-script is elite. He has cemented himself as a top-3 QB in the 2026 class.
• Stock Down: Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama). When the first read wasn't there, Milroe struggled to process the field against Indiana's zone coverage. He likely returns to school, but his draft stock took a major hit.
• Stock Up: Elijah Sarratt (WR, Indiana). The transfer WR dominated Alabama's secondary. He is a name to watch for late-round rookie draft value.