Four marquee showdowns will be headlining the College Football Playoff quarterfinals staged at four of the sport’s most iconic bowl games with semifinal spots on the line. Four teams that earned first-round byes will make their CFP debuts, each hoping to reverse a trend that emerged last season.

All four teams that received byes in the inaugural 12-team playoff lost in the quarterfinals, fueling the notion that rest may be overrated in college football’s still-new postseason format. That dynamic could shift this year after a tweak to the seeding formula awarded byes to the four highest-ranked teams rather than the four highest-ranked conference champions.

Wednesday night opens the quarterfinals with No. 2 Ohio State facing No. 10 Miami in the Cotton Bowl, as the reigning national champion Buckeyes begin their CFP run as 9.5-point favorites. Thursday brings a tripleheader, starting with No. 4 Texas Tech against No. 5 Oregon in the Orange Bowl. Among the four teams with byes, the Red Raiders are the lone underdog, with Oregon entering as a slight favorite.

The Rose Bowl will feature No. 1 Indiana against No. 9 Alabama, as the Hoosiers look to remain college football’s lone unbeaten team. The quarterfinals conclude in the Sugar Bowl, where No. 3 Georgia meets No. 6 Ole Miss in a rematch of the Bulldogs’ 43-35 regular-season win over the Rebels.

Here are the CBS Sports expert picks for those matchups.

Oregon vs. Texas Tech 

Thursday at noon on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): This game sets up to be a chess match throughout the afternoon, with both Oregon and Texas Tech looking to set up and eventually execute explosive plays against elite defenses. It’s a chess match that will be fascinating to watch play out and likely set up a close game deep into the second half. It’s just at some point we’re going to need a quarterback to make a game-saving or game-winning play and right now I’d rather side with Dante Moore in that discussion. He’s made some huge throws late in games this season and I like his odds more to be able and do so again.  Pick: Oregon -2.5 — Chip Patterson

Alabama vs. Indiana

Thursday at 4 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): The total for this one feels a little low. I’m not expecting a shootout, but I do believe both offenses are capable of moving the ball against these opposing defenses. Oklahoma probably should’ve scored more than it did against Alabama in the first round, and while Indiana’s defense has been exceptional, it has been prone to allowing explosive passes this season, which is an area Alabama thrives. Won’t be a shootout, but it won’t be a rock fight, either. Pick: Over 48.5 — Tom Fornelli

Georgia vs. Ole Miss 

Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): Since giving up 35 points against Ole Miss in a 43-35 home victory over the Rebels on Oct. 18, Georgia has grown into one of college football’s premier defensive outfits. The Bulldogs’ last four opponents have averaged a paltry 7.25 points per game as coordinator Glenn Schumann’s unit has developed the teeth needed to make UGA a legitimate national championship contender. It’s hard to imagine Ole Miss playing as perfectly offensively as it did through the first three quarters of the first meeting. Look for Georgia’s defense to come up with enough key stops to help Georgia pull away and reach the semifinals. Pick: Georgia -6.5 — David Cobb

Ohio State vs. Miami 

Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): The Hurricanes have talent all over the field and may even hold a slight advantage in the trenches, but Ohio State is simply stacked. The firepower of the Buckeyes offense has barely been put on full display yet as Ohio State cruised through most of its 2025 schedule. While Miami could cause some complications with its pass rush, the Buckeyes will make enough plays to put this game away. Pick: Ohio State -9.5 — Shehan Jeyarajah

Who will win and cover in each college football bowl and playoff game? SportsLine’s computer model just simulated each matchup 10,000 times and has revealed its picks. Visit SportsLine now to see all its college football picks.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Arch Manning made big plays with his arm and his legs Wednesday in the Citrus Bowl, throwing two touchdown passes and putting it away with a 60-yard scoring run in a 41-27 victory that ended a rough month for No. 14 Michigan.

Manning was an easy choice as the Citrus Bowl MVP, and that was before he burst up the middle on his 60-yarder that gave the Longhorns (10-3) a 38-27 lead, the first time all game either team led by more than one score.

Manning was 21-of-34 for 221 yards passing, and he ran nine times for 155 yards.

He delivered a perfect throw to Kaliq Lockett on a 30-yard TD for a 31-27 lead, the first time Texas led since a field goal on its opening drive.

That was one play after he scrambled 15 yards for a first down on fourth-and-2. Manning twice converted on fourth down with clutch runs, both times extending drives that led to touchdowns.

Manning said it was meaningful to end on a high note after having an up-and-down season.

“I think I go back to Coach [Steve Sarkisian’s] point, just staying the course and continue to compete,” Manning said. “And I think we had a month of preparation before this and getting new guys acclimated, and it was cool to cap it off like the way we did.”

Kyle Whittingham, who arrived in Orlando on Saturday to start meeting with players, watched from the box at the Citrus Bowl. The longtime Utah coach takes over a Michigan team (9-4) that produced a strong running game and played tough on defense despite missing its top two defenders, who opted out of the game.

But there was no answer for Manning, who accounted for about 80% of the Longhorns’ offense.

Texas also got great production from freshman running back Christian Clark, who had one touchdown and rushed for 105 yards on 20 carries. The Longhorns were without their three leading rushers, all of whom are entering the transfer portal.

Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s freshman quarterback, kept the Wolverines in the game until a pair of late interceptions sealed it. He was 23-of-42 for 199 yards and two touchdowns, along with three interceptions in the last 18 minutes of the game.

Underwood, who ran for 77 yards, scampered for a 5-yard touchdown run by diving to touch the pylon, giving Michigan its last lead at 27-24 with just under 11 minutes to go.

His pass was intercepted by Ty’Anthony Smith over the middle after Texas had taken the lead, and Smith picked off Underwood another time along the sideline on the next drive.

“We have got a great football team in there that, I promise you, not a lot of people wanted to play,” Sarkisian said. “There was probably a lot of teams that were hoping we didn’t get into the playoff, and that’s OK, too. But our trajectory is right where it needs to be. We’re a very good football team. We lost a couple tough ballgames. We fought back. We’ve got the right culture, the right mentality.”

Biff Poggi lost for the first time as Michigan’s interim coach. Poggi coached victories over Nebraska and Central Michigan when former coach Sherrone Moore served a two-game suspension related to the sign-stealing scandal from 2023.

Moore was fired three weeks ago due to what the school said was an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member,” and he was arrested and charged with three crimes later in the day for breaking into the woman’s home.

Whittingham brings a history of toughness and discipline from his 21 years at Utah, which Michigan hopes can go a long way toward bringing some stability.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Miami received plenty of attention for its high-profile transfer quarterbacks and dynamic offensive playmakers. But when the Hurricanes were at their zenith, “The U” was defined by physicality. 

No. 2 Ohio State was a perfect stress test for the surging Hurricanes, fresh off their first playoff win. On the third play of the game, the Ohio State offensive line parted like the Red Sea and kraken-like defensive ends Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor broke through for the first of many sacks on Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin. 

“It’s just three and four,” defensive end Rueben Bain said. “That’s just what three and four do, playing fast, playing physically, just playing that brand of football.” 

Three and four in this case refers to Mesidor and Bain, the best defensive end combination in college football. And for the Hurricanes, the duo is a throwback. 

No. 10 Miami didn’t just beat Ohio State in one of the biggest upsets of the playoff era. They pulverized them, turning 9.5-point underdog status into a 24-14 win against the reigning national champions. The Hurricanes held the Buckeyes to negative rushing yardage in the first half and rushed for more yards against Ohio State than any team since the season opener. 

Miami coach Mario Cristobal is an offensive line coach by trade, and his physical presence permeates through the program. The Hurricanes have recruited and developed at an elite level in both trenches, developing consensus All-Americans on both sides. At a time where offensive lines are regressing nationally, Miami is only getting better. 

“When you look at what we go against every day, when we go good-on-good, that’s my favorite period of practice,” defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said. “It’s not exactly the same look you’re going to get, not exactly the same formation, not the same pitcher – but you’re seeing the fast fastball.” 

When going against Ohio State, both trenches were more than ready for the challenge. The Hurricanes got after Sayin from the start. After sacking him in the first, the Buckeyes tried to go to the quick game and Keionte Scott jumped the route and returned it 72 yards for a touchdown. The defense finished with five sacks, including three combined by Mesidor and Bain. 

In the second half, Miami tried to use short passes and interior runs to take Miami’s star edge rushers out of the game. But on the game’s deciding drive, Ohio State was called for a holding that prevented points. Miami was able to put the game away with a field goal. 

The Buckeyes have been the standard up front across college football for years. At the Cotton Bowl, there was no question which was the more physical team. 

“They’re a good unit, they’ve got good guys on their team,” Mesidor said. “But at the end of the day, if you give me and Rueben one-on-ones, we’re going to take advantage of that all day. I take us every time.” 

In the game’s waning moments, the Miami offensive line took over. Running back CharMar Brown came off the bench to deliver 26 physical yards, adding to game MVP Mark Fletcher Jr.’s 115 all-purpose yards. 

It was the second week in a row that Cristobal leaned on his signature offensive line and running game to close things out. Again, it led to a game-sealing touchdown drive. 

“We keep getting better and better up front,” Cristobal said. “We don’t think we have arrived by any stretch, but we certainly think we’re getting better. When you play a team like that that’s been the number one defense in the country the entire year, you have to. And you have to not only hit, but you’ve got to be willing to take the hits and keep coming.” 

Miami was the subject of controversy when it passed Notre Dame to take the final at-large spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. After wins over No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 2 Ohio State, the Hurricanes have proven they belong. 

In the next round, Miami gets the winner of Georgia vs. Ole Miss and a date in the semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl. After passing the program’s biggest test in at least 20 years, Miami is ready to fight with anyone they meet. 

“[Cristobal] told me that we’ll get this program back to national championship status,” Fletcher said. “We’ll just continue to keep on going on one game at a time.”

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The playoff-bound Packers added some much-needed help in the secondary when they claimed former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs off waivers Wednesday.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Diggs was released a day earlier for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to skipping a team flight home from Dallas’ most recent game against the Commanders in Maryland.

The Packers lost a pair of cornerbacks to injuries in Saturday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Nate Hobbs suffered a knee injury that could end his season, and Kamal Hadden sustained a season-ending ankle injury and already has been placed on injured reserve.

Because Diggs was claimed off waivers, Green Bay inherited the remainder of the five-year, $97 million contract he signed in 2023, but because the deal has no remaining guaranteed money, the Packers could cut him without any salary cap consequences after this season.

The move costs the Packers only one week’s pay, $472,000, plus another $58,823 if Diggs is active for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings. If he had cleared waivers, he would have been a free agent.

Diggs has played in only eight games this season, missing time because of a concussion and a right knee injury, and hasn’t had a pass breakup or an interception. His lone tackle for a loss came in the tie against the Packers in Week 4.

Green Bay has been thin at cornerback since it released Jaire Alexander in the offseason. Hobbs was supposed to play a key role after signing a four-year, $48 million contract as a free agent in the offseason, but he has battled knee injuries since the preseason.

Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer addressed Diggs’ exit earlier Wednesday, saying his refusal to fly home with the team after the Commanders game on Christmas “was one of many factors” in why he was waived. Diggs, a Maryland native, asked Schottenheimer in the locker room whether he could remain in the area to be with family and was told no.

“It was not the only factor,” Schottenheimer said. “I’m not the Grinch that stole Christmas. I love Christmas. I love my family. But at the end of the day we have a protocol that we go through, and the process was not followed.”

It had not been a smooth season for Diggs even before that. He had questioned defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ scheme and wanted to play more man-to-man coverage. After suffering a concussion from an at-home accident, Diggs was placed on injured reserve because of issues with his right knee. The Cowboys did not elevate him to the 53-man roster until the practice window was up, with Schottenheimer saying Diggs needed to do “everything” right before he would return.

It’s too soon to know whether Diggs could play Sunday against the Vikings.

On Tuesday, the Packers signed cornerbacks Shemar Bartholomew and Jaylin Simpson from the practice squad to the active roster to help offset their injuries at the position. They also added another cornerback to their practice squad Wednesday by signing Tyron Herring.

ESPN’s Todd Archer contributed to this report.