Breakdowns and Coaching Points for Round 1 of the College Football Playoffs
Dec 19, 2025 3:37 pm
Coach,
The College Football Playoff's first round starts tonight, and then we get a full slate tomorrow! From here on out every snap matters, and the teams that are fundamentally sound and ready for the moment will move on. Let’s take a look at the games and gather insight from the coaches.
Friday, December 19th - Norman, OK - 8:00pm
Alabama vs. Oklahoma
The once peerless Crimson Tide are traveling to a rematch where their offense struggled mightily to score in the first bout. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was efficient through the air going 28/42 for 326 yards, but one interception tainted the performance by stalling a promising drive.
Coach Nick Sheridan, Co-OC & QB Coach for the Tide, will have a challenge getting their quarterback comfortable again this week, but this is playoff football – win or go home.
Getting the QB comfortable means running concepts he knows like the back of his hand, and calling them early and often. In the clip below, Coach Sheridan not only discusses a tried and true vertical switch concept, but his beliefs in how he coaches the quarterback position.
If the Tide are going to pull this one off, they’ll need Simpson to deliver more than just yards against the stingy and multiple Venables’ defense.
On the flip side, Oklahoma will look to match their performance in the first game by playing stout defense, and holding on for dear life with their offense. But if there’s one thing about Venables, it’s that he’ll give the Simpson and the Tide a ton of different looks and bring timely pressures.
If the Sooners can stuff the run and force the recently shaken Simpson to win the game with his arm, they might book their trip to Pasadena to take on the Heisman-led Hoosiers.
Video: Texas Pressure vs. the Run
Saturday, December 20th - Bryan-College Station, TX - 12:00pm
Miami vs. Texas A&M
The Aggies will host the Hurricanes in a contest of conference title outsiders looking to right that wrong and move forward to the Cotton Bowl where reigning National Champion Ohio State awaits. The Aggies offense has been explosive all year, but defense wins championships and they’ll need an answer to Miami’s run game which is averaging 150 yards per game.
They’ll be up against veteran OL Coach Alex Mirabal who is one of the best in the nation. His offensive lines are known for excellent fundamentals and technique, many of which he is the best at teaching. Expect the Hurricanes to establish their run game early with a mix of downhill duo and wide zone as their complement.
Here is a clip of Coach Mirabal teaching how they use the Gallop Technique:
On the flip side, beyond stopping the run, we know for a fact that the Aggies are going to make Miami’s QB Carson Beck as uncomfortable as possible.
A key to the Aggies’ success all year has been their incredible 3rd down defense which has stumped every offense they’ve faced. They finished the year holding offenses to only a 25% success rate on the down.
The key to their 3rd down success isn’t simply their All-American DE Cashius Howell, which certainly helps, but their ability to keep the opposing QB guessing every down. A hallmark of Elko’s defenses are their unpredictability on the backend: they’ll switch up playing man and zone plus they’ll often show a lot of defenders at the line while bringing a variety of pressures sometimes but then dropping out others.
Saturday, December 20th - Oxford, MS - 3:30pm
Tulane vs. Ole Miss
This game is the first of two G5 vs. P4 playoff matchups and the second rematch on the slate. And it was a one sided affair the first time the Green Wave ran into the Rebels.
A major theme in that matchup was Tulane’s inability to move the ball against the newly named Ole Miss HC and his defense. They held the Green Wave’s gunslinger to just 57 yards in the air off a 29% completion percentage.
If there’s one thing you should know about Golding, it’s that you won’t have to worry about him overlooking the details. And with Tulane being an underdog, don’t be surprised if you see them pull out funky formations or plays in order to gain an edge.
Here’s a good example of Golding’s attention to detail as he explains how they handle bunches:
Video: Bunch Plan and Location
On the flipside, Tulane knows they’re the underdogs, but certainly can’t play like one. That first game was weeks ago and a lot has changed to disrupt the mojo in Oxford.
Even though Tulane HC Jon Sumrall is a man with two jobs, there’s no doubt he’ll want to keep this job going for at least another week to take on his new rival in the Georgia Bulldogs in back home in New Orleans.
Saturday, December 20th - Eugene, OR - 7:30pm
James Madison vs. Oregon
The James Madison Dukes were probably an FCS team for a bit too long, and now just a few years in the FBS (plus with just an HC in his second year at the program), they find themselves in the tournament to win it all. But they’re going to need to travel well to stave off a well-coached and well-dressed Oregon Duck football team.
While Oregon is surely down they missed out on an opportunity in the Big 10 championship game, they are surely not going to be down for this game. Dan Lanning is a masterful motivator, and he’s also a masterful game planner.
This trait shows up time and time again with their seemingly uncanny ability to call the right pressures at the right time in the biggest moments.
Here’s a clip below from Coach Lanning detailing how they scouted Alabama and discovered a costly tendency that they took advantage of in the National Championship:
Video: Building a Simulated Pressure Plan
Coach Lanning is no stranger to National Championships from his time at Georgia, and after last year’s meltdown in the Rose Bowl, you can bet on the fact that the Ducks will be ready to play. But don’t count out the Dukes to give a good fight. They’re not a program used to losing.
The intersection of coaching, planning and practice collides with execution beginning tonight. Enjoy all of the games this weekend!
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