Overview
- The Fiesta Bowl features No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami on Thursday, Jan. 8, and the Peach Bowl pits No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon on Friday, Jan. 9; both kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
- Quarterfinals produced the field: Miami beat Ohio State 24-14, Oregon blanked Texas Tech 23-0, Indiana routed Alabama 38-3, and Ole Miss edged Georgia 39-34.
- Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza led Indiana in the Rose Bowl with 14-of-16 passing for 192 yards and three touchdowns in his first game since winning the award.
- Ole Miss advanced despite Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU, while Miami reached the semis on defense-led upsets, setting an unexpected Fiesta Bowl matchup.
- BetMGM lists Indiana as the title favorite at +130, the Peach Bowl opened around Indiana -3.5, and tickets were available with entry prices about $173 for the Peach Bowl and $162 for the Fiesta Bowl at publication.