Overview
- The CFP semifinals are scheduled with No. 6 Ole Miss facing No. 10 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl and No. 1 Indiana meeting No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl, and the winners advancing to the Jan. 19 title game in Miami.
- Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said he is very confident starting tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. will play against Ole Miss after an ankle issue, reinforcing a front that has produced 12 sacks across two CFP games.
- Edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor headline the Hurricanes’ disruption, while Ole Miss leans on quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who has four 300-yard games in his last five and threw for 362 yards against Georgia.
- Indiana–Oregon doubles as a showcase for top quarterback prospects Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore, with draft analysts projecting the duo to contend for the first two picks in April.
- The NFL’s 14-team postseason is described as unusually open, and Rams coach Sean McVay expects Davante Adams and rookie TE Terrance Ferguson to play at Carolina and is optimistic on safety Quentin Lake, while remaining noncommittal on RG Kevin Dotson.