Overview
- The 14-team bracket starts this weekend with Los Angeles opening at Carolina, while Denver and Seattle hold first-round byes in a postseason lacking recent fixture Kansas City.
- Rams coach Sean McVay said he expects Davante Adams to play in the Wild Card game and also anticipates TE Terrance Ferguson and DB Quentin Lake returning, with RG Kevin Dotson still uncertain.
- Indiana–Oregon and Ole Miss–Miami headline the CFP semifinals, with Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore viewed by analysts as the leading candidates to go first and second in the NFL draft.
- Oregon will be without running back Jordon Davison in the Peach Bowl due to a broken clavicle, increasing pressure on Moore and the Ducks’ passing game.
- The Raiders own the No. 1 pick after a 3-14 season and have dismissed coach Pete Carroll; reporting indicates owner Mark Davis has GM John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady helping steer football operations as evaluations of Mendoza and Moore intensify.