CFP First Round Game Recaps- Two Road Upsets, Two Expected Blowouts

The first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff is in the books, and two road teams did get victories, starting with Alabama on Friday and Miami on Saturday. The other two games played out as expected, although James Madison continued to fight until the end and posted a respectable scoreline of 51-34 to show for it.

It was a big weekend around college football, with an exciting finish in the Division III semifinals, while Ferris State won its fourth DII title in five seasons with a 42-21 win over Harding. For the sake of this article, however, I will dive deeper into the FCS semifinals, while focusing heavily on the exciting FBS action and what is to come during the New Year’s festivities.

If you want a more detailed discussion, I have brought back my personal podcast, SportsVibe, where Andrew and I will discuss the results week-by-week and look ahead to future action. Here is the first episode of the resumed series, recapping the first round, discussing the Group of Five conundrum, the FCS semifinals, and an early look ahead to what should be a glorious quarterfinal slate across the New Year’s holiday.

First Round Game Recaps

#9 Alabama 34, #8 Oklahoma 24

In a rematch of Oklahoma’s 23–21 regular-season win, Alabama delivered payback in the best game of the first round on Friday night in Norman.

The Sooners dominated early, jumping out to a 17–0 lead while outgaining Alabama 181–12 and dictating tempo on both sides of the ball. Then the game flipped. Ty Simpson hit freshman Lotzier Brooks for two touchdown passes, and a botched Oklahoma punt handed Alabama short field position.

The defining moment came just before halftime, when pressure forced John Mateer into a pick-six thrown directly to Zabien Brown, who returned it 50 yards to tie the game.

Alabama controlled much of the second half, building a 10-point lead before Oklahoma answered with a 37-yard Deion Burks touchdown. That was as close as the Sooners would get. Two missed field goals by Lou Groza Award winner Tate Sandell erased any comeback hopes.

Oklahoma’s defense kept it competitive, but the offense — ranked 49th in offensive SP+ — stalled when it mattered. After a strong start, Mateer managed just 149 yards on his final 31 attempts, taking five sacks and throwing the decisive pick-six.

Alabama survived a slow start, surged when the opportunity presented itself, and finally exorcised its Oklahoma demons when it mattered most.

Play of the Game: Germie Bernard Mosses an Oklahoma defender to make a jaw-dropping contested catch.

#10 Miami 10, #7 Texas A&M 3

This wasn’t the shootout many expected, but it was a classic December survival game at a raucous Kyle Field.

Wind and nerves wrecked offensive rhythm early, with four missed field goals across the first three quarters. Texas A&M’s kicking struggles resurfaced, as a blocked attempt by backup Jared Zirkel wasted a long opening drive, while Miami’s Carter Davis missed twice after short fields.

Miami finally broke through midway through the third quarter, when Carson Beck began pushing the ball downfield, and Davis converted a 21-yard field goal for a 3–0 lead. The Aggies answered in the fourth with a seven-minute drive capped by a 35-yard Randy Bond kick.

The decisive sequence came late. After Malachi Toney fumbled to give A&M prime field position, Rueben Bain Jr. delivered two sacks to force a punt. Miami leaned on Mark Fletcher Jr., whose 56-yard run set up Beck’s strike to Toney for the game’s only touchdown with under two minutes remaining.

Texas A&M had one last chance, reaching first-and-goal at the five, but two incompletions and a third-down interception by freshman Bryce Fitzgerald — his second of the game — sealed the upset.

Miami advanced by winning the margins: pass rush, situational defense, and late-game execution.

Play of the Game: Fitzgerald seals the Hurricanes’ victory with his end zone interception of Reed

#6 Ole Miss 41, #11 Tulane 10

In a regular-season rematch, this game followed a familiar script from the opening whistle. Ole Miss struck fast and decisively, with Trinidad Chambliss leading a blistering start that saw the Rebels go 75 yards in three plays for a touchdown, then follow it up with another scoring drive of just four plays and 60 yards.

Tulane quarterback Jake Retzlaff flashed his dual-threat ability early, but an interception deep in Rebels territory on the Green Wave’s opening drive proved costly. Despite holding Ole Miss mostly in check for the remainder of the first half, Tulane trailed 17–3 at halftime and never seriously threatened after the break. A punt, a turnover on downs, and two second-half fumbles by Retzlaff erased any chance of a comeback.

Ole Miss’s offense was efficient throughout. Chambliss completed 23 of 29 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown while adding 51 rushing yards on four non-sack carries. Running back Kewan Lacy, who briefly exited with a shoulder injury, scored the opening touchdown and finished with 87 yards on 15 carries. The Rebels’ pass-catching trio of Deuce Alexander, De’Zhaun Stribling, and tight end Dae’Quan Wright combined for 16 receptions and 230 yards, overwhelming a Tulane secondary that had no answers.

Ironically, Tulane moved the ball effectively between the 20-yard lines. Retzlaff passed for more yards than Chambliss with 306 yards and a touchdown, Jamauri McClure rushed for 84 yards, and Shazz Preston led all receivers with 125 yards. But turnovers told the story, as Retzlaff’s interception and two lost fumbles wiped out promising drives, and the Green Wave never had a chance to climb back into the game.

Despite trailing by only 76 yards in total offense (497–421), the difference was clear. Tulane proved it can compete with respectable power-conference teams — as evidenced by wins over bowl-eligible Northwestern and ACC champion Duke — but Ole Miss showed the gap that still exists between a top-tier Group of Five program and a legitimate national title contender.

Drive of the Game: Ole Miss explodes for an opening touchdown, going 75 yards in 3 plays and just 0:59

#5 Oregon 51, #12 James Madison 34

Oregon highlighted the talent gap against a Group of Five hopeful in James Madison, which had steamrolled Sun Belt competition all season to earn a CFP berth. The Ducks struck quickly, driving 68 yards in four plays on their opening drive, capped by a 41-yard touchdown pass from Dante Moore to tight end Jamari Johnson, who made an impressive one-handed grab.

The Ducks’ offense stayed explosive all game. Dierre Hill Jr. broke free for a 56-yard touchdown, Malik Benson hauled in 46- and 45-yard scores, and Moore’s arm strength created big plays consistently. By halftime, Oregon had raced to a 34–6 lead, reminiscent of their rout over Rutgers earlier in the season.

James Madison responded in the second half, moving the ball effectively against Oregon’s backups and cutting the deficit to 17. Quarterback Alonza Barnett III completed 23 of 48 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns, adding 45 rushing yards and a score. Running back Wayne Knight averaged 6.5 yards per carry, finishing with 110 rushing yards, while Nick DeGenarro caught five passes for 90 yards and threw a 50-yard pass. The Dukes totaled 509 yards — the most allowed by Oregon all season.

But Oregon’s defense clamped down when it mattered, keeping JMU out of the end zone on key drives. The Ducks’ combination of depth, speed, and explosive playmaking proved decisive, while the Dukes showed heart and resilience despite the deficit.

Play of the Game: Dante Moore to Jamari Johnson, 41-yard one-handed grab on Oregon’s opening drive.

Bonus: FCS Championship Game is Set

Montana State 48, Montana 23

In a historic postseason edition of the “Brawl of the Wild”, the Montana State Bobcats dominated early and late to punch their ticket to the championship. MSU built a 20–3 halftime lead and then responded decisively after the Grizzlies scored the game’s next 20 points to go up 23-3 late in the third quarter. From there, the Bobcats scored the final 28 points to take the decisive victory and advance back to the FCS Championship.

Quarterback Justin Lamson accounted for multiple touchdowns, including a game-changing 87-yard catch-and-run pass to Taco Dowler as he threw off-balance to the deep middle of the field on a 3rd-and-20 with just a 27-23 lead in the third quarter. The defense stepped up its intensity, and the offense continued to string drives together.

Running back Adam Jones racked up 131 rushing yards with two scores, and a late pick‑six by Bryce Grebe helped seal the win in front of a boisterous Bozeman crowd. The victory also marked the Bobcats’ third FCS title game appearance in five seasons under coach Brent Vigen. After dropping the FCS title game to NDSU, getting rolled by Oregon, and falling to South Dakota State in overtime, Montana State has not lost since.

Illinois State 30, Villanova 14

Unseeded Illinois State continued its remarkable postseason run by defeating Villanova and earning a berth in the championship game. The Redbirds built a solid lead early, fueled by standout performances from quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse and receiver Daniel Sobkowicz.

Running back Victor Dawson added 154 yards and a touchdown, and a strong defensive effort helped Illinois State limit the Wildcats’ scoring opportunities to just two field goals before a late touchdown. This marks Illinois State’s first national title appearance in 11 years and the program’s first FCS championship game since 2014.

As an unseeded team, the Redbirds played each of their playoff games on the road, taking down Southeastern Louisiana 21-3, upsetting top-ranked and previously undefeated North Dakota State 29-28 in Fargo, taking down UC Davis 42-31, and knocking off 12th-seeded Villanova in Philadelphia. Their Cinderella run will see them clash with a Bobcats team that has gotten close but has not won the national championship since 1984.

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