• Scholar & Athlete is the Tracy High School student newspaper
  • Email for newspaper adviser - Brandon Red, [email protected]
  • Tracy High School - 315 East Eleventh Street - Tracy, California 95376 - Phone 209.830.3360
The student news site of Tracy High School

Scholar & Athlete
The student news site of Tracy High School

Scholar & Athlete
The student news site of Tracy High School

Scholar & Athlete
Categories:

College Football Playoff First Round Preview

Jacoby Freitas
December 18, 2025
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
SOUTH BEND, IN – DECEMBER 20: The CFP Playoff First Round Logo on display during the CFP first round game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 20, 2024 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2)

Time:  5 p.m. Friday

Winner Plays: No. 1 Indiana.

My Predicted Winner: Oklahoma

 

Alabama no longer feels as dominant as it once did and the drop-off has shown over the past two seasons. The Crimson Tide have lost seven games in that span, including two to Oklahoma and they look far more beatable than they used to. This is not the same intimidating Alabama team from past years.

The November matchup showed why Oklahoma has the edge. Even though Alabama gained more yards and Ty Simpson threw for over 300 of them, the Sooners stayed disciplined and made the plays that mattered. They forced turnovers, limited big mistakes, and closed out a tough road win.

Oklahoma has already proven it can beat Alabama by taking advantage of its flaws. With confidence from that win and a clear formula for success, the Sooners look capable of doing it again.

 

No. 10 Miami (10-2) at No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1)

 

Time:  9 a.m. Saturday

Winner Plays: No. 2 Ohio State.

My Predicted Winner: Texas A&M

 

Miami’s resume since its season-opening win over Notre Dame does not inspire much fear. The Hurricanes’ best wins have come against South Florida, Louisville, NC State, and Pittsburgh, a stretch that lacks a real win against a top opponent and raises questions about how battle-tested this team really is heading into a hostile environment.

Miami is clearly talented, especially up front and with playmakers spread across the offense, but talent alone will not be enough in College Station. Kyle Field is one of the toughest places to play in the country and a crowd of over 100,000 will make life difficult from the opening snap. Texas A&M has quarterback Marcel Reed who can extend drives with his legs, a relentless pass rush and a physical style that thrives at home. In that setting, the Aggies have the edge and are well positioned to come away with the win.

No. 11 Tulane (11-2) at No. 6 Ole Miss (10-2)

 

Time: 12:30 p.m. Saturday

Winner Plays: No. 3 Georgia

My Predicted Winner: Ole Miss

 

Ole Miss comes into this game with the clear advantage and a lot to play for. The Rebels finished the season 11–1, picked up big wins against quality opponents and already proved they can dominate Tulane with a 45–10 blowout earlier in the year. Since their only loss was on the road at Georgia, Ole Miss has looked focused and in control, winning five straight games.

Tulane had a strong season, but the matchup has already shown its flaws. The Green Wave fell behind early in the first meeting and never recovered and the added distraction of their head coach leaving only makes things tougher. Ole Miss has more depth, more speed and extra motivation to make a statement, which puts the Rebels in position to win this one decisively.

No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon (11-1)

 

Time: 4:30 p.m. Saturday

Winner Plays: No. 4 Texas Tech.

My Predicted Winner: Oregon

 

James Madison deserves credit for how quickly the program has risen, making the College Football Playoff in just its fourth year at the FBS level and finishing 12–1 with a Sun Belt title. That said, the matchup itself feels pretty lopsided.

JMU benefited from the playoff format and played one of the weakest schedules in the country, rarely facing teams with elite speed or depth. When the Dukes did step up in competition, they struggled to move the ball consistently. Add in the distraction of their head coach already accepting another job and it is hard to see them being fully locked in.

Oregon, on the other hand, is built for this stage. The Ducks play fast, defend well and are far more physical on both sides of the ball. Against a limited JMU offense, Oregon’s defense should control the game from start to finish. With the talent gap and level of competition, this sets up as a convincing win for the Ducks.

More to Discover
More in Sports
Bulldogs Victorious on Senior Night
Bulldogs Victorious on Senior Night
Screenshot
Dogs Snatch First in League
Screenshot
Long Beach Swipes Couch
Tracy High Signing Day
Tracy High Signing Day
MLB Preview
MLB Preview
World Cup 2026 Breakdown
World Cup 2026 Breakdown
About the Contributor
Jacoby Freitas
Jacoby Freitas, Assistant Editor-in-Chief
Jacoby Freitas was born on November 12, 2007, and is currently a 17-year-old senior at Tracy High School. This is his first year in journalism, but he is extremely excited to play a significant role in the class this year. He is hoping to improve his journalism skills because he wants to major in journalism when he goes to college. Additionally, Freitas is hoping to work in sports journalism as a career. He has fallen in love with sports since he was a little kid, in his free time he is either playing, watching, refereeing, or coaching sports. One of the few things that comes before sports in Freitas’ life is his family. He lives with his mom, dad, sister, and his two cats while also keeping an extremely close relationship with his grandparents. He is now entering his fourth year of baseball for Tracy High and his 14th year of baseball in total. Despite having played many sports such as football, basketball, soccer, and more, baseball has always been his true passion and first love. He has been and always will be a die-hard fan of the San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, and the San Francisco 49ers. A fun fact about Freitas is that he has been to 14 Major League Baseball stadiums with his dad and they hope to one day visit all 30. He is half Portuguese, part Swedish, and a mix of other European ethnicities. Freitas is looking forward to a year of improving his writing skills, making new connections, and learning more about journalism.