At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida: Quarterback Fernando Mendoza completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards and rushed 12 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter as the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers (16-0) held off the game tenth-seeded Miami Hurricanes (13-3) 27-21 to win their first national collegiate championship winning the College Football Playoff Championship Game.
The Hoosiers became the first team in college football's top level since Yale (in 1894) to go 16-0.
The divisional round of the National Football League Playoffs was played this past Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday's Games:
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:
At Empower Field at Mile High, Denver: Quarterback Bo Nix, before suffering a season-ending broken ankle, completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards and three touchdown, and Will Lutz kicked the game-winning field goal (he converted four such kicks overall) as the Denver Broncos defeated the visiting Buffalo Bills 33-30 in overtime.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:
At Lumen Field, Seattle:
Running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns while quarterback Sam Darnold completed 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and another TD as the Seattle Seahawks dismantled the visiting San Francisco 49ers 41-6.
Rashid Shaheed got the ball rolling for the Seahawks as he opened the game with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Sunday's Games:
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:
At Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts:
Quarterback Drake Maye completed 16 of 27 passes for three touchdowns as the New England Patriots outlasted the visiting Houston Texans 28-16 in their divisional playoff.
The Texans remain the only team in the league to have never played in a conference championship game.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:
At Soldier Field, Chicago:
Running back Kyler Williams rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns while Harrison Mevis kicked the game-winning field goal in overtime as the Los Angeles Rams fought off the homestanding Chicago Bears 20-17.
This coming Sunday, the New England Patriots will visit the Denver Broncos for the AFC Championship Game (12:00 PM PST, CBS/Paramount Plus) while the Los Angeles Rams will visit the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game (3:30 PM PST, FOX)
The 2006 National Football League Playoffs opened on six opening-round games over the weekend.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:
Saturday's Games:
At Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina:
Quarterback Mathew Stafford completed 24 of 42 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns (he was picked off once) as the Los Angeles Rams held off the homestanding Carolina Panthers 34-31.
At Soldier Field, Chicago:
Quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 361 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Chicago Bears overcame a 21-3 halftime deficit to stun the visiting Green Bay Packers 31-27.
This despite the Packers' Jordan Love throwing for 323 yards and four TDs (and no interceptions).
Sunday's Game:
At Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia:
Quarterback Brock Purdy threw for two touchdowns while wide receiver Jauan Jennings threw for a fourth-quarter TD to Christian McCaffrey (who caught for two touchdowns) as the San Francisco 49ers, on the road, came from behind to de-throne the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 24-19 in their opening round playoff game.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE:
Sunday's Games:
At Everbank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida:
Quarterback Josh Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown (and rushing to two more TDs) while Matt Prater kicked two field goals and three extra points as the Buffalo Bills overcame the homestanding Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24 in an opening-round playoff game.
At Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts:
Quarterback Drake May completed 17 of 29 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown to Hunter Henry while Andy Borregales converted all three field-goal attempts as the New England Patriots smothered the visiting Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in their opening-round match.
Monday's Game:
At Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh:
Quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 21 of 32 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown (he was picked off once) as the Houston Texans finally won a playoff game on the road as they dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6.
The Texans defense scored a pair of TDs.
DIVISION ROUND:
Saturday's Games:
American Football Conference:
At Empower Field at Mile High, Denver:
Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos (1:30 PM PST, CBS)
National Football Conference:
At Lumen Field, Seattle:
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks (5:00 PM PST, FOX)
Sunday's Games:
American Football Conference:
At Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts:
Houston Texans @ New England Patriots (12:00 Noon PST, ESPN/ABC)
National Football Conference:
At Soldier Field, Chicago:
Los Angeles Rams @ Chicago Bears (3:30 PM PST, NBC/Peacock)
At Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta:
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza completed a virtually perfect game on Friday as he completed 17 of 20 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns as the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers (15-0) dismantled the fifth-seeded Oregon Ducks (13-2) 56-22 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the second College Football Playoff semifinal.
Hoosiers defensive back D'Angelo Ponds set the pace on the game's opening play from scrimmage as he intercepted Ducks quarterback Dante Moore's pass and ran it back for a touchdown.
Indiana will face off against the Miami Hurricanes (13-2) in the CFP National Championship Game at Hard Rock Cafe Stadium on Monday, January 19 (4:30 PM PST, ESPN).
At State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona:
Quarterback Carson Beck completed 23 of 37 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns and ran for the winning TD with 18 seconds remaining in regulation time on Thursday as the tenth-seeded Miami Hurricanes (13-2) upended the sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels (13-2) 31-27 in first of two College Football Playoff semifinals (the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl).
Running back Mark Fletcher rushed for 133 yards for the Canes.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambers completed 23 of 37 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown while running back Kewan Lacy ran for 73 yards for a TD in the second quarter.
Miami will play in the CFP National Championship Game on Monday, January 19 against the winner of Friday's Oregon-Indiana game (also known as the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (4:30 PM PST, ESPN).
At Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California:
Running back Zach Charbonnet ran for the game's lone touchdown on Saturday as the Seattle Seahawks (14-3) snapped the San Francisco 49ers' (12-5) six-game winning streak with a 13-3 road victory, winning the National Football Conference's West Division title and gaining the conference's top seed with the playoffs now upon us.
The playoffs are set to start this coming Saturday.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
Saturday's games:
#5 Los Angeles Rams @ #4 Carolina Panthers, 1:30 PM PST (Fox)
#7 Green Bay Packers @ #2 Chicago Bears, 5:00 PM PST (Amazon Prime Video)
Sunday's Game:
#6 San Francisco 49ers @ #3 Philadelphia Eagles, 1:30 PM PST (Fox)
Bye: Seattle Sounders
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
Sunday's Games:
#3 Buffalo Bills @ #3 Jacksonville Jaguars, 10:00 AM PST (CBS)
#7 Los Angeles Chargers @ #2 New England Patriots, 5:00 PM PST (NBC)
Monday's Game:
#5 Houston Texas @ #4 Pittsburgh Steelers, 5:15 PM PST (ABC/ESPN)
Bye: Denver Broncos
The College Football Playoff played its' quarterfinal on Wednesday and Thursday with four games.
WEDNESDAY GAME:
At AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas:
Quarterback Carson Beck threw for 138 yards and a touchdown as the Miami Hurricanes (12-2) knocked the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2) in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
THURSDAY GAMES:
At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida:
Quarterback Donte Moore completed 26 of 33 passes for 234 yards while running back James Davidson scored a pair of touchdowns as the Oregon Ducks (13-1) manhandled the Texas Tech Red Raiders 23-0 in the Capital One Orange Bowl.
It was the Ducks' defense that game the Red Raiders fits, forcing four turnovers racking up four sacks and seven tackles for losses.
At the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California:
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza showed his Heisman Trophy-winning for as he completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns as the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers (14-0) ran roughshod over the Alabama Crimson Tide (11-4) 38-3.
It was the Tide's most lopsided postseason defeat ever.
At Caesars Superdome, New Orleans:
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss threw for 362 yards and a pair of touchdowns while running back Kewan Lacy ran for 98 yards and two other TDs as the Ole Miss Rebels (13-1) knocked off the Georgia Bulldogs (12-2) 39-34.
UP NEXT:
Next Thursday, Miami will face off against Ole Miss in one CFP semifinal, the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (4:30 PM PST, ESPN).
Next Friday, Oregon will look for revenge against Indiana in the other CFP semifinal at the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium (4:30 PM PST, ESPN).
At Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California:
Quarterback Brock Purdy accounted for five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) on Sunday as the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) held off the game Chicago Bears (11-5) 42-38 in a battle of teams that have already clinched playoff spots.
The Niners, with a victory at home against the Seattle Seahawks (13-3), can lock up the National Football Conference West Division title, and the top seed in the NFC Playoffs.
At Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis:
Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 25 of 34 passes for five touchdowns (two to Christian McCaffery) as the San Francisco 49ers (11-4) pulled away from the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) in the second half to post a 48-27 road victory.
Christian McCaffery ran for 117 yards in the game.
The Colts' defeat enabled the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Chargers to clinch playoff berths.
Next for the Niners, a big encounter at home with the Chicago Bears (11-4) this coming Sunday (5:20 PM PST, NBC/Peacock).
The opening round of the College Football Playoff concluded on Saturday with three games.
At Kyle Field, College Station, Texas:
Running Back Mark Fletcher ran for 172 yards while quarterback Carson Beck threw for 103 yards and a touchdown as the Miami Hurricanes (11-2) defeated the Texas A&M Aggies (11-2) 10-3 on Saturday.
For the Canes, their next game is upcoming against the second-seeded (and defending national champions) Ohio State Buckeyes on December 31 at the Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (4:30 PM PST, ESPN).
At Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississipp1:
The sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels (12-1) ran roughshod over the visiting eleventh-seeded Tulane Green Wave (11-3) 41-10. Quarterback Trinidad Chambers completed 23 of 29 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown (also rushing for a TD as well) while running back Kewan Lacy ran for 87 yards and another score.
Next up, the Rebels will face third-seeded Georgia (12-1) in the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on New Year's Day at 5:00 PM PST (ESPN).
Also on Saturday:
At Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon:
Dante Moore threw for 313 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another as the fifth-seeded Oregon Ducks (12-1) manhandled the visiting twelfth-seeded James Madison Dukes (12-2) 51-34.
Next up for the Ducks, a quarterfinal-round encounter with the fourth-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders at Capital One Orange Bowl on New Year's Day at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida (9:00 AM PST, ESPN).
At Gaylord Family Oklahoma Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma:
Quarterback Ty Simpson threw for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns on Friday as the ninth-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide (11-3) overcame a 17-0 deficit to upend the homestanding eighth-seeded Oklahoma Sooners (10-3) 34-24 in the opening game of the College Football Playoff.
Next up for the Tide is the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the quarterfinal round at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on Thursday, January 1 (1:00 PST/ESPN).
At Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California:
Quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns (two of them to Jauan Jennings, the other to George Kittle) on Sunday as the San Francisco 49ers (10-4) defeated the visiting Tennessee Titans 37-24.
Next up for the Niners, a road matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium with the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) next Monday night (5:15 PST, ABC/ESPN).
The San Francisco 49ers (9-4) will host the Tennessee Titans (2-11) this coming Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California at 1:25 PM PST (Fox/Fox One).
The twelve teams that made this year's College Football Playoff were determined on Sunday.
The ratings were those of Sunday's CFP Rankings.
First Round:
Friday, December 19:
At Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma:
#9 Alabama at #8 Oklahoma, 5:00 PM PST (ABC/ESPN)
Saturday, December 20:
At Kyle Field, College Station, Texas:
#10 Miami at #7 Texas A&M, 9:00 AM PST (ABC/ESPN)
At Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi:
#11 Tulane at #6 Ole Miss, 12:30 PM PST (TNT/Tru TV/HBO Max)
At Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon:
#12 James Madison at #5 Oregon, 4:30 PM PST (TNT/Tru TV/HBO Max)
QUARTERFINAL ROUND (all subsequent games on ESPN):
Wednesday, December 31:
At AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas:
Miami-Texas A&M Winner vs. #2 Ohio State, 4:30 PM PST (Goodyear Cotton Bowl)
Thursday, January 1:
At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
James Madison-Oregon Winner vs. #4 Texas Tech, 9:00 AM PST (Capital One Orange Bowl)
At Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California:
Alabama-Oklahoma Winner vs. #1 Indiana, 1:00 PM PST (The Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential)
At Caesars Superdome, New Orleans:
Tulane-Ole Miss Winner vs. #3 Georgia, 5:00 PM PST (Allstate Sugar Bowl)
At Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland:
Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 16 of 29 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown (Jauan Jennings) while running back Christian McCaffrey carried the ball 20 times for 53 yards and another score (he also caught four passes for another 21 yards) as the San Francisco 49ers (9-4) defeated the homestanding Cleveland Browns (3-9) 26-8.
The Niners will have next weekend off and will host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, December 14 (1:25 PM PST, FOX).
At Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California: The San Francisco 49ers (8-4), with Christian McCaffery ran for 143 yards from scrimmage and scoring a touchdown, outlasted his former team, the Carolina Panthers (6-6) 20-9 on Monday Night Football, this despite at times, a shaky performance from quarterback Brock Purdy, who threw three interceptions.
The Niners will visit the Cleveland Browns (3-8) this coming Sunday at 10:00 AM PST (CBS/Paramount+).
At State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona:
Quarterback Brock Purdy, back in action after having suffered a toe injury, threw for three touchdown passes while running back Christian McCaffery had three TDs of his own (two rushing, one receiving a pass) as the visiting San Francisco 49ers (7-4) throttled the Arizona Cardinals (3-7) 41-22 on Sunday.
Next up for the Niners, a home encounter with the Carolina Panthers (currently at 6-5) with major playoff implications, next Monday night (ESPN, 5:15 PST).
At Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba:
Quarterback Trevor Harris (name's the game's Most Valuable Player) completed 23 of 27 passes for 302 yards on Sunday as the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the 112th edition of the Grey Cup Game, their fifth, and their first since 2013, as they defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17.
