Everything you need to know about the College Football Playoff quarter-finals

The GIST: Just like that, the College Football Playoff (CFP) quarter-finals (QFs) are set (and The GIST’s College Football Bracket Challenge is underway) after a thrilling weekend on the gridiron.

• And if you’re still looking for New Year’s plans, you’re in luck — there’ll be one QF game on New Year’s Eve and three more on New Year’s Day. Never too early to preview the action.

❤️ No. 2 Ohio State vs. 🌴 No. 10 Miami — December 31st at 7:30 p.m. ET: Defending champ Ohio State boasts one of the best offenses in the game…when QB Julian Sayin is locked in. The sophomore struggled in the Buckeyes’ Big Ten championship loss to Indiana and needs to make like a goldfish before taking on Miami’s impressive defense in the Cotton Bowl.

🤠 No. 4 Texas Tech vs. 🦆 No. 5 Oregon — January 1st at 12 p.m. ET: As expected, the Ducks routed James Madison 51–34 in their first-round Saturday game, which is bad news for the Red Raiders, who are dealing with a major QB issue. It’s unclear if senior Behren Morton (who has been playing through injury most of the season) will be 100% for the Orange Bowl. Get this kid some Vitamin C.

🟥 No. 1 Indiana vs. 🔴 No. 9 Alabama — January 1st at 4 p.m. ET: Led by Heisman Trophy–winning QB Fernando Mendoza, the undefeated Hoosiers are itching to prove Indiana is a football school. But don’t let the seeding fool you: Bama just pulled off the biggest comeback in CFP history and could cook up another upset in the Rose Bowl.

🐶 No. 3 Georgia vs. 💙 No. 6 Ole Miss — January 1st at 8 p.m. ET: The Rebels overcame the coaching carousel drama to secure their first CFP win on Saturday, but their prize is a primetime date with the Bulldogs, the only team to defeat Ole Miss in the regular season. Can Georgia’s stout defense repeat in the Sugar Bowl against their SEC foes’ injured front line?