College Football Playoffs Guide: A closer look at seeds 9-12, including Alabama, Miami, and more

The first round of the 2025 College Football Playoffs begins tonight and continues throughout the weekend, with several games streaming live and free on DAZN.

As we look forward to what promises to be four mouthwatering matchups, we break down what you need to know about each playoff team and what they’re expecting, beginning with the #9 to #12 seeds.

If you want to know more about the other teams involved, check out our article on the #5 to #8 seeds here. The #1 to #4 seeds will be covered ahead of their games next week, following their first-round bye.

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#12: James Madison Dukes (12-1)

One of the feel-good stories of the season, James Madison make their debut appearance in the College Football Playoffs this weekend. A relatively young university, the Dukes embraced football in 1972 and only just moved up to the FBS ranks in 2022 after establishing themselves as a powerhouse at the FCS level.

JMU immediately acclimated to the step up, going 8-3 in their debut season under Curt Cignetti. Cignetti would then take the Dukes to their first bowl game in 2023 before heading to Indiana.

Current head coach Bob Chesney picked up where Cignetti left off, winning 20 games in his two seasons at the helm. Chesney will want to shock the world in the playoffs before heading on to UCLA, where he was announced as their next head coach earlier this month.

James Madison’s march to the Sun Belt title in just their fourth year in the FBS has largely been on the back of one of the stingiest defenses in the nation. The Dukes rank 10th in points per game allowed (15.8) and second in both total and rushing yards per game. Add 36 sacks this year led by dangerous edge rusher Sahir West, and this is a unit to be feared.

Alonza Barnett is the star of the show on offense, the dual-threat quarterback boasting more than 3,000 all-purpose yards and 35 touchdowns this season. JMU have dominated almost every opponent they have faced, but will embrace a much tougher assignment on Saturday…

Buoyed by one of the most vocal fanbases in college football, the James Madison will head to Eugene this weekend to take on Oregon in the biggest game in the program’s short history. Don’t be surprised if you hear ‘Duuuuuukes!’ ringing around Autzen Stadium, even if the Ducks ultimately prove too strong for the Sun Belt champs.

#11: Tulane Green Wave (11-2)

After clinching the American Conference title for the second time in their history, Tulane embarks on their first-ever playoff journey this weekend. One of the Group of Five schools and considered a long shot against Ole Miss on Saturday - let alone going any further - the Green Wave have a history to be proud of.

Tulane has had a nomadic football journey; at the height of their powers, they won five conference titles between the Southern and the SEC (1925-1949). But times got tougher when they became independent in 1966, a status they held for thirty years.

The New Orleans University found a home again in 1996 (Conference-USA) before joining the American in 2014. And whilst they haven’t made the playoffs before, they have achieved significant success under previous head coach Willie Fritz - shocking USC to win the prestigious Cotton Bowl in 2023.

Similar to JMU, this is a school with an up-and-coming head coach who will leave the program after the playoffs. Jon Sumrall has taken the foundations Fritz built and turned the dial all the way up to eleven, and Tulane now sits as one of the toughest non-P4 schools in college football to beat.

Quarterback Jake Retzlaff only joined the program days before the season began, but led the Green Wave to success with 3,500 all-purpose yards and 30 touchdowns. But Tulane is a program built in the trenches, with left tackle Derrick Graham and defensive end Kameron Hamilton likely eyeing NFL futures after this season.

That solidity up front on both units has allowed this program to beat two Power-4 schools this season, although their game against Ole Miss is a rematch from earlier in the year, where the Rebels manhandled the Green Wave en route to a 45-10 victory. Can Tulane turn the tide and claim another famous postseason victory?

#10: Miami Hurricanes (10-2)

One of the most famous programs in college football, the Miami Hurricanes remain something of an enigma within the sport. This is a university that has five national championships in its trophy cabinet, a cultural history that transcends the field and into homes via Hollywood, and a litany of NFL alumni, including Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Michael Irvin and Warren Sapp.

And yet, despite the status it portrays, Miami has never won the ACC, a conference it has been a member of for twenty years. 2025 represents the first time the ‘Canes have ever reached the playoffs - the last time they competed for a National Championship was 2002, before the bracket was established.

Under Mario Cristobal, the talent at Hard Rock Stadium has undoubtedly improved, and Miami have returned to the standards of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. But somehow, they always seem to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Controversially slipping into the playoffs ahead of Notre Dame in the final set of rankings, can the ‘Canes change the narrative and make a run for another Natty?

This Miami roster is studded with NFL players in waiting. Carson Beck was one of the country’s top quarterbacks at Georgia and has taken his talent to the East Coast, with elite receiver Malachi Toney to work with. They operate behind one of the best o-lines in the country, something Cristobal is adept at building.

Defensively dominant against the pass, only Ohio State have held opponents to fewer yards through the air. Most of that comes from blanket coverage in the secondary, allowing edge rusher Rueben Bain to wreak havoc; despite being double-teamed every game, Bain still boasted 37 tackles and five sacks this year.

An expectant fan base. Generous boosters who want a return on their investments. And the only ACC team in the playoffs, Miami, has pressure on their shoulders as they head to College Station to face Texas A&M on Saturday. They do go into the knockout in form, winning their last four games with a combined score of 151-41. Cristobal will need to deliver a postseason win or two before ‘The U’ can claim to be truly back.

#9: Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3)

Alabama has become synonymous with playoff football and National Championships in the twenty-first century. Under legendary head coach Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide had already won three national titles before the playoffs were established in 2014, and won three more since - having been to the playoffs nine times in the last twelve seasons.

Replacing the retired Saban, Kalen DeBoer looks to continue the dynasty that his predecessor created in Tuscaloosa. Missing the playoffs by a whisker in 2024, Alabama squeaked in to the bracket as the #9 seed this time around, and will head to Norman, Oklahoma on Friday night to face the Sooners in an All-SEC matchup.

Despite ranking just 41st in team offense this season, the Crimson Tide have some serious firepower on their roster. Redshirt quarterback Ty Simpson has been on the fringes of Heisman contention, and has elite receiver Ryan Williams to target, who, as a true freshman, had 865 yards and 8 touchdowns last season.

Defensively, Alabama is one of the toughest teams to pass on in all of college football, allowing just 157 yards through the air per game. Considering 8 of those offenses are SEC opposition, that’s some feat; the trio of DaShawn Jones, Bray Hubbard and Dijon Lee have seven interceptions between them.

Alabama is one of the most recognisable programs in the sport, and have a history they are rightly proud of. Saturdays in Tuscaloosa are unique; from the team coming out to ‘Thunderstruck’ by AC-DC, to fans with pom-poms chanting “Roll Tide Roll” in the stands, from the pregame Walk of Champions to the 4th quarter rendition of ‘Dixieland Delight’ - a game in Bryant-Denny Stadium is an experience unlike any other.

The 2025 version of the Crimson Tide is probably best defined as ‘inconsistent’. This is a team that sleepwalked into the season and got trounced by a poor Florida State team, and yet went to Georgia and beat the Bulldogs in their own backyard. They were also defeated by the Sooners less than a month ago - which version of Alabama will we see tonight?

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