Alright……Christmas has passed, which among other things meant you needed a Netflix and Prime Video account to watch some NFL as well as getting the opportunity to see teams like New Mexico, Florida International, and Georgia Southern for the 1st time this year. ZT will note he did receive a few gifts that will keep giving all of 2026. No, not the Jelly of the Month Club subscription either…….
It’s time to turn it up a notch as we are down to the 8 best teams in the country to see who can make the Semi Finals!
Pigskin Prognostication Accountability Update: Padre 91-37 ZT 86 – 42 Padre was 4-0 while ZT 3-1 last week. Both called the Miami Upset but Padre had more faith in the Tide than did ZT. Will note both are way ahead of Clucko the Chicken of College Football News who is reported to be 102-120 ( Good for you ZT…hope you can now walk with your head up noting you are at least ahead of a future chicken nugget ).
Padre leads off for the 18th straight week!!
THE COTTON BOWL
Miami vs. Ohio State: Twenty-three years ago, a ball fell incomplete. Miami was celebrating—the second life of the Hurricane dynasty secured. Then, like the guy sitting in his car on his phone who suddenly guns it when he finally realizes the light is green, a ref threw a flag. Pass interference was the call, but cow patty is what it smelled like. Miami hasn’t been the same since. Meanwhile, after that flag, Ohio State has played in plenty of big games and won three national championships. It may sound crazy coming from a Gator, but I want Miami to win. I want them to take down that red that looks a little too much like Georgia’s red. But sometimes what I want and what actually happens on the field are two very different things—and for the last 15 years, that’s pretty much been my football life. Go Canes!…but the Buckeyes squeak by. Ohio State 20, Miami 17.
THE ORANGE BOWL
Oregon vs. Texas Tech: Shoe money vs. oil money. Lots of rain vs. super dry. Animal House vs. Landman. Of all those comparisons, I side with Oregon every time. Plus—those uniforms. Too much at times? Sure. Yet cool for Oregon! But as J.R. Ewing understood in the oil business, the warm-blooded and sentimental usually get eaten by the cold-blooded and heartless (okay, he never actually said that, but it sounds like something he would say). And some of y’all don’t even know who J.R. Ewing is. For that heresy, I roll my eyes—only to be called an “Unc” by my son. He does that about six or seven times a day (see what I did there?). Anyway, Dan Lanning may be my man crush, but I’m taking the gritty Red Raiders. Texas Tech 27, Oregon 24.
The Rose Bowl
Bama vs. Indiana: college football’s most successful program historically versus one of its least successful. And guess who’s favored. 😳 Curt Cignetti’s job at Indiana is the single greatest coaching performance of my lifetime. He’s doing the impossible. The Hoosiers have looked like the better team, while Bama has not looked like a top-ten team over the final month of the season. On paper, this feels like an easy pick: Indiana. But, as Austin Powers said at the blackjack table, “I also like to live dangerously.”
And just like in the movie, the facts don’t back me up. Austin should’ve taken another card, and I should take the Hoosiers. But I’ve got a feeling DeBoer pulls a rabbit out of his hat. Bama 24, Indiana 23.
THE SUGAR BOWL
Ole Miss vs. Georgia: Fellas, remember when you were a kid and, as boys, there was always some roughhousing? And in that mix there was a kid maybe two years younger who fought hard but just wasn’t mature yet? Then five years later, you run into him and realize he could absolutely pulverize you now. That’s how I feel about this 2025 Georgia football team. Teams have had their chances (including my Gators) but those opportunities are quickly disappearing. Georgia now looks like the bully on the block, and I think they’re about to stomp Ole Miss back into SEC dormancy. The Dawgs win big. Georgia 41, Ole Miss 17.
Well, those are my quarterfinal picks. As I type this, I’m on a train to D.C.—the only place that might be more broken than the current state of college football. And yet, like college football, it’s still beautiful. Such are life’s paradoxes. I love my country. I love my college football. And I love my 4–8 Gators. Well… that last one is still a toxic relationship. Happy New Year!
ZT is “waffle house ready” and excited about the slate in Round 2. Here we go!
Miami Hurricanes vs THE Ohio State Buckeyes. 630pm. Cotton Bowl
LOVE this game as the start to Round 2! Hurricanes may have the better raw talent, particularly on defense and Mario ‘look into my “Crystal ball” is not on the “I can’t win a big one” hot seat after the road upset win at Texas A & M. Buckeyes lose to Indiana but really costs them nothing in terms of the CFP. Trust HC Ryan Day was preaching on the bus leaving Lucas Oil Stadium. Only thing both of these team need to do is take no advice from Jerry or the Cowboys ( that hurts coming from you ZT being a Dolphins fan…). Buckeyes are ready… Buckeyes 23 Light Showers 17
Thursday Jan 1
Oregon Ducks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders. 11am. Orange Bowl
ZT believes this game is the perfect cure if one stayed up too late ringing in 2026. Ducks HC Dan Lanning was NOT happy with Oregon’s performance vs. the JMU Dukes as they were outscored 21-3 in the last 16 minutes of the round 1 contest. Better not let the Red Raiders get a jump early as they have the better defense led by Bednarick/Butkus/Lombardi/Nagurski award winning LB Rodriguez. Not to mention ( well, you just did ZT! ) that his wife is a Blackhawk Helicopter pilot and has likely taken out a lot of ducks in her career!!! TT yell is “Guns Up” so going with a good Duck Hunt! Red Raiders 27 Duck a l’ orange 24
Bama vs Indiana Hoosiers 3pm Rose Bowl
Hoosiers get their week 9 wish when they were singing “We want Bama” after their win over UCLA. For Bama, getting a few players back and the DeBoer leaving rumors have quieted down with Kyle Whittingham on the scene at Michigan ( ZT loves that hire as solid transition move ). Lots of stats showing most of Hoosiers Heisman QB Mendoza production was against lower level competition. Interesting as at 13-0, its not like he folded under pressure. Still concerned about Bama’s lack of a run game ( ZT, you have been concerned most of the season and here they are in the Quarter finals.. too bad you aren’t that concerned about being 4 games back of the Padre!!! ). Will be close but…. Hoosiers 24 Run Forrest Run 21
Ole Miss vs Georgia Bulldogs. 7pm Sugar Bowl
Kirby spend the holidays recruiting, I mean serving at several youth detention centers. Man, would love to see Ole Miss do something great without that former HC no longer in town. What one wants and what one gets are 2 different things and just hard to see the Rebels getting pass Kirby and this squad. Bulldogs 35 No more Lane, No more Pain 27
Dad Joke: What is the luckiest band to listen to on New Years Day? The Black Eyed Peas
Dad Joke Bonus #1: My New Year’s Resolution for 2026? Buy Bitcoin in 2011 and Gold in 2024
Dad Joke Bonus #2: My 2nd Knew Year’s Revolution four 2026? Do NOT RELY on AUTOCORRECT!
Padre and ZT will be back for the Semifinals next week! Have a Happy New Year!!
Pigskin Prognostications by the Piedmont Padre and Zimmern's Twin 