CFP quarterfinals preview: Which matchups will decide semifinalists?

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, FL)

No. 5 Oregon Ducks (12-1) vs. No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-1) • Thursday, 12 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Oregon tackles vs. Texas Tech edge-rushers | Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has been protected well this season, but tackles Alex Harkey and Isaiah World will face their toughest test this season, going against first-team All-Big 12 defensive ends David Bailey and Romello Height. Bailey ranks first among remaining CFP defensive players in total pressures (77) and sacks (14), per PFF, while Height ranks third in pressures (58) and first in win rate (23 percent).

Harkey, a 6-foot-6 senior transfer, played the previous two seasons at Texas State and has allowed only 16 pressures this season, while mammoth 6-8 senior World — a three-year starter at Nevada before transferring to Oregon — has allowed 11 total pressures.

Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA)

No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide (11-3) vs. No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (13-0) • Thursday, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Alabama red-zone offense vs. Indiana red-zone defense| Per CFBStats, the Tide have scored touchdowns on 72.88 percent of their red-zone possessions, the 11th-highest rate in FBS, while the Hoosiers defense has been the stingiest in college football inside its 20-yard line, allowing touchdowns on a paltry 27.27 percent of opponent red-zone trips.

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has 19 touchdowns and no interceptions on 63 red-zone pass attempts. Only Indiana's Fernando Mendoza and Duke's Darian Mensah have more touchdowns without an interception in those situations this season. Indiana safety Louis Moore has six interceptions, and the ball hawk must be accounted for on throwing downs close to the end zone.

The Tide's inefficient rushing attack will make things more challenging for them, making it crucial that Alabama hits on big plays. It might not be able to consistently churn out long possessions, but it could strike big on home run balls. Indiana has allowed seven plays of at least 50 yards, the most among remaining CFP teams.

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, LA)

No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels (12-1) vs. No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) • Thursday, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Georgia rushing attack vs. Ole Miss defensive front | The lone rematch in the quarterfinals, Ole Miss must do better at stopping the run to avoid a second loss to the Bulldogs. In an October regular-season game, Georgia gained 221 rushing yards on 49 carries. Despite trailing by two scores in the second half, it leaned on the run game after halftime, when it had 30 carries to 12 pass attempts (compared to an even 19-19 split during the first two quarters).

If Georgia controls the clock with a ground-and-pound offensive strategy, Ole Miss won't have much margin for error when it possesses the ball. The Rebels can help their offense with a stronger effort at the line of scrimmage.