RALLYFUEL’S EARLY COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL GAME PROJECTIONS

Tracking the Postseason — and the NIL Stars Who Will Own It

With three weeks left in the regular season, the postseason picture is finally coming into focus.

Texas Tech shook up the Big 12 by handing BYU its first loss, clarifying the league’s CFP race. Meanwhile, Oregon and Indiana survived upset scares to keep their playoff hopes alive. And with the 12–team CFP format now in its second year, November has effectively become a month-long elimination bracket.

Under the 12-team structure, the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teamsadvance to the playoff. The top four seeds, regardless of conference title status, earn first-round byes. Eight additional teams will play first-round games on campus before advancing to quarterfinal matchups hosted by the traditional New Year’s Six bowls.

This year’s national championship will be played Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

RallyFuel breaks down early CFP bowl projections — plus the top NIL earners who would headline each game.

CFP QUARTERFINALS

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

GEORGIA vs. ALABAMA

An all-SEC blockbuster loaded with NIL megastars.

Alabama NIL headliners:

• Ty Simpson (QB): ~$2.5M valuation; Heisman favorite; national brand magnet
• Ryan Williams (WR): ~$2.5M; one of the most marketable receivers in the game
• Labaron Philon (LB): ~$1.5M; defensive force with rising national recognition

Georgia NIL headliner:

• Gunner Stockton (QB): NIL value surging as Heisman chatter builds

This would be the highest total NIL valuation of any quarterfinal matchup.

Capital One Orange Bowl

OLE MISS vs. INDIANA

Indiana’s magical run has transformed its roster’s NIL potential.

Indiana’s rising star:

• Fernando Mendoza (QB): ~$2.6M valuation; one of the fastest-climbing NIL players this season

Ole Miss brings established SEC brand power, while Indiana brings America’s favorite storyline.

Rose Bowl (Presented by Prudential)

NOTRE DAME vs. OHIO STATE

This matchup would set NIL—and television—records.

Ohio State’s NIL arsenal:

• Julian Sayin (QB): ~$2.4M
• Jeremiah Smith (WR): $4.2M — No. 1 NIL athlete in college football
• Carnell Tate (WR): ~$1.5M
• Caleb Downs (S): ~$2.4M — the most valuable defensive player in the sport

Notre Dame’s NIL standouts:

• Jeremiyah Love (RB): ~$1.6M
• CJ Carr (QB): A national-brand QB with a massive future NIL ceiling

This is the crown jewel bowl game of the CFP quarterfinals — blue blood vs. blue blood.

Allstate Sugar Bowl

TEXAS A&M vs. TEXAS TECH

A Lone Star State showdown full of future NFL talent.

Texas A&M NIL standouts:

• Marcel Reed (QB): ~$1.7M
• Kevin Concepcion (WR): $1M+
• Cashius Howell (EDGE): $1M+ & rising — projected first-rounder

Texas Tech headliner:

• David Bailey (EDGE): One of the nation’s top pass rushers; major NIL upside

This game would deliver massive NIL attention for defensive stars.

CFP SEMIFINALS

VRBO Fiesta Bowl

GEORGIA vs. OHIO STATE

Ohio State’s NIL firepower is unmatched:

• Jeremiah Smith — $4.2M
• Julian Sayin — $2.4M
• Caleb Downs — $2.4M
• Carnell Tate — $1.5M

With Georgia’s national brand and defensive stars, this semifinal has the highest total projected NIL value.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

INDIANA vs. TEXAS A&M

Indiana has the Cinderella energy; A&M brings elite talent.

• Fernando Mendoza (Indiana QB): ~$2.6M
• Cashius Howell (A&M EDGE): $1M+
• Marcel Reed (A&M QB): ~$1.7M

A unique matchup with major NIL implications for both teams.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

INDIANA vs. OHIO STATE

A storyline dream.

Indiana:
A school historically defined by basketball — now fully embraced as a football phenomenon. A championship appearance would explode the NIL valuations across their roster.

Ohio State:
Possibly the most talented Buckeyes team ever — and the most valuable NIL roster in the country. Jeremiah Smith alone could break NIL record books with a title-game performance.

This would be the biggest David vs. Goliath matchup of the NIL era.

RALLYFUEL’S TOP NIL EARNERS OF THE CFP FIELD

Comprehensive leaderboard of the most valuable players projected to appear in the 2025 CFP.

Tier 1 — National NIL Superstars ($2M+)

1. Jeremiah Smith — WR, Ohio State — $4.2M
2. Fernando Mendoza — QB, Indiana — $2.6M
3. Ty Simpson — QB, Alabama — $2.5M
4. Ryan Williams — WR, Alabama — $2.5M
5. Caleb Downs — S, Ohio State — $2.4M
6. Julian Sayin — QB, Ohio State — $2.4M

Tier 2 — Rising National Brands ($1M–$2M)

1. Jeremiyah Love — RB, Notre Dame — $1.6M
2. Marcel Reed — QB, Texas A&M — $1.7M
3. Labaron Philon — LB, Alabama — $1.5M
4. Carnell Tate — WR, Ohio State — $1.5M

Tier 3 — Emerging NIL Stars ($750K–$1M+)

1. Kevin Concepcion — WR, Texas A&M — $1.0M+
2. Cashius Howell — EDGE, Texas A&M — $1.0M+
3. David Bailey — EDGE, Texas Tech — $1.0M+

Full NIL Leaderboard Table

Rank	Rank	Rank	Rank	Rank
1	Jeremiah Smith	Ohio State	WR	$4.2M
2	Fernando Mendoza	Indiana	QB	$2.6M
3	Ty Simpson	Alabama	QB	$2.5M
4	Ryan Williams	Alabama	WR	$2.5M
5	Caleb Downs	Ohio State	S	$2.4M
6	Julian Sayin	Ohio State	QB	$2.4M
7	Jeremiyah Love	Notre Dame	RB	$1.6M
8	Marcel Reed	Texas A&M	QB	$1.7M
9	Labaron Philon	Alabama	LB	$1.5M
10	Carnell Tate	Ohio State	WR	$1.5M
11	Kevin Concepcion	Texas A&M	WR	$1.0M+
12	Cashius Howell	Texas A&M	EDGE	$1.0M+
13	David Bailey	Texas Tech	EDGE	$1.0M+