College Football Playoff Contenders Face Crucial Big Ten Matchups This Weekend

College football analyst Joel Klatt has made key predictions for several high-stakes games shaping the 2025 College Football Playoff landscape. For the Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators rivalry, Klatt projects Miami to win decisively by 24-14, highlighting Miami's strong 3-0 start and contrasting Florida's struggles, which could threaten Florida's head coach Billy Napier's position. In the Big Ten, Klatt sees Illinois as the favorite to cover the spread against Indiana in a pivotal matchup that could determine which team secures a College Football Playoff berth, emphasizing the game's significance for both programs' postseason trajectories. Meanwhile, Greg McElroy and Klatt offer differing views on the Michigan vs. Nebraska game; McElroy favors Nebraska due to their efficient passing and strong third-down conversions despite a long losing streak against ranked opponents, while Klatt notes Michigan's slight favoritism despite missing a key coach and Nebraska's run defense vulnerabilities. These games highlight crucial moments for teams seeking to establish themselves as playoff contenders or to break long-standing performance droughts. Overall, these matchups carry substantial implications for the teams' seasons and the broader playoff picture.