Mississippi
Our College Football Playoff picks: Can Oregon reach the National Championship?
With the College Football Playoff finally here, the Oregonian/OregonLive sports staff returns with its final predictions for the 2025-2026 season.
No. 5 Oregon starts its CFP campaign with a matchup against 12-seed James Madison on Saturday, in what will be the first-ever playoff game held at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks are a heavy favorite, and many of our experts predict them to make a deep playoff run after beating the Dukes.
In addition to UO hosting JMU, this weekend’s first-round CFP slate includes showdowns between No. 9 Alabama and No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 10 Miami and No. 7 Texas A&M, as well as No. 11 Tulane and No. 6 Mississippi.
Our staff has made predictions for all playoff games from now until the championship on Jan. 19. Check out the picks below.
No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma
Game details: 5 p.m. PT Friday at Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma
TV channel and live stream: ABC and ESPN
Latest line: Sooners by 1½
Over/under: 40½
Ryan Clarke: Alabama 31, Oklahoma 20
James Crepea: Alabama 28, Oklahoma 21
Nick Daschel: Oklahoma 27, Alabama 23
Aaron Fentress: Oklahoma 27, Alabama 24
Sean Meagher: Alabama 28, Oklahoma 26
Joel Odom: Alabama 27, Oklahoma 20
Bill Oram: Oklahoma 28, Alabama 21
No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M
Game details: 9 a.m. PT Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas
TV channel and live stream: ABC and ESPN
Latest line: Aggies by 3½
Over/under: 48½
Ryan Clarke: Miami 21, Texas A&M 20
James Crepea: Miami 21, Texas A&M 14
Nick Daschel: Miami 31, Texas A&M 27
Aaron Fentress: Texas A&M 31, Miami 30
Sean Meagher: Texas A&M 35, Miami 24
Joel Odom: Texas A&M 23, Miami 21
Bill Oram: Miami 42, Texas A&M 35
No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Mississippi
Game details: 12:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi
TV channel and live stream: TNT, HBO Max and truTV
Latest line: Rebels by 17½
Over/under: 56½
Ryan Clarke: Mississippi 35, Tulane 13
James Crepea: Mississippi 35, Tulane 14
Nick Daschel: Mississippi 38, Tulane 24
Aaron Fentress: Miss 40, Tulane 17
Sean Meagher: Mississippi 38, Tulane 21
Joel Odom: Mississippi 35, Tulane 16
Bill Oram: Mississippi 38, Tulane 17
No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT Saturday at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon
TV channel and live stream: TNT, HBO Max and truTV
Latest line: Ducks by 20½
Over/under: 47½
Ryan Clarke: Oregon 45, James Madison 7
James Crepea: Oregon 35, James Madison 7
Nick Daschel: Oregon 45, JMU 10
Aaron Fentress: Oregon 41, JMU 16
Sean Meagher: Oregon 42, James Madison 17
Joel Odom: Oregon 38, James Madison 19
Bill Oram: Oregon 40, JMU 13
Quarterfinals
Cotton Bowl: Miami-Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Ohio State 31, Miami 17
James Crepea: Ohio State 35, Miami 14
Nick Daschel: Ohio State 34, Miami 17
Aaron Fentress: OSU 33, Texas A&M 20
Sean Meagher: Ohio State 35, Texas A&M 24
Joel Odom: Ohio State 31, Texas A&M 21
Bill Oram: Ohio State 31, Miami 24
Orange Bowl: JMU-Oregon winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech
Game details: 9 a.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 1 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Oregon 27, Texas Tech 20
James Crepea: Oregon 28, Texas Tech 21
Nick Daschel: Oregon 30, Texas Tech 24
Aaron Fentress: Oregon 27, Texas Tech 24
Sean Meagher: Oregon 37, Texas Tech 35
Joel Odom: Oregon 30, Texas Tech 24
Bill Oram: Oregon 38, Texas Tech 30
Rose Bowl: Alabama-Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana
Game details: 1 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Indiana 34, Alabama 24
James Crepea: Indiana 35, Alabama 28
Nick Daschel: Indiana 34, Oklahoma 24
Aaron Fentress: Indiana 29, Oklahoma 20
Sean Meagher: Indiana 33, Alabama 23
Joel Odom: Indiana 28, Alabama 17
Bill Oram: Indiana 10, Oklahoma 7
Sugar Bowl: Tulane-Mississippi winner vs. No. 3 Georgia
Game details: 5 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 1 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Georgia 20, Mississippi 10
James Crepea: Georgia 28, Mississippi 21
Nick Daschel: Georgia 30, Mississippi 7
Aaron Fentress: Georgia 30, Mississippi 22
Sean Meagher: Georgia 28, Mississippi 20
Joel Odom: Georgia 25, Mississippi 22
Bill Oram: Georgia 45, Mississippi 35
Semifinals
Fiesta Bowl: Cotton vs. Sugar winners
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, Jan. 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Ohio State 23, Georgia 20
James Crepea: Ohio State 28, Georgia 21
Nick Daschel: Georgia 29, Ohio State 23
Aaron Fentress: Ohio State 27, Georgia 26
Sean Meagher: Ohio State 28, Georgia 21
Joel Odom: Georgia 31, Ohio State 21
Bill Oram: Ohio State 42, Georgia 41
Peach Bowl: Orange vs. Rose winners
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT Friday, Jan. 9 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Indiana 30, Oregon 24
James Crepea: Indiana 35, Oregon 24
Nick Daschel: Oregon 31, Indiana 23
Aaron Fentress: Indiana 30, Oregon 23
Sean Meagher: Indiana 27, Oregon 24
Joel Odom: Oregon 34, Indiana 24
Bill Oram: Oregon 30, Indiana 20
National Championship
Semifinal winners
Game details: 4:30 p.m. PT on Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
TV channel and live stream: ESPN
Ryan Clarke: Ohio State 25, Indiana 21
James Crepea: Ohio State 28, Indiana 24
Nick Daschel: Georgia 28, Oregon 17
Aaron Fentress: Ohio State 22, Indiana 20
Sean Meagher: Ohio State 33, Indiana 31
Joel Odom: Georgia 30, Oregon 27
Bill Oram: Ohio State 32, Oregon 31
Mississippi
Mississippi First Congressional District Primary 2026: Live Election Results, Buck vs. Johnson
Mississippi
Mississippi Top Reads for week of March 15, 2026
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Staff
Sunday, March 15, 2026
1. (tie) “The Irish Goodbye,” Beth Ann Fennelly, Norton; and “Vigil,” George Saunders, Random House
2. “Theo of Golden,” Allen Levi, Atria Books
3. “The Widow,” John Grisham, Doubleday
4. “The Correspondent,” Virginia Evans, Random House
5. “When It’s Darkness on the Delta,” W. Ralph Eubanks, Beacon Press
6. “Eradication,” Jonathan Miles, Doubleday
7. “Neptune’s Fortune,” Julian Sancton, Random House
8. “The Dean,” Sparky Reardon, The Nautilus Publishing Company
9. “Kin,” Tayari Jones, Random House
10. “Brawler,” Lauren Groff, Riverhead
Children and young adults
1. “The Bear and the Hair and the Fair,” Em Lynas, Little Brown
2. “The Hybrid Prince,” Tui T. Sutherland, Scholastic Press
3. “One Mississippi,” Steve Azar,Sarah Frances Hardy (Illustrator), The Nautilus Publishing
4. “If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone,” Gideon Sterer, HarperCollins
5. (tie) “Fancy Nancy: Besties for Eternity,” Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator), HarperCollins; and “The Dark is For,” Jane Kohuth, Simon and Schuster
Adult events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)
Amy McDowell in conversation with Jodi Skipper for “Whispers in the Pews,” 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262
Tayari Jones on Thacker Mountain Radio Hour for “Kin,” 6 p.m. Thursday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262
Children’s events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)
No Cap Book Club (kids 10-13) will be reading “A Kid’s Book About…,” 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Storytime, “Clifford: Dream Big,” 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Chapter Captains Book Club (kids 6-9) will be reading “Princess in Black: Bathtime Battle,” 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Storytime, “What a Small Cat Needs,” 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Story Time, “Very Hungry Caterpillar” Day! 10 a.m. Saturday, Lemuria Books, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, 601-366-7619
— Sales and/or Events Reported by Lemuria Books (Jackson); Lorelei Books (Vicksburg); Square Books (Oxford).
Mississippi
Who finished No. 1 in Mississippi high school basketball Super 25 girls rankings?
The Mississippi girls high school basketball 2025-26 season has ended.
The MHSAA championships concluded March 7 at Mississippi Coliseum, while the MAIS overall tournament ended two weeks ago. Starkville finished as the No. 1 team in the final Clarion Ledger Mississippi high school girls basketball Super 25 rankings.
Two teams enter the Super 25 final rankings as Louisville joins from MHSAA 4A and East Rankin Academy in MAIS 4A.
Mississippi high school girls basketball Super 25 rankings
1. Starkville (31-3)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 1. Final game: Starkville 39, Harrison Central 22 in MHSAA 7A championship.
2. Laurel (31-2)
MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 3. Final game: Laurel 52, Holmes County Central 26 in MHSAA 5A championship.
3. Biloxi (30-2)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 2. Final game: Starkville 41, Biloxi 34 in MHSAA 7A semifinals.
4. Tishomingo County (28-2)
MHSAA Class 4A. Previous ranking: 4. Final game: Tishomingo County 64, Louisville 49 in MHSAA 4A championship.
5. Olive Branch (23-7)
MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: 8. Final game: Olive Branch 58, Neshoba Central 57 in MHSAA 6A championship.
6. Harrison Central (26-7)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 7. Final game: Starkville 39, Harrison Central 22 in MHSAA 7A championship.
7. Neshoba Central (26-7)
MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: 5. Final game: Olive Branch 58, Neshoba Central 57 in MHSAA 6A championship.
8. Madison Central (25-7)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 6. Final game: Harrison Central 56, Madison Central 40 in MHSAA 7A semifinals.
9. Booneville (24-4)
MHSAA Class 3A. Previous ranking: 9. Final game: Booneville 54, Belmont 31 in MHSAA 3A championship.
10. Canton (26-5)
MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: 10. Final game: Olive Branch 47, Canton 41 in MHSAA 6A quarterfinals.
11. Ingomar (33-2)
MHSAA Class 1A. Previous ranking: 12. Final game: Ingomar 65, Okolona 48 in MHSAA 1A championship.
12. Northwest Rankin (24-8)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 13. Final game: Harrison Central 45, Northwest Rankin 42 in MHSAA 7A quarterfinals.
13. Madison-Ridgeland Academy (36-5)
MAIS Class 4A. Previous ranking: 14. Final game: MRA 37, Simpson Academy 25 in MAIS Overall championship.
14. Pontotoc (23-9)
MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 16. Final game: Laurel 63, Pontotoc 38 in MHSAA 5A semifinals.
15. Brandon (23-8)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 17. Final game: Biloxi 55, Brandon 39 in MHSAA 7A quarterfinals.
16. Louisville (22-8)
MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Final game: Tishomingo County 64, Louisville 49 in MHSAA 4A championship.
17. Morton (27-3)
MHSAA Class 4A. Previous ranking: 11. Final game: Tishomingo County 65, Morton 40 in MHSAA 4A semifinals.
18. Choctaw Central (24-6)
MHSAA Class 4A. Previous ranking: 15. Final game: Morton 48, Choctaw Central 36 in MHSAA 4A quarterfinals.
19. Holmes County Central (22-12)
MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 23. Final game: Laurel 52, Holmes County Central 26 in MHSAA 5A championship.
20. Brookhaven (25-6)
MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 18. Final game: Holmes County Central 61, Brookhaven 55 in MHSAA 5A semifinals.
21. Belmont (24-7)
MHSAA Class 3A. Previous ranking: 19. Final game: Booneville 54, Belmont 31 in MHSAA 3A championship.
22. Simpson Academy (31-6)
MAIS Class 4A. Previous ranking: 21. Final game: MRA 37, Simpson Academy 25 in MAIS Overall championship.
23. West Harrison (24-5)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 22. Final game: Brandon 54, West Harrison 45 in MHSAA 7A first round.
24. East Union (30-2)
MHSAA Class 2A. Previous ranking: 24. Final game: East Union 57, New Site 38 in MHSAA 2A championship.
25. East Rankin Academy (31-7)
MAIS Class 4A. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Final game: MRA 57, East Rankin Academy 43 in MAIS Overall semifinals.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
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