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USA Today's Look at the Peach Bowl - https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/02/peach-bowl-indiana-vs-oregon-rematch-in-cfp-semifinal-college-football-playoff/87993782007/

I read somewhere that the semi-final officials crews will be: Peach: SEC Fiesta: Big10 The Big Ten could not work either of the semifinals last year (Penn St in one, Ohio St in the other), so I think it’s safe to say that they will get the Miami vs. Ole Miss game in the Fiesta Bowl. With two B1Gs in the Peach, they will not be assigned that game. The Big 12 has the second-longest NCG drought (last time was 2020-21) and will not have a team in the semifinals, so I’ll predict that they will get the championship game this year. It will be B1G vs ACC/SEC in the championship. Thus, the Big12 officiating crew will likely get the call for the championship game. The Big Ten has gone the longest without an officiating crew in the championship. With the Big Ten in the Fiesta, and Big 12 crew in the championship, that leaves either the SEC or ACC for the Peach semi-final. Since the ACC had the Oregon vs Tex Tech game, it is more likely the SEC will get the Peach Bowl assignment.

USA Today calls out Bama and the SEC https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2026/01/02/alabama-football-embarrassed-kalen-deboer-indiana-rose-bowl-sec-big-ten-record/87939308007/

Yahoo for this Final 4! https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/article/college-football-playoff-finally-being-settled-on-field-instead-of-behind-closed-doors-and-the-results-are-glorious-164734764.html

No surprise here. Iowa State QB Rocco Becht transfers to Penn State. https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/former-iowa-state-quarterback-rocco-becht-transfers-to-penn-state-214500388.html

Cig signs his 2026 season QB - Hoover goes from the Horned Frogs to the Hoosiers SIIndiana Lands Fernando Mendoza's Likely Replacement in Tr...Curt Cignetti and Indiana have found Fernando Mendoza’s replacement.

Honestly I don't see the PI in the photos. Maybe his right arm was being held down but I don't see that in the photos of Benson's left side. I do see the db is not looking back, so there is definitely no excuse of I was trying to make a play on the ball. I certainly prefer refs that don't call PI with our DBs as handsy as they are.

Orange Bowl refs: https://www.thetelegraph.com/sports/article/a-rarity-texas-tech-coach-joey-mcguire-praises-21271828.php

All members of the officiating crew, including alternates, have a part to play. As Indiana was driving for their last TD of the first half, they called timeout as the play was near the goal line. The alternate official on that sideline waved his hands toward the middle of the field to help signal that Indiana was calling timeout, even as the LOS official was signaling as well. Every second counts, and the alternate was helping the crew identify when the timeout was being called.

Officiating crew for Peach Bowl: These are the crews assigned so far. It is interesting to me, there doesn't appear to be crews that are assigned to more than one game. You would think a bit of experience in more than one bowl game would be helpful? Do you want an officiating crew on January 9 that hasn't been together since the end of the regular season? How sharp would they be? https://refereestats.proboards.com/thread/9080/2025-2026-college-football-officials There is also a crew and substitutes. That has to be a bit spendy for their travel, hotel, salary? Vs James Madison – it was SEC (8 plus 5 subs) Vs Texas Tech – it was ACC (8 plus 4 subs) It appears the subs are assigned by officiating specialty so it's not like if one regular gets injured the sub can fill in for any of the 8 jobs.

And since we're on the topic of blatant no-calls, how in the world did this one get overlooked? And they had the audacity to add insult to injury by ruling out JM's miracle one handed catch (which would not have been necessary if his arm wasn't being torn off by the defender). Egregious!

Friends, I am at work, but I haven't forgotten you. Talk about some very insightful posts! After work, I'll respond to those posts. So hold on Mr. Marsh; Gotcha;Solar; Kamakazi Kid; WTD25; Washington Waddler and Mikethehiker. You guys are feeding the post graduate level analysis here. Thanks for your thoughts. Can't wait to as my thoughts...

Biggest question is-Can he pass the ball!

Add the offensive passing interference no calls to this conversation. I guess Benson should have just pushed off to create separation like everyone else does now days. I really didn't like the no calls on more than a few opposing wide receiver TDs this year. The ducks to their credit haven't consistently been using the push off as a method to create separation, but to be fair they generally don't need to because their that good.

So true……and that’s the problem. And, to be clear, I don’t buy into the oft mentioned opinion that the refs have it in for Oregon. I have seen Duck defenders commit blatant pass interference on several occasions……..with no whistle…….so it goes both ways.

I believe the other thing at play here is that PI is a non reviewable call. That means it can't be reviewed if it happens to be overturned but it also means that if the play is reviewed it cannot be added. If there isn't a flag at the end of the play there won't be one. I don't think I'd like it if it was a reviewable call to be honest because it would slow down the game if they could call these after the play.

Despite the many eyes on a play and the frequent review of videos. It's anyone's guess how game officials will call any contested pass play.

I just saw a play on MNF, 3 receivers out wide, looked like a receiver screen. At the snap all three went down field, one curled deep for a TD. Lets try that Will.

The referees for the Peach Bowl will be from The Big 10 Conference and will be led by Larry Smith.

Remember, Chip’s teams were a lot smaller along the OL and DL. This team is a lot bigger and they’re likely not conditioned the way Rad used to condition Duck players.

I've searched Google and B1G and cannot find an answer for the Peach and the Fiesta Bowls.

On the other hand ... https://sports.yahoo.com/article/refs-indiana-vs-oregon-facing-214555733.html

What league is reffing the Peach Bowl? It could make a difference…

I think the opposite.