ARLINGTON, Texas – The divisional round of the 2025-26 National Football League playoffs is slated to feature 46 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic alumni across the active rosters of the eight participating teams.
 
The Houston Texans lead the way with eight Cotton Bowl Classic alums. Guiding the franchise on the sidelines is former Alabama standout and 2025 Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame inductee DeMeco Ryans. The Texans' third-year head coach earned the Felix R. McKnight Trophy as the Defensive Most Valuable Player in the 70th Classic in 2006.
 
The Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks each feature seven Cotton Bowl Classic alums. On the Bears coaching staff as the quarterbacks coach is former Ohio State star J.T. Barrett. Barrett threw for 114 yards and ran for 66 yards and two touchdowns in the Buckeyes' 82nd Classic win in 2017.
 
Ohio State paces the list of Classic alums with seven, followed by Alabama and Southern California with six each. Each of the eight teams playing in the NFL divisional round boasts at least one Classic alum on its active roster.
 
The AFC and NFC Championship games are scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 25. Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., is set for Sunday, Feb. 8 on NBC and Peacock.
 
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GOODYEAR COTTON BOWL CLASSIC ALUMS IN THE 2025-26 NFL PLAYOFFS DIVISIONAL ROUND
 
Buffalo Bills (5)
David Edwards, Wisconsin 
Jordan Hancock, Ohio State
Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma*
Baylon Spector, Clemson
Dorian Williams, Tulane
 
Chicago Bears (7) 
Andrew Billings, Baylor  
Jaquan Brisker, Penn State  
Luther Burden III, Missouri
Gervon Dexter Sr., Florida  
T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin  
Cole Kmet, Notre Dame
Jordan McFadden, Clemson***
Caleb Williams, Southern California 
J.T. Barrett, Ohio State (Quarterbacks Coach)
 
Denver Broncos (6)
Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri  
Jahdae Barron, Texas
Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma
Jonathon Cooper, Ohio State
Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida
Michael Deiter, Wisconsin**
J.K. Dobbins, Ohio State* 
Marvin Mims Jr., Oklahoma 
Que Robinson, Alabama^
Cody Schrader, Missouri**
Delarrin Turner-Yell, Oklahoma* **  
Johnny Walker, Missouri*
 
Houston Texans (8)
Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
Calen Bullock, Southern California  
Solomon Byrd, Southern California**
Christian Harris, Alabama
Kurt Hinish, Notre Dame*
Dare Ogunbowale, Wisconsin 
Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame   
Juice Scruggs, Penn State
Jaylin Smith, Southern California*
Cade Stover, Ohio State
Henry To'oTo'o, Alabama
K'Von Wallace, Clemson**
DeMeco Ryans, Alabama (Head Coach)
 
Los Angeles Rams (3) 
Justin Dedich, Southern California
Ty Hamilton, Ohio State
Harrison Mevis, Missouri
Bill Norton, Texas**
Jesse Luketa, Penn State**
Tyler Scott, Cincinnati**
 
New England Patriots (4)
Antonio Gibson, Memphis* 
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
Thayer Munford Jr., Ohio State
Robert Spillane, Western Michigan
Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma 
Caedan Wallace, Penn State*** 
 
San Francisco 49ers (6) 
Nick Bosa, Ohio State*
Javon Baker, Alabama** 
Alfred Collins, Texas
Luke Farrell, Ohio State
Clelin Ferrell, Clemson
Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
Bryce Huff, Memphis
Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama 
Patrick Taylor Jr., Memphis*
Brayden Willis, Oklahoma** 
 
Seattle Seahawks (7) 
Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
Sam Darnold, Southern California
Josh Jobe, Alabama^
Julian Love, Notre Dame
Jalen Milroe, Alabama*** 
Uchenna Nwosu, Southern California 
Robbie Ouzts, Alabama^
Brandon Pili, Southern California
Jarran Reed, Alabama 
Chris Stoll, Penn State
 
*Reserve/Injured list
**Practice squad
***Was a redshirt when his team played in the Cotton Bowl Classic
^Was injured and did not play in the Cotton Bowl Classic