The excitement for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) is honestly hard to ignore now that the bracket, schedule, rankings, and seeds are finally out. This year’s playoff looks like it’ll bring some wild matchups and moments fans won’t forget anytime soon.
The first game’s set for December 19. Fans are already buzzing about the showdowns between top teams—can you blame them?
Let’s get into the details of this year’s CFP and see what might be in store.
College Football Playoff Bracket Overview
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff bracket was designed to keep things competitive and fair. Four teams—Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech—earned byes into the quarterfinals.
That’s thanks to their strong seasons, honestly—these squads proved their consistency and dominance all year long.
First Round Matchups
The CFP’s first round kicks off December 19 and 20. Here’s what’s on tap:
- No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama – December 19 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
- No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) – December 20 at 12 p.m. on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
- No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane – December 20 at 3:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison – December 20 at 7:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
These games should be pretty intense. The Oklahoma-Alabama matchup, in particular, is already getting plenty of hype—no surprise, considering their histories.
Quarterfinals Breakdown
The quarterfinals are coming up on December 31 and January 1. They’ll be played at four classic bowl sites: the Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl.
Here’s how the matchups shake out:
December 31
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami (Fla.) winner – Cotton Bowl at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
January 1
No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison winner – Orange Bowl at 12 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama winner – Rose Bowl at 4 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane winner – Sugar Bowl at 8 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
Honestly, these quarterfinals could be spectacular. Each matchup has big names and plenty of talent on display.
Semifinals and National Championship
The semifinals are set for January 8 and 9. They’ll go down at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, and the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.
Quarterfinal winners will fight for a spot in the national championship game. Only two will make it through.
Semifinals Schedule
January 8 – Fiesta Bowl at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
January 9 – Peach Bowl at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
The grand finale—the College Football Playoff National Championship Game—lands on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. That’s where we’ll see the season’s true champion crowned.
Top Teams and Rankings
The final top 25 from the CFP selection committee is out, with Indiana snagging the top seed. Here’s the rundown:
- Indiana: 13-0
- Ohio State: 12-1
- Georgia: 12-1
- Texas Tech: 12-1
- Oregon: 11-1
- Ole Miss: 11-1
- Texas A&M: 11-1
- Oklahoma: 10-2
- Alabama: 10-3
- Miami (Fla.): 10-2
- Notre Dame: 10-2
- BYU: 11-2
- Texas: 9-3
- Vanderbilt: 10-2
- Utah: 10-2
- USC: 9-3
- Arizona: 9-3
- Michigan: 9-3
- Virginia: 10-3
- Tulane: 11-2
- Houston: 9-3
- Georgia Tech: 9-3
- Iowa: 8-4
- James Madison: 12-1
- North Texas: 11-2
It’s clear these teams worked hard all season. The stage is definitely set for an electric playoff.
Heisman Trophy Finalists
The Heisman Trophy finalists for 2025 are in. The top four contenders:
- Jeremiyah Love
- Fernando Mendoza
- Diego Pavia
- Julian Sayin
All four have been outstanding this season—each with their own style and strengths. It’ll be interesting to see who takes home college football’s biggest individual honor.
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be wild. Top teams are gearing up to battle for the ultimate prize.
Want to stay in the loop or make your picks? Check out the College Football Bracket Challenge Game.
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