The road to the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship is heating up as the 12-team bracket narrows to eight. Intense matchups and surprising upsets have set the stage for an exhilarating quarterfinals.
From Alabama’s comeback victory to Miami’s historic win, here’s a look at the latest in the CFP and what might be coming as we inch closer to crowning the 2025-26 champion.
First-Round Recap: Who Advanced?
The first round of the College Football Playoff delivered, with a mix of dominant performances and nail-biters. No. 9 seed Alabama got things rolling, topping No. 8 seed Oklahoma 34-24.
Ty Simpson led the Crimson Tide on a wild 34-7 run starting in the second quarter. That surge locked up their spot in the quarterfinals.
In another tense matchup, No. 10 seed Miami pulled off a 10-3 upset over No. 7 seed Texas A&M. The Hurricanes’ defense really showed up, with true freshman Bryce Fitzgerald sealing the deal with a late interception.
This was Miami’s first-ever CFP win, and honestly, it felt overdue.
No. 6 seed Mississippi took care of business against No. 11 seed Tulane, cruising to a 41-10 victory in Oxford. Even after Lane Kiffin’s recent departure to LSU, the Rebels didn’t miss a beat.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss tossed three touchdowns, and the offense looked sharp.
Wrapping up the round, No. 5 seed Oregon overpowered No. 12 seed James Madison 51-34. Dante Moore threw five touchdowns for the Ducks.
James Madison didn’t go quietly, though—they outscored Oregon 28-17 in the second half and made things interesting late.
Quarterfinal Matchups: What to Watch For
The quarterfinals are set, and it feels like anything could happen. Here’s what’s on tap:
Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami
The Cotton Bowl features No. 2 seed Ohio State against No. 10 seed Miami on New Year’s Eve at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes bring their high-powered offense, while Miami rides the wave of their upset win.
You can catch this one on ESPN or Fubo.
Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon
January 1 brings the Orange Bowl, with No. 4 seed Texas Tech facing No. 5 seed Oregon at noon ET. Texas Tech’s balanced attack will be tested by Dante Moore and Oregon’s explosive offense.
This one’s also on ESPN and Fubo, if you’re keeping track.
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama
The Rose Bowl has No. 1 seed Indiana meeting No. 9 seed Alabama on January 1 at 4 p.m. ET. Indiana wants to keep their top-seed momentum going, while Alabama hopes to ride their first-round spark.
Find it on ESPN and Fubo.
Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
Later that night, the Sugar Bowl features No. 3 seed Georgia against No. 6 seed Ole Miss at 8 p.m. ET. Georgia’s defense is stout, but Ole Miss has plenty of firepower on offense.
This matchup will air on ESPN and Fubo as well.
Looking Ahead: Semifinals and National Championship
Quarterfinal winners move on to the semifinals. The Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl champs will meet in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl winners will square off in the Peach Bowl on January 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Both semifinals will be on ESPN and Fubo.
The CFP National Championship is set for January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. It’ll be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and truTV.
Streaming options include the ESPN app, Fubo, and Sling TV. If you’re not tuning in, are you even a fan?
Broadcast and Streaming Options
Most of the 2025-26 College Football Playoff games will air nationally on ESPN’s networks, including ABC and ESPN. Two first-round games were also shown on TNT and truTV, thanks to a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports.
If you’re looking to stream, you’ve got choices:
- ESPN app (with TV login)
- Fubo (offers a free trial for new users)
- Sling TV
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff has already given us some wild moments. And honestly, who knows what’s coming next as the quarterfinals keep rolling?
Powerhouse teams are clashing, but there are some underdog stories brewing too. The road to the National Championship feels like it could go anywhere this year.
For the full CFP bracket and schedule, check out USA Today.
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