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Here’s the schedule for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff bracket. This is the second year the CFP is using a 12-team format. The bracket and matchups were announced on Sunday, Dec. 7.

BRACKET GAME: Make your picks in the College Football Bracket Challenge Game

Games are Dec. 19, 2025 to Jan. 19, 2026, with the first round on Dec. 19-20, quarterfinals on Dec. 31-Jan. 1, semifinals on Jan. 8-9 and finally the CFP National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Check out the full schedule below.

2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule, games

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First round (Dec. 19-20)

Friday, Dec. 19

Saturday, Dec. 20:

Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)

Wednesday, Dec. 31

No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami (Fla.) winner | Cotton Bowl | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

Thursday, Jan. 1

Semifinals (Jan. 8-9)

Thursday, Jan. 8

Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

Friday, Jan. 9

Peach Bowl (Atlanta) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

 College Football Playoff National Championship Game

Monday, Jan. 19

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

Here is the history of the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Year
(Game Date)
Game
LOCATION

2015
No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20
Arlington, Texas

2016
No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40
Glendale, Arizona

2017
No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31
Tampa, Florida

2018
No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23
Atlanta, Georgia

2019
No. 2 Clemson 44, No. 1 Alabama 16
Santa Clara, California

2020
No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25
New Orleans, Louisiana

2021
No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24
Miami Gardens, Florida

2022
No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18
Indianapolis, Indiana

2023
No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7
Inglewood, California

2024
No. 1 Michigan 34, No. 2 Washington 13
Houston, Texas

2025
No. 8 Ohio State 34, No. 7 Notre Dame 23
Atlanta, Georgia

Future CFP National Championship Game locations

2026: Jan. 19 — Miami (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida)
2027: Jan. 25 — Las Vegas (Allegiant Stadium) 

2024-25 College Football Playoff scores, results

First round (Dec. 20-21)

Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)

Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)

CFP National Championship

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