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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.
Games are scheduled 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, dates, TV channel, sites
All times Eastern. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard
First round (Dec. 19-20) — on campus
Friday, Dec. 19
8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
Saturday, Dec. 20:
12 p.m. on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
3:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
7:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas)Â | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
Thursday, Jan. 1
Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Fla.) | 12 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)Â | 4 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
Sugar Bowl (New Orleans) | 8 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
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
CFP National Championship
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)Â
2024-25 College Football Playoff scores, results
First round (Dec. 20-21)
Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
CFP National Championship
2023-24 College Football Playoff scores, results
Downing one of the most efficient offenses in college football, the 15-0 Michigan Wolverines finished their perfect season by winning their first football national title since 1997. Michigan topped Washington, 34-13, in the 2023-24 CFP National Championship Game.
Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy showcased his arm as well as his legs as he tossed for 140 yards and clocked his longest carry all season at 22 yards on a crucial third-and-long in the third quarter. With a key third quarter interception, defensive back Will Johnson earned Defensive MVP. Donning the same jersey number as Johnson (No. 2), Blake Corum earned Offensive MVP after notching 134 rushing yards. He also added two rushing touchdowns to tally 58 of his career — a school record. He concluded during the trophy ceremony, “Business is finished.”
In his ninth season at the helm of his alma mater, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh collected his first national championship with the Wolverines. The game capped off the 10-year stint of the four-team College Football Playoff, with the playoff expansion to 12 teams for the 2024-25 season.
When do College Football Playoff rankings come out?
Six top 25 rankings will be released by the College Football Playoff Selection Committee during the 2025 season, including final CFP field selections on Dec. 7, 2025.
College Football Playoff bracket, based on the current committee rankings
Here’s how the 2025-26 College Football Playoff bracket looks now, going off the selection committee’s top 25 rankings as announced on Tuesday, Nov. 11
Ohio State, Indiana hold strong atop the second College Football Playoff rankings
The College Football Playoff selection committee released its second rankings on Nov. 11. Here is everything you need to know about the second CFP rankings for 2025.