2025–26 College Football Bowl Schedule: Dates, Matchups, Scores, TV Channels
The college football regular season just wrapped up, and honestly, what a ride. After a wild conference championship weekend, fans are buzzing about what comes next.
Bowl season is finally here, with a whopping 41 games lined up. The big draw? The College Football Playoff (CFP) matchups—always a spectacle. This time, 12 top teams are in the hunt for the national title, and it all ends with the championship game on January 19.
Let’s take a look at the schedule, the matchups, and what might be in store for this postseason. There’s a lot to unpack, so buckle up.
Contents
College Football Playoff: The Road to the Championship
The 2025–26 CFP lineup is loaded—some familiar faces, a couple of surprises. Here are the 12 teams fighting for the crown:
- Indiana
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Miami
- Tulane
- James Madison
They’ll battle through four first-round games, then the quarters, semis, and finally the championship. The pressure is on, and every matchup feels like it could go either way.
First-Round Showdowns
First up, the CFP kicks off with these pairings:
- Oklahoma (8) vs. Alabama (9) – 8p ET on ABC, ESPN
- Miami (10) vs. Texas A&M (7) – 12p ET on ABC, ESPN
- Tulane (11) vs. Ole Miss (6) – 3:30p ET on TNT
- James Madison (12) vs. Oregon (5) – 7:30p ET on TNT
Winners from here move on to the quarterfinals, where things only get more intense.
Quarterfinal Clashes
The quarterfinals are shaping up to be wild, honestly. Some favorites, some underdogs—could be anyone’s game.
- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Miami OR Texas A&M vs. Ohio State (2) – 7:30p ET on ESPN
- Capital One Orange Bowl: James Madison OR Oregon vs. Texas Tech (4) – 12p ET on ESPN
- Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential: Alabama OR Oklahoma vs. Indiana (1) – 4p ET on ESPN
- Allstate Sugar Bowl: Tulane OR Ole Miss vs. Georgia (3) – 8p ET on ESPN
Semifinal Showdowns
Whoever survives the quarters heads to the semifinals, hosted at two iconic bowls:
- Vrbo Fiesta Bowl – 7:30p ET on ESPN
- Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl – 7:30p ET on ESPN
Just four teams left at this point, and the stakes? Couldn’t be higher.
National Championship Game
The grand finale is set for Monday, January 19, at 7:30p ET, live on ESPN. Two teams, one trophy, and a whole lot of bragging rights on the line.
Other Notable Bowl Games
The CFP gets the spotlight, sure, but there’s plenty more to watch. A few standouts:
- Cricket Celebration Bowl: South Carolina State 40, Prairie View A&M 38, 4OT
- Bucked Up LA Bowl: Washington 38, Boise State 10
- IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: Troy vs. Jacksonville State – 9p ET on ESPN
- StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Old Dominion vs. South Florida – 5p ET on ESPN
- 68 Ventures Bowl: Louisiana vs. Delaware – 5p ET on ESPN
If you’re a college football fan, there’s seriously no shortage of games to dig into this postseason.
Expert Analysis and Predictions
Want more insight? NBC Sports’ Rushing the Field has you covered. Nicole Auerbach and former Ohio State linebacker Joshua Perry break down the bracket and debate which teams have a cakewalk—or a gauntlet—ahead.
Catch their latest takes and subscribe to Rushing the Field on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. Sometimes you just need a little expert banter to make sense of it all.
Conclusion
The 2025–26 college football bowl season is shaping up to be something special. There’s bound to be plenty of wild finishes and surprises along the way.
Every matchup brings its own flavor. Some games might keep you on the edge of your seat, while others could surprise you with unexpected drama.
If you want the full rundown—scores, matchups, dates, times, the whole deal—check out the NBC Sports College Football Bowl Game Schedule.
It’s worth keeping an eye out for updates and a bit of analysis as things unfold. Who knows what’ll happen next?
