2025-26 College Football Playoff Bracket, Scores, and Key Matchups

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) is here, and you can feel the buzz. Twelve top teams are gearing up for a shot at the national championship.

The Playoff selection committee has dropped its final rankings, and now the postseason picture is set. This is only the second year for the expanded 12-team bracket, and honestly, the extra drama is already noticeable.

The first round starts on December 19, and the championship game is locked in for January 19. Here’s a rundown of the matchups, scores, and schedule, plus some thoughts on what fans might see during this wild playoff run.

The Road to the Championship

The 12-team format brings a new layer of unpredictability. The top four squads get a first-round bye, which is a pretty big deal—they can rest up and scout their next opponents.

This season’s top four seeds are:

• Indiana
• Ohio State
• Georgia
• Texas Tech

These teams have been rock-solid all year, earning their way to the top. Meanwhile, seeds five through twelve are left to duke it out in the first round, and those games are always a little unpredictable.

First-Round Highlights

The opening round? It brought the fireworks. Some of these games had fans on the edge of their seats:

• No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24 – Alabama pulled away with a strong finish, showing off their grit.
• No. 10 Miami 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3 – Miami squeaked by in a defensive slugfest.
• No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10 – Ole Miss just ran away with it, no contest.
• No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34 – Oregon’s offense was just relentless; James Madison couldn’t keep pace.

Now, with the dust settled, the quarterfinals are set and the top seeds are about to join the fray.

Quarterfinal Showdowns

The quarterfinals are shaping up to be intense. Here’s how the matchups look:

Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami

Ohio State, always a threat, faces Miami in the Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes have the edge on paper, but if Miami keeps up their momentum, who knows?

Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon

Texas Tech and Oregon meet up for what could be a shootout. Both teams love to put up points, so fans might want to keep the popcorn handy.

Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama

Indiana, sitting at the top, has a tough draw against Alabama. Indiana’s discipline will be put to the test by Bama’s playmakers.

Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss

Georgia and Ole Miss clash in the Sugar Bowl, and both have defenses that can really clamp down. Maybe it comes down to which offense can break through first?

Looking Ahead: Semifinals and Beyond

Quarterfinal winners move on to the semifinals, where things get even more intense. The schedule is set:

• Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ – January 8, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN)
• Peach Bowl in Atlanta, GA – January 9, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN)

Whoever survives will play for the title on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. That’s going to be a night to remember.

Key Players to Watch

There are a handful of players who could really tilt the scales for their teams. Keep an eye on these guys:

• Indiana – Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been the spark behind Indiana’s rise.
• Ohio State – Running back TreVeyon Henderson is a threat to break one every time he touches the ball.
• Georgia – Jordan Davis, anchoring that Georgia defense, is a game-wrecker.
• Texas Tech – Wideout Erik Ezukanma is always a danger to make something big happen.

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be quite a ride. There’s a good chance we’ll see some wild, unforgettable moments along the way.

If you want to keep up with the latest scores, stats, and matchups, check out the official NBC Sports College Football Playoff page. The action will keep building until the national champion is finally crowned on January 19.