2025-26 College Football Playoff Odds, Schedule, and Predictions

The excitement is building among college football fans as the 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) gears up to begin. This season’s playoff looks like it’ll deliver wild matchups, a few shocks, and a showcase of some of the best talent around.

From the first face-off between SEC rivals Alabama and Oklahoma to the grand finale at Hard Rock Stadium, fans have plenty to look forward to. Here’s a closer look at the playoff schedule, the odds, and a few key predictions for the upcoming games.

Round 1 Matchups: A Clash of Titans

The first round of the CFP brings some highly anticipated games, starting with a rematch between Alabama and Oklahoma. The Sooners edged out the Crimson Tide in a tense 23-21 game earlier this season, bumping Alabama out of a top-four spot.

Even with that setback, Alabama managed to snag a playoff berth and now gets a shot at redemption. There’s a lot riding on this one.

Alabama vs. Oklahoma

This matchup is a big test for Alabama’s quarterback, Ty Simpson. He looked great early in the season, but inconsistency and a costly pick-six in the first Oklahoma game have people asking questions.

Can Simpson find his groove and lead Alabama past the Sooners this time?

Game Details:

• No. 9 Alabama (+1.5) at No. 8 Oklahoma
• Date: Friday, December 19
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN, ABC

Other Key First-Round Games

The first round has a few other matchups worth circling on the calendar:

• No. 10 Miami (+3.5) at No. 7 Texas A&M: Miami’s tough defense goes up against Texas A&M in what could be a grind-it-out kind of game.
• No. 11 Tulane (+17.5) at No. 6 Mississippi: Tulane’s looking for payback after a rough loss to Mississippi earlier this year.
• No. 12 James Madison (+21) at No. 5 Oregon: James Madison, the Sun Belt champs, are up against a powerhouse Oregon squad. That’s a tall order.

Quarterfinals: The Road to Glory

Winners from round one will move on to the quarterfinals, where the top four teams are waiting. Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech have already locked in their spots as automatic qualifiers.

They’re all hungry for a deep run in the tournament.

Quarterfinal Matchups

Here’s when and where the quarterfinals go down:

• Cotton Bowl: Wednesday, December 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Orange Bowl: Thursday, January 1 at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Rose Bowl: Thursday, January 1 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
• Sugar Bowl: Thursday, January 1 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN

Semifinals: The Final Four

The semifinal round puts the quarterfinal winners head-to-head. These games will be played in the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl.

Fiesta Bowl

First up, the Fiesta Bowl:

• Date: Thursday, January 8
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

Peach Bowl

Then, the Peach Bowl:

• Date: Friday, January 9
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

College Football Playoff Championship Game

The season wraps up with the College Football Playoff Championship Game. The last two teams standing will battle it out for the title at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Game Details:

• Date: Monday, January 19
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

Predictions and Odds

As the playoff nears, the odds are shifting and predictions are all over the place. Ohio State is leading the pack as the favorite, but Indiana, Georgia, and Texas Tech are right there in the mix.

Here’s what the latest odds look like:

• Ohio State: +210
• Indiana: +290
• Georgia: +550
• Texas Tech: +800
• Oregon: +900
• Texas A&M: +2000
• Alabama: +2500
• Mississippi: +2500
• Miami: +2500
• Oklahoma: +5000
• James Madison: +70000
• Tulane: +80000

If you’re thinking about betting, it’s smart to keep an eye on how teams are performing and how the odds are moving. And yeah, it’s worth repeating—bet responsibly, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.

There’s a wild mix of powerhouse programs and underdog stories this year. Fans are in for a journey that could go just about anywhere, honestly.

If you’re after more details or the latest updates, check out the full College Football Playoff 2025-26 Playoff Odds, Schedule, and Bracket Predictions.