2025-26 College Football Playoff Schedule and Matchups Announced
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) is about to hit its stride as the second year of the 12-team format. If you’re into high-stakes college football, well, you’re in for a wild month.
It all gets rolling with the First Round on December 19, 2025. The season wraps up with the National Championship on January 19, 2026, at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
Fans are in for a wild ride. Top teams will be grinding it out for the title, and honestly, who doesn’t love a good underdog story?
Here’s a look at the schedule, the matchups, and a bit of what you can expect from this season’s chaos.
Contents
First Round: December 19-20, 2025
The CFP First Round kicks off on Friday, December 19, 2025. This is where the drama really starts, with teams fighting to keep their championship hopes alive.
December 19, 2025
Things get started with a prime-time game at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, and WatchESPN. It’s Alabama vs. Oklahoma—two absolute juggernauts facing off under the lights.
December 20, 2025
Saturday, December 20, brings a tripleheader:
- Noon on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN: Miami vs. Texas A&M
- 3:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max: Tulane vs. Ole Miss
- 7:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max: James Madison vs. Oregon
These games will play out on campus sites, but the exact locations? We’ll find out on Selection Day, December 7, 2025. That’s always a bit of a nail-biter.
Quarterfinals: December 31, 2025 – January 1, 2026
The quarterfinals are set across four legendary bowl games. Each one has its own vibe and history, making things extra interesting.
December 31, 2025
- 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN: Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas): Ohio State vs. winner of Miami vs. Texas A&M
January 1, 2026
- Noon on ESPN, WatchESPN: Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Florida): Texas Tech vs. winner of James Madison vs. Oregon
- 4 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California): Indiana vs. winner of Alabama vs. Oklahoma
- 8 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN: Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana): Georgia vs. winner of Tulane vs. Ole Miss
Semifinals: January 9, 2026
The semifinals land at two massive bowl games. Stakes don’t get much higher than this.
- 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN: Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Arizona)
- 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN: Peach Bowl (Atlanta)
National Championship: January 19, 2026
The finish line: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The National Championship game is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN and WatchESPN.
Who’s going to take home the trophy? We’ll all be watching to find out.
How to Watch
All games will be broadcast on ESPN. You can watch them easily through the ESPN App, so fans won’t miss a thing.
Maybe you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, or those wild soccer goals. The ESPN App pretty much covers it all.
There’s live coverage, quick expert takes, breaking news, and exclusive videos. You’ll even get updates on current affairs and entertainment, if that’s your thing.
Download now for all-access coverage. It’s right there on your phone, whenever you want it.
If you want more details on the 2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule, dates, or matchups, check out the official announcement on AS.com.
