2025-26 College Football Playoff Schedule: Key Dates and TV Channels
As the college football season barrels toward its finale, the anticipation for the College Football Playoff (CFP) is getting intense. The first look at the 12-team field for the 2025-26 postseason drops Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
This year, the CFP selection committee is going with a straight seeding approach. That means the bracket could get wild, especially with the Big Ten and SEC likely snagging those top spots.
Fans are buzzing, waiting to see how the rankings shake out. Here’s a rundown of the upcoming CFP schedule, key dates, and where you can actually watch all of it unfold.
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2025-26 College Football Playoff Schedule
The road to the national championship is packed with crucial matchups. It all starts Friday, Dec. 19, with the first of four first-round games, hosted on the campuses of the No. 5 through No. 8 seeds.
After that, the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the championship game follow. Everything wraps up with a showdown at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19.
First Round Games
The first round’s got some real potential for upsets. Here’s when the games go down:
- Friday, Dec. 19: 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN
- Saturday, Dec. 20: Noon ET on ABC and ESPN
- Saturday, Dec. 20: 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT and truTV
- Saturday, Dec. 20: 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT and truTV
Quarterfinals
The quarterfinals—also called the New York Six Bowls—bring out some of the biggest bowl games in college football:
- Wednesday, Dec. 31: Cotton Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Orange Bowl at Noon ET on ESPN
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Rose Bowl at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Sugar Bowl at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Semifinals
The semifinal games land at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl. Both have a reputation for wild finishes and huge crowds:
- Thursday, Jan. 8: Fiesta Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
- Friday, Jan. 9: Peach Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
National Championship
The biggest game of the year—the national championship—happens on:
- Monday, Jan. 19: 7:30 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, on ESPN
Key Dates for CFP Rankings
CFP rankings matter for teams and fans, mapping out the playoff path. Here’s when those rankings drop:
- Tuesday, Nov. 4: 8 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Nov. 11: 7 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Nov. 18: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Nov. 25: 7 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Dec. 2: 7 p.m. ET
- Sunday, Dec. 7: Noon ET
Broadcast and Streaming Information
Catching the CFP is easier than ever, with games spread across several networks and streaming options. The ESPN Family of Networks, including ABC and ESPN, will show nine of the 11 games this year.
For the two games on TNT and truTV, you’ll need to hop over to Sling TV. Here’s where to find each broadcast:
- ABC and ESPN: Available on Fubo, which even offers a free trial for newcomers
- TNT and truTV: Available on Sling TV
Teams to Watch
As the season rolls on, a few teams are starting to pull ahead in the race for those top seeds. Ohio State, last year’s national champs, are still undefeated at 8-0.
They’ve got Heisman hopefuls Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith leading the charge. Honestly, the Buckeyes look set for another serious playoff push.
But let’s be real—college football is unpredictable. The rankings that come out on Nov. 4 might not even resemble what we see after the conference championships.
For more details, check out the [USA Today article](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/11/04/college-football-playoff-schedule-cfp-rankings-dates-tv-channel/87086305007/).
