2025–26 College Football Playoff Schedule: Key Matchups and TV Info

The college football season is hitting its most thrilling stage, and the 2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule is finally out. Anticipation is running high, with debates already flaring up over which teams deserve a spot and which ones got snubbed.

As we get ready for the high-stakes elimination games, fans can expect matchups between powerhouse programs and some real underdog stories. The road to the national championship is set—buckle up for a wild ride.

The Road to the 2025-26 National Championship

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff kicks off on Friday, December 19, and wraps up with the national championship game on Monday, January 19. This year’s bracket highlights the diversity and competitiveness of college football.

Teams from the Sun Belt, ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, and SEC all made the cut. It’s a pretty wide mix, honestly.

First-Round Matchups

The first round opens with some serious fireworks:

• Friday, Dec 19 at 8p ET: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma
• Location: Norman, Oklahoma
• Watch: ABC/ESPN

Alabama and Oklahoma clash in Norman. Both have storied pasts and a flair for late-game drama.

The winner heads to the Rose Bowl to face undefeated No. 1 seed Indiana.

• Saturday, Dec 20 at 12p ET: No. 10 Miami vs. No. 7 Texas A&M
• Location: College Station, Texas
• Watch: ABC/ESPN

Miami travels to College Station to take on Texas A&M. The Hurricanes have looked solid, but the Aggies get to play at home.

The victor advances to meet Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

• Saturday, Dec 20 at 3:30p ET: No. 11 Tulane vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
• Location: Oxford, Mississippi
• Watch: TNT/HBO Max

Tulane faces Ole Miss in Oxford. It’s a classic David vs. Goliath setup, with Tulane eager to prove themselves on the big stage.

The winner gets Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

• Saturday, Dec 20 at 7:30p ET: No. 12 James Madison vs. No. 5 Oregon
• Location: Eugene, Oregon
• Watch: TNT/HBO Max

James Madison, repping the Sun Belt, will take on Oregon in Eugene. The Dukes are underdogs, but they’ve shown some grit this season.

Whoever comes out on top will play Texas Tech in the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Second-Round Showdowns

The first-round winners move on, and the pressure ramps up:

• Wednesday, Dec 31 at 7:30p ET: Miami OR Texas A&M vs. Ohio State (2)
• Location: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, Texas
• Watch: ESPN

Ohio State waits for the Miami/Texas A&M winner. The Buckeyes have been a machine this year, but anything can happen in the playoffs.

• Thursday, Jan 1 at 12p ET: James Madison OR Oregon vs. Texas Tech (4)
• Location: Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida
• Watch: ESPN

Texas Tech faces the winner of James Madison and Oregon. The Red Raiders have been impressive and will want to prove they belong at this level.

• Thursday, Jan 1 at 4p ET: Alabama OR Oklahoma vs. Indiana (1)
• Location: Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential in Pasadena, California
• Watch: ESPN

Indiana, the undefeated No. 1 seed, takes on whoever survives between Alabama and Oklahoma. The Hoosiers have been a surprise this season.

• Thursday, Jan 1 at 8p ET: Tulane OR Ole Miss vs. Georgia (3)
• Location: Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Watch: ESPN

Georgia is set to meet the winner of Tulane and Ole Miss. The Bulldogs are always tough in these spots.

Semifinals and Championship Game

The semifinals bring it all together with the last four standing:

• Thursday, Jan 8 at 7:30p ET: TBD vs. TBD
• Location: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona
• Watch: ESPN

• Friday, Jan 9 at 7:30p ET: TBD vs. TBD
• Location: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia
• Watch: ESPN

Whoever wins these will get a shot at the national title:

• Monday, Jan 19 at 7:30p ET: TBD vs. TBD
• Location: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
• Watch: ESPN

The championship game at Hard Rock Stadium should be an absolute spectacle. Hard to say who’ll come out on top, but fans are in for something special.

Don’t Miss a Moment

Every game in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff is do-or-die. That alone brings a crazy level of drama and excitement.

You can catch the action on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and HBO Max. No matter if you’re cheering for a big-name team or hoping for a wild underdog run, this year’s playoff just feels like it could be something special.

If you want the full schedule or more info, check out the official NBC Sports College Football Playoff page. Buckle up—this road to the championship might get a little wild.