2025 College Football Playoff: 12-Team Bracket and Full Schedule

The stage is set for the 2025 College Football Playoff, and honestly, it looks like it could be one of the most exhilarating postseasons in recent memory.

Indiana leads the charge as the No. 1 seed, with powerhouse programs like Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech following close behind.

Fans are in for a treat. The playoff field mixes traditional juggernauts with a couple of underdog stories, so there’s a sense that anything could happen from the first snap to the championship game.

Let’s get into the details of this year’s playoff bracket, the matchups, and the schedule. There’s a lot to unpack.

The Top Seeds and First-Round Byes

This year’s College Football Playoff uses a 12-team bracket. The top four seeds get a first-round bye, which is a pretty significant advantage.

Indiana locked in the No. 1 spot after a historic win in the Big Ten title game against Ohio State.

The Hoosiers’ undefeated season has been a wild ride. They look ready for a deep playoff run, but who knows?

Joining Indiana with a first-round bye are:

• No. 2 Ohio State: Even after a narrow loss to Indiana, the Buckeyes look as dangerous as ever.
• No. 3 Georgia: The SEC champs have been steamrolling teams all season.
• No. 4 Texas Tech: The Big 12 champions round out the top four, which feels a bit surreal.

Bubble Teams and Surprising Selections

The drama around the selection process was real, especially for the bubble teams. Alabama and Miami managed to leapfrog Notre Dame, which lost to Miami in the opening week, grabbing the No. 9 and No. 10 spots.

Meanwhile, American Conference champ Tulane and Sun Belt champ James Madison clinched the 11th and 12th spots, just edging out Duke, the ACC champion. That’s going to sting for Blue Devils fans.

First-Round Matchups

The first round kicks off December 19-20, and the matchups look pretty spicy:

• No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2): This one kicks off the playoffs on Friday, Dec. 19, at 5 p.m. on KATU 2.
• No. 10 Miami (10-2) at No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1): Hurricanes vs. Aggies, Saturday, Dec. 20, at 9 a.m. on KATU 2.
• No. 11 Tulane (12-1) at No. 6 Mississippi (11-1): Airs at 12:30 p.m. on TNT.
• No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon (11-1): Ducks host the Dukes at 4:30 p.m. on TNT.

Quarterfinal Showdowns

Winners from the first round move on to the quarterfinals, set for December 31 and January 1. Here’s how those matchups shake out:

• Miami-Texas A&M winner vs. No. 2 Ohio State: Cotton Bowl, Dec. 31 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN.
• Oregon-James Madison winner vs. No. 4 Texas Tech: Orange Bowl, Jan. 1 at 9 a.m. on ESPN.
• Alabama-Oklahoma winner vs. No. 1 Indiana: Rose Bowl, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
• Tulane-Mississippi winner vs. No. 3 Georgia: Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. on ESPN.

Semifinals and Championship

The semifinals are lined up for January 8 and 9, with the quarterfinal winners facing off in two classic bowl games:

• Fiesta Bowl: Cotton Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner, Jan. 8 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN.
• Peach Bowl: Rose Bowl winner vs. Orange Bowl winner, Jan. 9 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Championship Game

The big finale, the 2025 College Football Playoff championship game, is set for January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN. It’s got all the makings of a classic.

For more details, you can check out the full schedule and breakdown on OregonLive.

Key Players to Watch

Looking ahead, a handful of players could really shape how this playoff goes:

• Indiana’s Quarterback: Led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and is a legit Heisman candidate.
• Ohio State’s Defensive End: This guy racks up sacks and tackles that change games.
• Georgia’s Running Back: Absolute force on the ground, and honestly, the Bulldogs lean on him.
• Texas Tech’s Wide Receiver: A deep threat who can flip a game with one play.

Underdog Stories

Teams like Tulane and James Madison bring a little chaos and unpredictability to the playoffs. These underdogs have shown real grit and skill, and who doesn’t love a potential giant-killer?

Fans and analysts will be watching their journey closely—it’s hard not to root for a good underdog story.

Historical Context

This year’s 12-team playoff format really says a lot about how college football is evolving. More teams means more variety and more chances for smaller programs to make some noise.

It’s a nod to the growing parity in the sport. These days, any team can rise to the occasion—at least, that’s the hope.

Fan Engagement

Fans are more engaged than ever. Social media’s buzzing with predictions, heated debates, and quick-fire analyses.

The expanded playoff format has pulled in bigger crowds and boosted viewership. More fan bases have a real stake in every outcome now.

Honestly, the atmosphere at these games? It’s expected to be electric. Passionate supporters will be out in full force, cheering their teams on and making some serious noise.