2025 College Football Playoff: Bracket, Scores, Results, and Schedule

The 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) is shaping up to be a wild ride. It’s just the second year of the 12-team format, and already things feel different. The tweaks to the system this season have stirred up some fascinating matchups and a few unexpected changes to how the bracket looks.

Now, the top four seeds aren’t locked in for conference champions only. That’s opened the door for a more varied and, honestly, more competitive playoff. If you’re trying to keep up, here’s a quick rundown of what’s new this year, from the first-round fireworks all the way to the championship game.

The New 12-Team Format

The 2025 CFP sticks with the 12-team setup that debuted in 2024. There’s a twist, though: the top four seeds aren’t automatically conference champs anymore.

That means higher-ranked teams can snag those spots, regardless of their conference standing. This change let the Big Ten sneak not one, but two teams—Indiana and Ohio State—into the top four.

Key Changes in Seeding

The language about the “five highest-ranked conference champions” really mattered this year. Tulane and James Madison both ended up ranked ahead of ACC champ Duke, who got left out entirely.

And with the top four seeds missing out on automatic byes, there’s a fresh layer of strategy and tension in the mix this season.

First-Round Highlights

The first round? It delivered. There were some lopsided wins, a couple of nail-biters, and plenty of highlight-reel moments. Here’s how the games shook out:

• No. 5 Oregon beat No. 12 James Madison, 51-34
• No. 6 Ole Miss rolled past No. 11 Tulane, 41-10
• No. 10 Miami barely edged No. 7 Texas A&M, 10-3
• No. 9 Alabama topped No. 8 Oklahoma, 34-24

With those results, the quarterfinals are set. The higher seeds get to play at home, which should make for some rowdy crowds.

Quarterfinal Showdowns

The quarterfinals look stacked. There’s no shortage of big names or storylines, and it feels like anything could happen. Check out these pairings:

• Game 5: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama
• Game 6: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami
• Game 7: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
• Game 8: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon

Each matchup lands at a classic bowl venue, which just adds to the whole spectacle.

Venue and Broadcast Details

The quarterfinals are set for some legendary stadiums:

• Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami in Arlington, Texas
• Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon in Miami
• Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama in Pasadena, California
• Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss in New Orleans

All the action will be on ESPN, with streaming on the ESPN App and Fubo. Some of the earlier games popped up on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max, too.

Semifinals and National Championship

After the quarterfinals, the winners move on to the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl for the semifinals. Here’s how those games line up:

• Fiesta Bowl: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 winner
• Peach Bowl: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner

They’re set for January 8 and 9, and you can catch them on ESPN or Fubo.

National Championship

The big one—the CFP National Championship—goes down January 19 in Miami. Whoever survives the semifinals will square off for the title and, honestly, bragging rights for life.

That final game airs on ESPN and streams on the ESPN App and Fubo. Can’t really ask for a bigger stage in college football.

Conclusion

The 2025 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be a wild ride. With the new 12-team format, the stakes feel higher and, honestly, a bit more unpredictable.

There are tweaks to the seeding process this year, which should keep everyone guessing. Quarterfinals, semifinals, and then the championship—each step is packed with anticipation.

If you want more details or the latest updates, check out the Sporting News.