2025 College Football Playoff First Round Schedule Announced
The College Football Playoff (CFP) just dropped its First Round schedule for 2025, and honestly, it’s about time. This is only the second year with the new 12-team format, so expectations are all over the place.
There’s a real buzz in the air as fans get ready for what should be a wild postseason. First Round games kick off Friday, December 19, 2025, and you’ll be able to catch them on several networks—so no one’s left out.
Let’s break down the schedule, take a look at how the networks are teaming up, and maybe wonder what this all means for college football’s future.
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First Round Games: A New Era in College Football
This expanded 12-team Playoff is shaking things up. The First Round starts on Friday, December 19, 2025, with a prime-time game at 8:00 PM ET.
Both ABC and ESPN are airing it, so you’ll have options. That’s just the start of a weekend stuffed with high-stakes matchups and, hopefully, a few surprises.
Friday Night Lights
The Friday night opener is set for 8:00 PM ET, and it’s shaping up to be a can’t-miss clash. Top teams will fight for a spot in the quarterfinals, and honestly, it’s hard not to get swept up in the hype.
With both ABC and ESPN showing the game, fans from coast to coast can tune in. It just feels bigger when everyone’s watching.
Saturday Showdowns
Saturday, December 20, 2025, brings three more First Round games. The first kicks off at noon ET, again on ABC and ESPN.
It’s a great excuse to start your Saturday with football—who’s complaining? After that, the action keeps rolling.
The next two games air back-to-back on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max, starting at 3:30 PM ET and then at 7:30 PM ET. It’s a bit of a channel hop, but hey, more ways to watch, right?
Quarterfinals: New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Extravaganza
The quarterfinals are basically a New Year’s party for football fans. Things get started on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31, 2025, with the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas at 7:30 PM ET, live on ESPN.
New Year’s Day Thrills
New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026, is stacked with three more quarterfinals:
- Capital One Orange Bowl: Noon ET, ESPN
- Rose Bowl Game: 4:00 PM ET, ESPN
- Allstate Sugar Bowl: 8:00 PM ET, ESPN
Back-to-back games, all day long. Each one brings its own vibe and history, and, let’s be honest, there’s something special about those New Year’s Day matchups.
Semifinals: Prime-Time Battles
Semifinals land on back-to-back weeknights in January 2026. The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, is set for Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 7:30 PM ET.
The next night, Friday, January 9, 2026, it’s the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, also at 7:30 PM ET. Both games are on ESPN, so you know where to find them.
Strategic Scheduling
Scheduling these semifinals on weeknights? It’s clever. Keeps them away from other big sporting events and gives fans a clear runway to soak up every play.
National Championship: The Grand Finale
Everything builds up to the National Championship on Monday, January 19, 2026. The last two standing will meet at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, with kickoff at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.
It’s the crown jewel of the season—no one wants to miss it. Feels like the whole football world will be watching to see who comes out on top.
Collaborative Efforts
Rich Clark, CFP’s executive director, talked up how these games are coming together thanks to teamwork. ESPN, TNT Sports, and even the NFL are all in the mix.
Honestly, it’s cool to see so many heavy hitters working together. This new Playoff format is getting a lot of attention, and it’s not hard to see why.
Looking Ahead
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule is shaping up to be wild. With the new 12-team format, there’s just more of everything—games, drama, and chances for those underdog stories we all secretly root for.
Fans aren’t stuck with just one way to watch, either. The broadcasting mix means you can catch the action on TV or stream it, whatever fits your weekend plans.
If you want the nuts and bolts—dates, matchups, the works—check out the official announcement on FBSchedules.com. More details will probably trickle in as kickoff creeps closer.
