2025 College Football Playoff Schedule and Results: Complete Bracket Breakdown
The College Football Playoff (CFP) has started with some wild matchups and more than a few surprises. Home teams are just 2-for-4 so far—Texas A&M and Oklahoma both lost at home, falling to Miami and Alabama.
Meanwhile, Oregon and Ole Miss handled their mid-major opponents with ease. As New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day games approach, the playoff field feels wide open and honestly, a little unpredictable.
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Early Surprises and Dominant Performances
The first week of the CFP didn’t hold back on drama. Texas A&M and Oklahoma, both hosting, were knocked out by Miami and Alabama.
With those upsets, the next round suddenly feels a lot less predictable. Oregon and Ole Miss, for their part, looked confident and barely broke a sweat moving on.
Top Seeds and Notable Programs
This year’s bracket looks nothing like last year’s. There’s a mix of usual suspects and a few programs you might not have expected.
Indiana comes in as the top seed after finishing undefeated and grabbing the Big Ten crown. Georgia leads the SEC crowd, dropping just one game all season and winning their conference.
- Texas A&M: Made their first CFP appearance, but bowed out early.
- Oregon: Back in the mix, still playing strong football.
- Alabama: No surprise here—always a threat, and they’re back again.
Only four teams from last year’s playoff made it back: Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, and Indiana. It’s a reminder—college football never stays the same for long.
Upcoming Games and Key Matchups
Looking ahead, the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day games have plenty to offer. These matchups will decide who moves on to the semifinals and, eventually, the championship.
Cotton Bowl: Miami vs Ohio State
No. 10 Miami faces No. 3 Ohio State at 6:30 p.m. on December 31 at the Cotton Bowl in Arlington. Two programs with plenty of history—should be a good one.
Orange Bowl: Oregon vs Texas Tech
No. 5 Oregon takes on No. 4 Texas Tech at 11 a.m. on January 1 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Both teams can score in bunches, so don’t blink.
Rose Bowl: Alabama vs Indiana
Top-seeded Indiana gets No. 9 Alabama at 3 p.m. on January 1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Indiana hasn’t lost yet, but Alabama’s been here before—should be interesting to see how that shakes out.
Sugar Bowl: Ole Miss vs Georgia
Finishing off New Year’s Day, No. 6 Ole Miss meets No. 2 Georgia at 7 p.m. at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Two tough SEC teams—could get chippy.
Path to the Championship
The winners move on to the semifinals. The Sugar Bowl winner faces the Cotton Bowl winner in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
The Rose Bowl winner will play the Orange Bowl winner in the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl winners will meet in the national championship game on January 19. It’ll take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
That last game decides who really owns the 2025 college football season. Only one team gets to walk away as champion.
Fans are in for more wild games and, probably, a few surprises. The race for the national title always brings out the best—and sometimes the weirdest—in college football.
If you’re curious about the schedule, results, or what’s coming up next, you can check out the full article at the Statesman.
