2025 College Football Playoff Schedule: Dates, Times, and How to Watch
The excitement is already building as we get ready for another wild season of college playoff football. The 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) is shaping up to be a real spectacle, especially with the 12-team format entering its second year.
The top four seeds—Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech—have snagged first-round byes. That sets up a wild ride to see who gets crowned the next national champion.
With teams like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Miami in the mix, fans should buckle up. Let’s dive into the full schedule, some key matchups, and what you might want to keep an eye on as the playoffs get rolling.
Contents
First-Round Showdowns
The first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff starts off with some matchups that could really shake things up. Here’s what the opening weekend looks like:
- Friday, Dec. 19: No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma at 8:00 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
- Saturday, Dec. 20: No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M, noon (ABC, ESPN)
- Saturday, Dec. 20: No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss at 3:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV)
- Saturday, Dec. 20: No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon at 7:30 p.m. (TNT, truTV)
Key Matchups to Watch
Each of these games has its own flavor. Alabama vs. Oklahoma? That’s a heavyweight clash, both squads loaded with talent and experience.
Miami takes on Texas A&M in what feels like a real toss-up—speed versus grit. Tulane and Ole Miss could easily turn into a shootout, and James Madison is up against Oregon’s juggernaut offense. Not an easy draw for the underdog.
Quarterfinals: The Big Dogs Enter the Fray
Winners from the first round move on to face the top seeds in the quarterfinals. Here’s how that shakes out:
- Wednesday, Dec. 31: Cotton Bowl hosts winner of Miami/Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Ohio State, 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Orange Bowl hosts winner of James Madison/Oregon vs. No. 4 Texas Tech, noon
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Rose Bowl hosts winner of Alabama/Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Indiana, 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Sugar Bowl hosts winner of Tulane/Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Georgia, 8 p.m.
Semifinals and Beyond
The deeper we get, the more the pressure ramps up. The semifinal games land at two of the sport’s classic venues:
- Thursday, Jan. 8: Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Friday, Jan. 9: Peach Bowl in Atlanta, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Road to the National Championship
The two semifinal winners will meet in the National Championship game on Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN).
Whoever makes it that far will have survived a gauntlet. Honestly, it’s tough to pick a favorite at this point—anything can happen.
How to Watch
You can catch every play live on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and truTV. Streaming options are available on Fubo, so you won’t have to miss out even if you’re on the go.
For the nitty-gritty details and full TV listings, check out the original article at NorthJersey.com.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be wild—maybe the most exciting in years. There’s a real mix this time: some usual heavyweights, and a few programs that, honestly, weren’t even on my radar a couple seasons ago.
Who knows? Maybe we’ll get the classic top-seed showdown, or maybe there’s a Cinderella run brewing. Either way, it feels like something big is coming.
So, yeah, grab your snacks and find a comfy spot on the couch. This playoff’s got all the makings of a can’t-miss ride.
