2026 College Football Playoff: Semifinal Results and Championship Schedule
The 2026 College Football Playoff (CFP) has delivered plenty of drama, ending up with a national championship showdown between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers.
This year’s playoff had its share of upsets and wild moments. Miami squeaked past Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl, while Indiana steamrolled Oregon in the Peach Bowl.
With the championship set for January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, fans are buzzing. Here’s a closer look at this postseason and what might unfold in the final game.
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Recap of the 2026 College Football Playoff Semifinals
The two semifinal games felt like night and day in terms of competition. Miami, led by Mario Cristobal, pulled off a thrilling win over Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl.
That victory pushed Miami to its first title game since 2001. They’ll get to play for the championship right at home.
Miami Hurricanes vs. Ole Miss Rebels: Fiesta Bowl
The Fiesta Bowl was a heart-pounder. Miami edged Ole Miss 31-27, showing grit and some really smart play-calling.
Ole Miss had just knocked off No. 3 Georgia in a wild upset, but Miami found a way. Key moments and gutsy decisions made the difference and kept Miami’s title hopes alive.
Indiana Hoosiers vs. Oregon Ducks: Peach Bowl
The Peach Bowl? Not even close. Indiana hammered Oregon, 56-22.
Curt Cignetti’s crew stayed unbeaten, cruising to the CFP championship with a perfect 16-0 record. Indiana’s playoff run has been all about dominance, and their win over Oregon just piled on more proof.
Key Moments and Upsets in the 2026 CFP
This year’s playoff has been full of surprises. The defending champs, Ohio State, got bounced by Miami in a 24-14 stunner.
Sixth-seeded Ole Miss made a wild run too, taking out No. 3 Georgia before falling to Miami.
Notable Upsets
- Game 6: No. 10 Miami def. No. 2 Ohio State, 24-14
- Game 7: No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 3 Georgia, 39-34
These shakeups have really flipped the playoff script. It’s just more proof that in college football, you never really know what’s coming.
CFP Bracket and Path to the Championship
The 2026 CFP bracket had its quirks, bringing in the five highest-ranked conference champs and seven at-large teams. The top four seeds got byes, and nobody got reseeded after each round.
First-Round Matchups
- Game 1: No. 5 Oregon def. No. 12 James Madison, 51-34
- Game 2: No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 11 Tulane, 41-10
- Game 3: No. 10 Miami def. No. 7 Texas A&M, 10-3
- Game 4: No. 9 Alabama def. No. 8 Oklahoma, 34-24
Those early games set up the quarterfinals, when things really started to heat up.
Quarterfinal Highlights
- Game 5: No. 1 Indiana def. No. 9 Alabama, 38-3
- Game 6: No. 10 Miami def. No. 2 Ohio State, 24-14
- Game 7: No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 3 Georgia, 39-34
- Game 8: No. 5 Oregon def. No. 4 Texas Tech, 23-0
Quarterfinals brought some of the season’s biggest moments. Miami and Indiana both stood out, earning their spots in the semifinals.
What to Expect in the National Championship
The national championship game between Miami and Indiana should be a blast. Both teams have been impressive—Miami’s gritty, Indiana’s just relentless.
Their styles couldn’t be more different. That’s what makes this matchup so intriguing, honestly.
Miami Hurricanes
Miami’s playoff run has been all about resilience and smart coaching. Mario Cristobal kept them locked in, even against higher seeds like Ohio State and Ole Miss.
Playing at Hard Rock Stadium? That’s a bonus for the Hurricanes. Home turf can matter, right?
Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana’s been a force all season. Curt Cignetti’s squad just keeps rolling, dominating on both sides of the ball.
They’ll try to finish the year a perfect 16-0. That’s a tall order, but after what we’ve seen, who’s betting against them?
How to Watch the Championship Game
The national championship between Miami and Indiana kicks off Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET. You can catch it on ESPN or stream it on the ESPN App and Fubo.
With a 10-day break before the big game, both teams have time to rest up and tweak their game plans. Should be one heck of a finale.
Key Details
- Date: Monday, January 19
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN App, Fubo
The 2026 College Football Playoff is wrapping up, and honestly, anticipation is off the charts. Fans everywhere are itching to see who gets crowned national champion this year.
Will Miami finally grab its first title since 2001? Or could Indiana really pull off a perfect season? Either way, this championship matchup feels like it could be one for the books.
If you want the full playoff schedule or past results, check out Sporting News.
