College Football Playoff 2025: Bracket, Schedule, and Key Matchups

The College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket is out, and fans are buzzing about the matchups that’ll decide this season’s national champ. The expanded 12-team format, which made its debut last year, has definitely cranked up the excitement and competition in college football.

The first round kicks off December 19, so the stage is set for what could be a wild postseason. Here, I’ll break down the schedule, matchups, and key info you’ll want to know about the 2026 CFP. If you’re after the full schedule and bracket, check out Hero Sports.

First Round Matchups

We’ll get four first-round games, with the higher seeds hosting. These are set for Friday, December 19, and Saturday, December 20.

No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma

No. 9 Alabama heads to No. 8 Oklahoma in a matchup that’s already got people talking. This one’s at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 19, airing on ABC/ESPN.

Both schools have huge fan bases and plenty of history, so it’s a can’t-miss kind of game.

No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M

Saturday, December 20, at noon ET, No. 10 Miami visits No. 7 Texas A&M. It’ll be on ABC/ESPN too.

Both teams have something to prove and, honestly, either could go on a run if things break their way.

No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss

No. 11 Tulane faces No. 6 Ole Miss at 3:30 p.m. ET, also on Saturday, December 20. You can catch this one on TNT/HBO Max.

Tulane will try to pull off the upset, while Ole Miss is hoping to keep its momentum and move on.

No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon

The last first-round game is No. 12 James Madison traveling to No. 5 Oregon. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, December 20, on TNT/HBO Max.

James Madison’s got a tough task ahead against the Ducks, who always seem to put on a show.

Quarterfinals

Winners from the first round will advance to the quarterfinals, which are set for Wednesday, December 31, and Thursday, January 1.

The top four seeds got a bye and will be waiting for their opponents.

Top Four Teams

Here’s this year’s top four seeds:

• No. 1 Indiana
• No. 2 Ohio State
• No. 3 Georgia
• No. 4 Texas Tech

These teams will face the winners from the first round. Here’s how the matchups shake out:

• Winner of No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison plays No. 4 Texas Tech.
• Winner of No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama faces No. 1 Indiana.
• Winner of No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane takes on No. 3 Georgia.
• Winner of No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami goes up against No. 2 Ohio State.

Semifinals

The semifinals are set for Thursday, January 8, and Friday, January 9. Whoever wins in the quarters moves on.

Path to the Championship

Here’s how the semifinals will be paired:

• The winners from the No. 1 and No. 4 seed side will meet in one semifinal.
• The winners from the No. 2 and No. 3 seed side will clash in the other.

The two winners will play for the national title on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Historical Context

The CFP system has seen some real changes over the years. When it launched in 2014, it was just four teams—two semifinals, then the championship. Before that, the BCS ruled, but folks weren’t exactly thrilled with how it picked teams.

Ohio State took the first CFP title in 2014 and grabbed another one last season, beating Notre Dame in the final. Alabama’s been the powerhouse, winning three titles in the four-team era.

Expansion to 12 Teams

Switching to a 12-team playoff has definitely made things more interesting and opened the door for more programs to make a run. The five highest-ranked conference champs get automatic bids, based on the CFP Selection Committee’s rankings.

Then, the seven highest-ranked teams who didn’t win their conference fill out the bracket. Now, the four highest-ranked teams get the byes—doesn’t matter if they’re conference champs or not. It’s supposed to reward the best teams and keep things competitive, but I guess we’ll see how it plays out.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead to the upcoming CFP, a few big storylines and matchups really jump out. Indiana, the No. 1 seed, has been on a roll—can they keep it up and punch their ticket to the national championship?

Ohio State’s got their eyes on defending their title. Could they actually pull off another championship run and add to that already impressive history?

And hey, you never know—maybe there’s a first-round upset brewing that could flip the whole bracket on its head. That’s the kind of chaos college football fans live for, right?

It’s safe to say the games are gonna be intense, with plenty of wild moments along the way. If you want to keep up, don’t forget to check out the latest news and analysis on the College Football Playoff.