College Football Playoff 2025 TV Schedule: TNT vs NFL Showdown
The kickoff times for the second-ever 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) are out, and there are some changes worth noting. This year, the first round will feature new time slots for games broadcasted by TNT Sports, courtesy of a sublicense agreement with ESPN.
The idea is to better match what viewers want and dodge direct competition with NFL games, though, let’s be real, some overlap is just going to happen. As the CFP keeps evolving, so does its broadcasting approach—honestly, it’s a pretty interesting time if you’re a college football fan.
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Changes in the First Round Broadcast Schedule
The main change this year? It’s all about the first round. Last season, TNT had games in the noon ET and mid-afternoon windows.
This time, TNT will air games in the mid-afternoon and primetime slots on the first Saturday of the CFP. ESPN is sliding into that noon ET kickoff slot, which should shake things up a bit for viewers.
The Impact of ESPN and TNT’s Sublicense Agreement
This shift comes straight from ESPN’s sublicense agreement with TNT Sports. Last year, TNT’s games were up against an NFL doubleheader, which was tough.
This year’s setup tries to dodge some of that, but let’s not kid ourselves—TNT’s games will still have to compete with NFL broadcasts. Fox, for example, has a doubleheader lined up featuring the Packers vs. Bears and Eagles vs. Commanders.
Fox’s NFL doubleheader will likely take up the mid-afternoon and primetime windows, right when TNT is airing its first round games. Scheduling sports in the U.S. is a bit of a puzzle, isn’t it?
Detailed Schedule for the 2025 CFP First Round
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have officially released the kickoff times and broadcast info for the 2025 CFP First Round. Here’s how it breaks down:
- Friday Night: One game on ESPN and ABC
- Saturday Noon ET: One game on ESPN
- Saturday Mid-Afternoon: One game on TNT
- Saturday Primetime: One game on TNT
Future Broadcast Plans and Agreements
Looking past 2025, the CFP broadcast scene is set for even more changes. This is the last playoff under the current TV deal, which was tweaked to fit the 12-team setup.
Starting next year, ABC will almost definitely simulcast every CFP game that ESPN airs, which is a big expansion in coverage.
TNT’s Expanded Role from 2026-2028
From 2026 onward, TNT’s role will get bigger. The sublicensing deal with ESPN means TNT will air two quarterfinal games and one semifinal game each year from 2026 to 2028.
That’s a pretty big shift, and it means fans will have even more ways to catch the action, no matter their favorite network or platform.
Challenges and Considerations
Of course, these new schedules and deals aren’t without their headaches. Overlapping with NFL games is still a thing, so fans of both college football and the NFL might end up having to make some tough choices.
The sports broadcasting landscape just keeps shifting, and networks have to keep adjusting to keep fans tuned in.
Balancing Viewer Preferences
One of the trickier parts is trying to balance what viewers want. Moving TNT’s games out of the noon ET slot is meant to avoid NFL competition there, but the mid-afternoon and primetime slots still aren’t conflict-free.
With ABC set to simulcast all CFP games starting next year, at least fans will have more options. That’s something to look forward to if you’re into college football.
Conclusion
The 2025 College Football Playoff broadcast schedule is shaking things up in a few big ways. TNT’s first round time slots are moving around, and ABC’s going to be simulcasting more than before.
Down the line, TNT will jump in for the quarterfinals and semifinals too. It’s interesting to see how sports broadcasting keeps evolving—sometimes it feels like you blink and the whole landscape’s shifted.
If you want to get deep into the details, the full article’s over at Awful Announcing. There’s a lot to digest, honestly, but it’s worth a look if you’re into the nitty-gritty of TV schedules and college football coverage.
