College Football Playoff First Round: Schedule, TV Info, Streaming Guide
The excitement of playoff football is here, and the second edition of the 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) kicks off this weekend.
With powerhouse teams and underdogs in the mix, this year’s first-round matchups are shaping up to be wild. Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech have already snagged first-round byes, so eight teams are left fighting for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Here’s a quick rundown of the first round of the 2025-26 CFP—when to watch, where to find it, and what you might see on the field.
Contents
First Round Matchups and Schedule
The first round of the 2025-26 CFP gets started on Friday, December 19. No. 8 Oklahoma hosts No. 9 Alabama in a can’t-miss opener.
Then on Saturday, December 20, three more games follow. There are some familiar names—Alabama, Oregon, Miami—and a couple of scrappy underdogs like Tulane and James Madison hoping to make some noise.
Friday, December 19
- No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma, 5 p.m. PT
Saturday, December 20
- No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M, 9 a.m. PT
- No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss, 12:30 p.m. PT
- No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon, 4:30 p.m. PT
How to Watch: TV and Streaming Options
You’ve got a few ways to catch all the first-round action. Games will air on ABC/ESPN and TNT/truTV, so channel surfing might be required.
If you’d rather stream, you’re covered too—every game will be online via ESPN or HBO Max. Here’s where each matchup will be broadcast:
TV Broadcast
- Alabama-Oklahoma: ABC/ESPN
- Miami-Texas A&M: ABC/ESPN
- Tulane-Ole Miss: TNT/truTV
- James Madison-Oregon: TNT/truTV
Streaming Options
- Alabama-Oklahoma: ESPN
- Miami-Texas A&M: ESPN
- Tulane-Ole Miss: HBO Max
- James Madison-Oregon: HBO Max
Breaking Down the Matchups
This first round has a real mix—some blue bloods and some teams nobody expected. Let’s run through the games.
No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma
Alabama, always a threat, heads to Oklahoma for a high-stakes clash. Both programs have plenty of history and chips on their shoulders.
The Crimson Tide’s offense is tough, but Oklahoma’s defense won’t make it easy. This one could go down to the wire.
No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M
Miami goes on the road to face Texas A&M. The Hurricanes have some real playmakers, while the Aggies play a disciplined style that’s hard to crack.
Miami’s offense needs to find a way through that tough Aggies defense. Will they pull it off? Maybe, but it won’t be easy.
No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss
Tulane’s the Cinderella here, but Ole Miss is a tough draw. The Green Wave have been a fun story, but they’re up against a Rebels team that can put up points in a hurry.
If Tulane’s defense can slow them down, maybe there’s a chance. Still, Ole Miss at home is a tall order for anyone.
No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon
James Madison, another underdog, gets Oregon in what looks like a classic David vs. Goliath matchup. The Dukes have shocked folks just by making it this far.
Oregon’s got talent and depth, plus home-field advantage. Still, you never know—James Madison’s been scrappy all year.
Looking Ahead: Quarterfinal Matchups
Unlike the NFL, college football doesn’t bother with reseeding in the playoffs. So, the top four seeds already know which first-round winner they’ll face.
- No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama (Rose Bowl)
- No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami (Cotton Bowl)
- No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane (Sugar Bowl)
- No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison (Orange Bowl)
The quarterfinals are going to be loaded with top teams, all gunning for a shot at the semifinals and, honestly, a dream at the national title. Expect some wild finishes and a few surprises—because that’s just college football, isn’t it?
Conclusion
The first round of the 2025-26 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be something special. There’s a blend of classic powerhouses and scrappy underdogs this year, so you never really know what’ll happen.
Catching the games? You’ve got options—tune in on ABC/ESPN or TNT/truTV, or just stream them on ESPN and HBO Max. If you want the nitty-gritty details on the schedule or how to watch, check out the official article.
