College Football Playoff Selection Show 2025: Date, Time, How to Watch
The anticipation is real as college football fans wait for the College Football Playoff (CFP) selections. The 2025-26 season is only the second year with the expanded 12-team bracket, which definitely ramps up the excitement—and, let’s be honest, the confusion.
With automatic qualifiers, first-round byes, and even home games on the table, it’s more important than ever to understand how this all works. In this post, I’ll break down what you need to know about the upcoming CFP selection show, how to watch, and what this new format might mean for your team.
Contents
How to Watch the College Football Playoff Selection Show
The College Football Playoff selection show is a huge deal for fans every year. This season, you can catch it live on ESPN on Sunday, Dec. 7, from noon to 3 p.m. ET.
If you prefer streaming, it’s also on the ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial if you want to test it out.
Key Details:
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 7
- Time: Noon to 3 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Streaming Options: ESPN app, Fubo
The Expanded 12-Team Bracket Format
This year, the 12-team bracket returns for its second run, shaking up the old four-team setup. The new system brings in automatic qualifiers, byes, and home games, which adds a lot of new wrinkles to the playoff race.
Automatic Qualifiers and At-Large Bids
The five highest-ranked conference champions get automatic spots in the playoff bracket. After that, the next seven highest-ranked teams fill out the rest, no matter which conference they’re from.
This way, the top teams in the country still have a shot at the national championship—even if their conference is having a down year.
Seeding and Byes
The top four teams, based on rankings, get first-round byes. That’s different from last year, when the top four conference champs got those byes instead.
Teams seeded 5 through 12 play in the first round, and the higher seed hosts the game. Here’s how the matchups look:
- No. 12 at No. 5
- No. 11 at No. 6
- No. 10 at No. 7
- No. 9 at No. 8
Important Dates to Remember
There are a few dates you’ll want to circle. The first round happens Friday, Dec. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 20.
Quarterfinals are set for Wednesday, Dec. 31, and Thursday, Jan. 1. Semifinals land on Thursday, Jan. 8, and Friday, Jan. 9. The national championship wraps it all up on Monday, Jan. 19.
Schedule Overview:
- Selection Show: Sunday, Dec. 7
- First Round: Friday, Dec. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 20
- Quarterfinals: Wednesday, Dec. 31, and Thursday, Jan. 1
- Semifinals: Thursday, Jan. 8, and Friday, Jan. 9
- National Championship: Monday, Jan. 19
What to Expect from the Selection Show
The selection show will finally reveal the 12-team bracket and the committee’s final top 25 rankings. Expect plenty of analysis on the matchups, plus some heated debate about who made it in and who got snubbed.
Analysis and Predictions
You’ll hear from expert analysts with their predictions and breakdowns for every matchup. They’ll spotlight key players and strategies, and honestly, it’s a great way to start building your own bracket—if you’re into that sort of thing.
Fan Reactions
And, of course, fans will have plenty to say. Social media will be wild with opinions, celebrations, and maybe a few arguments as the selections come out.
Jumping into the conversation or just lurking to see what others think can make the whole experience a lot more fun.
Conclusion
The new 12-team College Football Playoff format is set to shake things up. More teams, more drama—honestly, who doesn’t love a few surprises?
Automatic qualifiers, first-round byes, and home games all raise the stakes. The road to the national championship just got a lot steeper.
If you’re planning to follow along, the selection show airs on ESPN. Streaming’s easy too, either on the ESPN app or over at Fubo.
There’s a lot to look forward to as the playoff season kicks off. Whether you’re glued to every game or just checking scores, it’s tough not to get caught up in the energy.
