College Football Playoff Semifinals: Schedule, TV Channels, Kickoff Times

The 2025 college football season has been a wild ride. Now, only four teams are left with a shot at the national championship: No. 1 Indiana, No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Ole Miss, and No. 10 Miami.

This year’s College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinals are shaping up to be unforgettable. With the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl on the horizon, fans are counting down the days.

Let’s look at some of the storylines, matchups, and players that have everyone talking as we get closer to crowning a new national champ.

Fiesta Bowl: Miami vs. Ole Miss

The Fiesta Bowl has thrown us a curveball with one of the most unlikely semifinal matchups ever. No. 10 Miami, the last at-large team picked, has managed to make it all the way here.

Miami started their playoff journey by stunning Texas A&M on the road. Then, they knocked off the reigning champs, Ohio State, which nobody really saw coming.

Now, their Cinderella run continues as they gear up to face No. 6 Ole Miss. That game kicks off Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV.

Miami’s Remarkable Journey

Miami barely squeaked into the playoff field. Their upset of Texas A&M set the tone for what was to come.

Taking down Ohio State—who a lot of people thought would repeat—just added to the shock factor. The Hurricanes’ grit has been something else.

• Road Upset: Miami kicked things off by beating Texas A&M away from home.
• Defeating the Champs: They toppled Ohio State, last year’s national champion.
• Underdog Story: Miami was the last at-large team to get in.

Ole Miss: Overcoming Adversity

Ole Miss has had its own share of chaos leading up to the semifinals. The Rebels started with a home win over Tulane, then shocked Georgia in a tight 39-34 battle.

All this happened while their head coach, Lane Kiffin, left for LSU just days before Selection Sunday. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding got promoted to head coach, and so far, that move’s worked out.

• Coaching Change: Lane Kiffin left, Pete Golding stepped up.
• Big Wins: Tulane and Georgia both fell to the Rebels.
• Quarterback Matchup: Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss takes on Miami’s Carson Beck.

Peach Bowl: Indiana vs. Oregon

The Peach Bowl is set to be a heavyweight fight. No. 1 Indiana faces No. 5 Oregon on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV.

This is actually a rematch—Indiana went into Eugene during the regular season and handed Oregon a rare loss. Both teams have had to claw their way here.

Indiana’s Unbeaten Season

Indiana has looked unstoppable all year. Their run to the semifinals included a big win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is getting a lot of early hype as a possible top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That adds a little extra intrigue, doesn’t it?

• Regular Season Success: Indiana’s unbeaten streak includes a win over Oregon.
• Rose Bowl Victory: They beat Alabama to make it to this point.
• Top NFL Prospect: QB Fernando Mendoza is climbing draft boards.

Oregon’s Quest for History

Oregon is just one win away from playing for their first national championship ever. The Ducks’ season has been impressive, with a highlight win over Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl.

Quarterback Dante Moore is also in the conversation as a top 2026 draft pick. The QB matchup here is one of the most talked-about in recent memory.

• Historic Opportunity: Oregon could finally play for a national title.
• Orange Bowl Win: They took down Texas Tech to get here.
• Quarterback Duel: Dante Moore vs. Fernando Mendoza is must-see.

What to Watch For

With the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl almost here, a few things stand out:

• Quarterback Performances: Both semifinals feature QBs with serious NFL buzz.
• Coaching Strategies: Can Pete Golding handle the pressure in his first big test as Ole Miss head coach?
• Defensive Prowess: Will Miami’s defense keep up their surprising run?
• Historical Stakes: Indiana and Oregon are both chasing history—one for a first national title, the other for a first championship game appearance.

Viewing Information

Don’t want to miss the big plays? Here’s how you can catch the semifinals:

• Fiesta Bowl: Miami vs. Ole Miss, Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV.
• Peach Bowl: Oregon vs. Indiana, Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN and fuboTV.

The College Football Playoff semifinals are almost here. Underdogs, coaching shakeups, and future NFL talent—there’s a lot going on.

Honestly, who knows what wild moments we’ll get this year? Tune in and see how it all plays out.