Complete 2025-26 College Football Playoff Schedule: Dates, Times, TV Channels
The anticipation is real as we get closer to the 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP). Ohio State’s chasing back-to-back national championships, and the energy is building.
The Buckeyes grabbed the 2024-25 title with big wins over Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame. Now, they’ve got a fresh set of challengers in a 12-team playoff bracket.
Playoff action starts December 19 and wraps up with the national championship on January 19. If you’re trying to keep up, here’s a quick rundown of the CFP schedule, plus where to watch every game.
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College Football Playoff Schedule and Key Matchups
This year’s College Football Playoff puts 12 teams in the spotlight, all chasing that national championship trophy. The first round has already set a wild tone for the rest of the playoff.
First Round Highlights
The first round brought some seriously entertaining games:
- No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24
- No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3
- No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10
- No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34
Quarterfinals are up next, and honestly, it’s tough to predict how things will shake out.
Quarterfinal Showdowns
The quarterfinals look stacked, with these matchups on the calendar:
- Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN app, and Fubo
- Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon at Noon on ESPN, ESPN app, and Fubo
- Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama at 4 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN app, and Fubo
- Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss at 8 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN app, and Fubo
Semifinal and Championship Details
Semifinals are coming up fast, featuring the winners from the quarterfinals. Two huge games will decide who gets a shot at the title.
Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl
- Fiesta Bowl: Cotton winner vs. Sugar winner at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN app, and Fubo
- Peach Bowl: Rose winner vs. Orange winner at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN app, and Fubo
The winners there head to the CFP National Championship, set for January 19 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, ESPN app, and Fubo.
How to Watch the College Football Playoff
Fans have plenty of ways to catch all the action. Games air on ABC, ESPN, and TNT.
If you prefer streaming, you can tune in on the ESPN app, Fubo, or DIRECTV. No shortage of options, really.
Streaming Options
Cord-cutters aren’t missing out:
- ESPN app: Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, and all your favorite ESPN shows anytime, anywhere.
- Fubo: A solid pick for sports fans, with tons of live sports channels.
- DIRECTV: Another reliable streaming service with access to ESPN and other sports networks.
Historical Context
Looking back at past CFP champions adds some perspective. Here are the winners from the last decade:
- 2015: Ohio State 42, Oregon 20 at AT&T Stadium
- 2016: Alabama 45, Clemson 40 at State Farm Stadium
- 2017: Clemson 35, Alabama 31 at Raymond James Stadium
- 2018: Alabama 26, Georgia 23 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- 2019: Clemson 44, Alabama 16 at Levi’s Stadium
- 2020: LSU 42, Clemson 25 at Caesars Superdome
- 2021: Alabama 52, Ohio State 24 at Hard Rock Stadium
- 2022: Georgia 33, Alabama 18 at Lucas Oil Stadium
- 2023: Georgia 65, TCU 7 at SoFi Stadium
- 2024: Michigan 34, Washington 13 at NRG Stadium
- 2025: Ohio State 34, Notre Dame 23 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Key Storylines to Watch
Heading into the 2025-26 CFP, a few big storylines are worth following.
Ohio State’s Quest for Back-to-Back Titles
Can Ohio State pull off another title run? The Buckeyes looked unstoppable last season, but repeating is never easy.
Emerging Contenders
Indiana, Texas Tech, and Miami (Fla.) have all shown some real potential. Their next games will tell us if they’re for real.
Impact Players
Keep an eye out for those game-changing athletes. Someone always steps up and shakes things up when the stakes are highest.
Conclusion
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be a wild ride for fans and teams. With twelve teams in the mix, the matchups are bound to get intense.
There’s a lot to look forward to—maybe Ohio State goes for another title, or maybe an underdog shocks everyone. Who knows? Either way, the CFP should have its fair share of surprises.
You can catch the games on ABC, ESPN, TNT, or stream them through the ESPN app, Fubo, or DIRECTV. They’ve made it pretty easy to tune in, honestly.
Want the latest updates or the full schedule? Just check out the College Football Playoff schedule.
