Complete 2025 College Football Bowl Schedule and Playoff Lineup

The 2025 college football postseason is shaping up to be wild—maybe the most exciting we’ve seen in years. There’s a mix of the usual heavyweights and some fresh faces, all fighting for the title.

There are 11 playoff games to decide the champion. It all starts with first-round games on December 19 and 20, played at campus sites. The winners move on to the quarterfinals, where they’ll meet the teams that earned first-round byes. Those games land on December 31 and January 1.

The semifinals are set for January 8 and 9 at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl. It all leads up to the national championship game on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Meanwhile, a full slate of bowl games will run from December 13 through the holidays. There’s a lot to keep track of, but let’s try to break down the schedule.

First-Round Playoff Games

The first round kicks off the postseason with campus-site games that are sure to be rowdy. These matchups go down on December 19 and 20, setting the tone for what’s next.

Oklahoma vs. Alabama

On December 19, Oklahoma (10-2) hosts Alabama (10-3) in a rematch that’s got plenty of buzz. The Sooners already beat the Tide this season in Tuscaloosa, but the stakes are way higher now.

The winner gets Indiana in the Rose Bowl. Not a bad prize, right?

Texas A&M vs. Miami

December 20 brings Texas A&M (11-1) against Miami (10-2). The Aggies are coming off a tough loss to Texas, so they’re probably itching for redemption.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are hoping to make the most of their at-large shot.

Mississippi vs. Tulane

Also on December 20, Mississippi (10-2) faces Tulane (11-2) in a rematch of a game the Rebels already won. Tulane’s got payback on their mind this time around.

Oregon vs. James Madison

The last first-round game on December 20 has Oregon (11-1) hosting James Madison (12-1). The Dukes snagged their spot as the fifth-rated conference champ, but the Ducks are a tough draw.

Quarterfinals

Quarterfinals bring in the rested top four, all waiting for the first-round winners. These games are set for December 31 and January 1.

Ohio State vs. Texas A&M-Miami Winner

On December 31, Ohio State faces whoever survives Texas A&M vs. Miami. That’s a matchup with plenty of history, and both sides have fans who travel well.

Texas Tech vs. Oregon-James Madison Winner

January 1 has Texas Tech up against the winner of Oregon vs. James Madison. The Red Raiders don’t get this far every year, so there’s a lot riding on it.

Indiana vs. Oklahoma-Alabama Winner

Also on January 1, Indiana takes on the Oklahoma-Alabama winner. The Hoosiers have had a surprisingly strong run and are hoping to keep it rolling.

Georgia vs. Mississippi-Tulane Winner

The last quarterfinal on January 1 is Georgia vs. the Mississippi-Tulane winner. Georgia’s always in the mix, but you never know—upsets happen.

Semifinals

The semifinals are set for two legendary venues: the Fiesta Bowl and the Peach Bowl, on January 8 and 9.

Fiesta Bowl

January 8 brings the first semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona. Two quarterfinal winners will square off for a shot at the title game.

Peach Bowl

The second semifinal happens January 9 at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. Winner moves on. It’s that simple.

National Championship Game

The season wraps up with the national championship game on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The last two standing from the Fiesta and Peach Bowls will go head-to-head for the crown.

Full Bowl Game Lineup

Outside of the playoff, there’s a full menu of bowl games through the holidays. Some are classics, some are a little quirky, but there’s something for everyone.

December 13: Inglewood, Calif.

The bowl season opens on December 13 in Inglewood, California, live on ABC. Demond Williams led the Huskies to their ninth win, taking down Boise State in style.

December 16: Montgomery, Ala.

On December 16, Jacksonville State (8-5) meets Troy (8-5) in Montgomery. Both squads are looking to bounce back after dropping their conference title games.

December 17: Orlando, Fla.

December 17 in Orlando has Old Dominion (9-3) against South Florida (9-3). The Monarchs have turned some heads this year, while the Bulls are without head coach Alex Golesh.

December 17: Mobile, Ala.

Also December 17, Delaware (6-6) faces Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6) in Mobile. Delaware’s making its first FBS bowl appearance—pretty cool for them.

December 18: Frisco, Texas

On December 18, Arkansas State (6-6) takes on Missouri State (7-5) in Frisco. It’s a milestone for the Bears, who are new to the Bowl Subdivision.

December 19: Conway, S.C.

December 19, Kennesaw State (10-3) plays Western Michigan (9-4) in Conway. Both teams are coming in hot, so this one could get interesting.

December 19: Tampa, Fla.

Also December 19, North Carolina State (7-5) faces Memphis (8-4) in Tampa. The Wolfpack know the postseason drill, but Memphis will be adjusting after losing head coach Ryan Silverfield.

December 20: Various Locations

December 20 is packed with bowl action:

• Texas A&M (11-1) vs. Miami (10-2)
• Mississippi (10-2) vs. Tulane (11-2)
• Oregon (11-1) vs. James Madison (12-1)

December 22: Boise, Idaho

On December 22, Utah State (6-6) goes up against Washington State (6-6) in Boise. It’s a bit of a preview for future Pac-12 matchups.

December 23: Various Locations

December 23 features a few more bowls:

• Louisville (8-4) vs. Toledo (8-4) in Boca Raton, Florida
• Western Kentucky (8-4) vs. Southern Mississippi (7-5) in New Orleans
• UNLV (10-3) vs. Ohio (8-4) in Frisco, Texas

December 24: Honolulu

December 24, California (7-5) meets Hawaii (8-4) in Honolulu. The Bears are led by interim coach Nick Rolovich, who’s actually a former Hawaii coach himself.

December 26: Various Locations

December 26 brings more bowl action:

• Central Michigan (7-5) vs. Northwestern (6-6) in Detroit
• Minnesota (7-5) vs. New Mexico (9-3) in Phoenix
• Florida International (7-5) vs. Texas-San Antonio (6-6) in Dallas

December 27: Various Locations

December 27 is a marathon of games:

• Pittsburgh (8-4) vs. East Carolina (8-4) in Annapolis, Maryland
• Clemson (7-5) vs. Penn State (6-6) in the Bronx, New York
• Army (6-5) vs. Connecticut (9-3) in Boston
• Georgia Tech (9-3) vs. Brigham Young (11-2) in Orlando, Florida
• Miami (Ohio) (7-6) vs. Fresno State (8-4) in Tucson, Arizona
• San Diego State (9-3) vs. North Texas (11-2) in Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Virginia (10-3) vs. Missouri (8-4) in Jacksonville, Florida
• Houston (9-3) vs. LSU (7-5) in Houston

December 29: Birmingham, Ala.

December 29, Georgia Southern (6-6) goes up against Appalachian State (5-7) in Birmingham. A rare bowl rematch between conference rivals.

December 30: Various Locations

December 30 keeps the bowl train rolling:

• Coastal Carolina (6-6) vs. Louisiana Tech (7-5) in Shreveport, Louisiana
• Illinois (8-4) vs. Tennessee (8-4) in Nashville, Tennessee
• Southern California (9-3) vs. TCU (8-4) in San Antonio, Texas

December 31: Various Locations

December 31 wraps up the year with more bowl games:

• Iowa (8-4) vs. Vanderbilt (10-2) in Tampa, Florida
• Arizona State (8-4) vs. Duke (8-5) in El Paso, Texas
• Michigan (9-3) vs. Texas (9-3) in Orlando, Florida
• Nebraska (7-5) vs. Utah (10-2) in Las Vegas

January 2: Various Locations

On January 2, you can catch several bowl games happening across the country. Here’s what’s on tap:

• Rice (5-7) vs. Texas State (6-6) in Fort Worth, Texas
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