Complete 2026 College Football Playoff Schedule and Viewing Guide
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) season has been wild—way more unpredictable than anyone guessed. Now, with the semifinals looming, just four teams are left: No. 1 Indiana, No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Ole Miss, and No. 10 Miami.
Each of these teams has its own story, its own style, and honestly, it’s hard to pick a favorite. This year’s matchups are shaping up to be electric. So, what’s actually happened so far, and what could be next?
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The Road to the Semifinals
The CFP this year? Total rollercoaster. Underdogs have been knocking out favorites left and right, and a few big names tumbled early.
No. 9 Alabama took down No. 8 Oklahoma, 34-24. Then No. 10 Miami squeaked past No. 7 Texas A&M, just 10-3. Ole Miss, ranked sixth, rolled over No. 11 Tulane 41-10. Oregon, sitting at No. 5, handled No. 12 James Madison, 51-34.
Quarterfinal Highlights
Quarterfinals brought even more chaos—some jaw-dropping moments, honestly:
- Cotton Bowl: No. 10 Miami knocked off No. 2 Ohio State, 24-14, in Arlington, Texas.
- Orange Bowl: No. 5 Oregon completely blanked No. 4 Texas Tech, 23-0, down in Miami Gardens.
- Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana crushed No. 9 Alabama, 38-3, out in Pasadena.
- Sugar Bowl: No. 6 Ole Miss edged No. 3 Georgia, 39-34, in New Orleans. That one was a nail-biter.
Semifinal Showdowns
The semifinals are set, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Let’s take a closer look at who’s facing off.
Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami
State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, will host Ole Miss and Miami. Ole Miss has been riding the arm of Trinidad Chambliss, who’s thrown for 362 yards and two scores in their last game against Georgia.
Chambliss, a transfer from Division II Ferris State, has been the surprise of the year—nobody really saw him coming. Miami, meanwhile, has been on a tear, knocking off Texas A&M and then shocking Ohio State.
The Hurricanes’ defense deserves a lot of credit, especially after holding Texas A&M to just three points. There’s a bit of swagger to this Miami team right now.
Peach Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon
The Peach Bowl, over in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, has Indiana and Oregon facing off. Indiana’s quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, just won the Heisman Trophy and looked unstoppable in that 38-3 rout of Alabama.
Mendoza’s been the heart of Indiana’s turnaround—he’s got poise, and the team follows his lead. Oregon, for their part, shut out Texas Tech 23-0 in the Orange Bowl, flexing on defense.
The Ducks will be looking for payback, too. Indiana beat them earlier this season, 30-20, and that loss has to sting.
National Championship Game
Winners from the semifinals head to the national championship game. That’s set for Monday, January 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Whoever makes it through, you can bet the energy will be off the charts.
Potential Matchups
Depending on how the semifinals shake out, we could get any of these showdowns:
- No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 6 Ole Miss: Indiana’s offense squaring off with Ole Miss’ knack for making big plays.
- No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami: Could Mendoza crack Miami’s tough defense?
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 6 Ole Miss: Two teams that can light up the scoreboard.
- No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 10 Miami: Oregon’s defense versus Miami’s Cinderella story run. Why not?
How to Watch
You can catch every game live on ESPN, or stream it with the ESPN app. Fubo’s got a free trial if you’re looking for options.
The semifinals kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on January 8 and 9. The national championship follows at 7:30 p.m. ET on January 19.
Stay Tuned
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff season is winding down, and honestly, the matchups look pretty electric. Fans—whether you love an underdog story or back the big names—have a lot to look forward to.
The semifinals and the championship game should bring some wild moments and the kind of football that gets people talking for weeks.
If you want the full rundown on the CFP schedule and results, the article at USA Today has you covered.
