ESPN Brings College Football Playoff Top 25 to Champions Classic
ESPN is about to pull off something wild at the 2025 State Farm® Champions Classic. They’re merging two of their biggest studio shows for a crossover that’s honestly a first in the football-basketball world.
This mashup means the College Football Playoff Top 25 Presented by Vrbo will go live from the Champions Classic for the first time since 2021. Plus, College GameDay Covered by State Farm® is coming back to the event for the first time since 2019.
Fans are in for a jam-packed night of college sports coverage. The whole thing goes down Tuesday, November 18, at Madison Square Garden (MSG).
And get this—some of the top programs in men’s college basketball are squaring off that night.
Contents
ESPN’s College Football Playoff Top 25 Show Returns
After a four-year break, the College Football Playoff Top 25 Presented by Vrbo is back at the Champions Classic. Rece Davis will be steering the ship, breaking down rankings and playoff possibilities.
The show’s set to air around 8 p.m., slotted right between two big basketball games. It’s a clever way to blend football and hoops content, and honestly, it should keep fans glued to their screens.
Schedule for the College Football Playoff Top 25
Here’s the lineup for the College Football Playoff Top 25:
- Tuesday, November 4 – 8 p.m. | Presented by Allstate
- Tuesday, November 11 – 7 p.m. | Presented by Goodyear
- Tuesday, November 18 – 8:30 p.m. | Presented by Vrbo
- Tuesday, November 25 – 7 p.m. | Presented by Capital One
- Tuesday, December 2 – 7 p.m. | Presented by AT&T
- Sunday, December 7 – Noon | Presented by AT&T
College GameDay Returns to the Champions Classic
On top of the football show, College GameDay Covered by State Farm® is coming back to Champions Classic. It’s been since 2019, so it’s about time.
Rece Davis is hosting, with Jay Bilas, Seth Greenberg, Jay Williams, and Andraya Carter all chiming in. Expect plenty of analysis and some heated opinions before the games tip off.
Event Details and Matchups
The 15th annual Champions Classic is rolling out four of the best in men’s college basketball:
- No. 22 Michigan State vs. No. 9 Kentucky – First game tips at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
- No. 19 Kansas vs. No. 6 Duke – Second game, featuring the 2025 national semifinalists, starts at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
Dan Shulman’s on play-by-play with Jay Bilas and reporter Kris Budden. Should be some top-tier coverage.
Behind the Scenes: Key Figures
Amanda, ESPN’s Senior Director of Communications for college sports, is the one driving the publicity strategy here. She’s got a master’s in ethics from Vanderbilt and a serious thing for college sports.
Her attention to detail and energy are a big reason this crossover is getting so much buzz.
Why This Event Matters
The 2025 State Farm® Champions Classic isn’t just a couple of big games. It’s a celebration of college sports that pulls in fans from all over.
Mixing football and basketball like this? It’s a bold move. ESPN’s really leaning into giving fans something different, and I’d say it shows they’re not afraid to shake things up a bit.
Conclusion
The 2025 State Farm® Champions Classic is shaping up to be something special. This time, college football and basketball are joining forces for one wild, jam-packed evening.
With the *College Football Playoff Top 25 Presented by Vrbo* and *College GameDay Covered by State Farm®* both heading back to the Champions Classic, ESPN’s coverage will be tough to beat.
There’s a lot to look forward to—big games, sharp analysis, and those all-important playoff rankings, all happening at Madison Square Garden. Should be quite a night, honestly.
For more details, check out the official ESPN press release.
