Today’s College Football: FCS Championship and Upcoming Bowl Games
As the college football season nears its end, fans are buzzing about the final matchups that’ll decide the national champion. The 2025 season has been wild—plenty of upsets, close calls, and moments that kept everyone guessing.
Now that the usual bowl games are wrapped up, attention turns to the last few College Football Playoff (CFP) games. Everything’s building toward the National Championship on January 19. Here’s what’s left to watch in the 2025 college football season.
Contents
FCS Championship: Montana State vs. Illinois State
With FBS teams on a short break, the FCS Championship steps into the limelight. Montana State and Illinois State will face off in Nashville on January 5, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
Montana State’s got a strong 13-2 record and, according to FanDuel, is a pretty big favorite—10.5 points—against Illinois State, who’s sitting at 12-4. Should be a great battle for the FCS title.
Upcoming College Football Playoff Schedule
After the FCS showdown, college football jumps right back in with two CFP bowl games that’ll decide who moves on to the title game. The wait isn’t long—Fiesta Bowl kicks things off on January 8, and then the Peach Bowl follows on January 9.
Here’s what’s coming up:
Fiesta Bowl: Miami vs. Ole Miss
Miami goes up against Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl on January 8 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, airing live on ESPN. Miami barely snagged the last at-large CFP spot and is a slight favorite at 3.5 points over Ole Miss.
The Hurricanes have been heating up lately, and they’re hoping to ride that momentum in this high-stakes game.
Peach Bowl: Oregon vs. Indiana
The Peach Bowl, set for January 9, features a rematch: Oregon vs. Indiana. Kickoff’s at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. Indiana, who already pulled off an upset over Oregon earlier this season, comes in as a 4.5-point favorite.
Indiana’s coach Curt Cignetti has admitted it’s tough to knock off a team like Oregon twice, but he sounds quietly confident.
Path to the National Championship
Everyone’s got their eyes on Miami for the National Championship on January 19. The remaining CFP games will decide which teams get a shot at the title.
Here’s the current College Football Playoff bracket:
- 1st Round: JMU vs. Oregon, Alabama vs. Indiana, Oklahoma vs. Tulane, Ole Miss vs. Georgia, Miami vs. Ohio State, Texas A&M vs. TBD
- Quarterfinals: Oregon vs. Texas Tech, Alabama vs. Indiana, Oklahoma vs. TBD, Ole Miss vs. Miami
- Semifinals: Oregon vs. Indiana, Ole Miss vs. Miami
- Championship: TBD vs. TBD
Key Storylines to Watch
The drama isn’t just on the field. There are plenty of subplots worth following as these games play out:
- Ole Miss Overcoming Adversity: Even after losing head coach Lane Kiffin and several assistants to LSU, Ole Miss managed to grab a CFP spot. Can they keep it together against Miami?
- Miami’s Hot Streak: The Hurricanes shocked plenty of folks by jumping Notre Dame in the final CFP rankings. Their showing in the Fiesta Bowl could say a lot about how far this run can go.
- Indiana’s Challenge: Coach Curt Cignetti knows beating Oregon twice isn’t easy. Their earlier win in Eugene just makes this Peach Bowl rematch even more interesting.
Conclusion
The 2025 college football season has really been something. So many ups and downs—it’s almost exhausting, but in a good way.
And hey, it’s not over yet. The FCS Championship, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, and the National Championship are all still on the horizon.
Honestly, if you love college football, now’s the time to pay attention. There’s still a lot of drama left on the field, and it’s anyone’s guess who comes out on top.
Want details or last-minute updates? Check the official schedule—it’s worth bookmarking if you’re following along.
