Top Spots to Watch College Football Playoffs December 19-20, 2025
The excitement is already building as college football fans gear up for a wild weekend of postseason action. The 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) finally gets rolling with its first round on December 19 and 20, 2025.
This year, there’s a twist—on-campus matchups. Higher-seeded teams get to host, which honestly just adds a whole new level of intensity.
The top four seeds—Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech—get to relax with byes. That leaves the rest to battle it out in what’s shaping up to be some pretty compelling showdowns.
Want to know where to catch the games? Check out this comprehensive guide.
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First Round Matchups: A Weekend of High Stakes and High Drama
The first round is absolutely loaded with intriguing matchups. Upsets? Maybe. Drama? Almost guaranteed.
Here’s a look at what’s on tap for December 19 and 20, 2025:
No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK
TV: ABC/ESPN
Here comes an SEC rematch that’s got everyone talking. Oklahoma’s got home-field advantage, but Alabama’s never a team to count out.
The Sooners have had the upper hand lately, but the Crimson Tide’s reputation for resilience is the stuff of legend. Expect a game packed with energy and probably a few surprises.
No. 10 Miami (FL) vs. No. 7 Texas A&M
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Kyle Field, College Station, TX
TV: ABC/ESPN
Miami heads to College Station to face Texas A&M. Both squads have had their moments this season, flashes of brilliance mixed with a few head-scratchers.
The Aggies’ crowd can get pretty raucous—home advantage might tip the scales, but who knows? This one could go either way.
No. 20 Tulane vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Vaught Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MS
TV: TNT
Tulane, the Green Wave, takes on Ole Miss. It’s a big moment for Tulane—a Group of Five champ stepping into the CFP spotlight.
They’ll have to bring their best against an SEC powerhouse. Will they pull off something special? We’ll see.
No. 24 James Madison vs. No. 5 Oregon
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
TV: TNT
James Madison, another Group of Five contender, heads to Oregon. The Ducks are tough at home, and Autzen Stadium gets loud—like, really loud.
This matchup is proof the expanded CFP is shaking things up. Both teams are hungry for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Broadcast and Streaming Options
All first-round games will air on ESPN networks, with TNT Sports grabbing two of them. If you’re streaming, there are plenty of ways to tune in.
- ESPN app
- WatchESPN
- fuboTV
- Hulu + Live TV
- YouTube TV
Heads up—some platforms need a subscription. Double-check your setup so you’re not scrambling at kickoff.
Looking Ahead: Quarterfinals and Beyond
The winners of the first-round matchups will advance to the quarterfinals. Those games are set for December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026.
They’ll play at some of the most iconic bowl sites—think Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and a few others. The national championship game lands on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium down in Miami Gardens, Florida.
This new 12-team playoff setup has really shaken things up in college football. More high-stakes games? Absolutely. The chance for upsets feels bigger than ever.
On-campus games bring a wild, electric energy you just can’t fake. Every matchup suddenly matters a whole lot more, and honestly, it’s hard not to get caught up in the hype.
Fans are buzzing. Searches like college football playoff schedule 2025 and CFP first round games December 2025 are trending, which says a lot about the anticipation building up right now.
For the latest updates or any last-minute changes, it’s smart to check official sources like NCAA.com or ESPN.
