Watch College Football Playoff Quarterfinals: Schedule, TV Info, Bracket
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) is heading into its most exciting stage. Eight teams are fighting for a spot in the semifinals.
After a short break, the action picks back up with the quarterfinals. Top seeds and hungry underdogs are ready to battle it out.
This time, the games move from home stadiums to neutral sites. Stakes are high, and the energy is bound to be wild.
Here’s a rundown of everything you might want to know about the upcoming CFP quarterfinals—schedule, venues, and how to tune in if you’re planning to catch every play.
Contents
2025-26 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals: Teams and Matchups
Eight teams are left standing. The top four seeds had first-round byes and are now set to enter the fray:
- No. 1 Indiana
- No. 2 Ohio State
- No. 3 Georgia
- No. 4 Texas Tech
They’ll take on these challengers:
- No. 5 Oregon
- No. 6 Ole Miss
- No. 9 Alabama
- No. 10 Miami
Honestly, these matchups look like they could go either way. Every squad’s got something to prove.
Quarterfinals Schedule and Venues
All quarterfinal games are set for neutral sites, which should keep things interesting. Here’s how the schedule shakes out:
Ohio State vs. Miami
When: Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT
Where: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Texas Tech vs. Oregon
When: Thursday, Jan. 1 at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. PT
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Indiana vs. Alabama
When: Thursday, Jan. 1 at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT/1 p.m. PT
Where: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California
Georgia vs. Ole Miss
When: Thursday, Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT
Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
Can you imagine playing in those classic stadiums? The atmosphere alone will be something else.
How to Watch the CFP Quarterfinals
All games are airing live on ESPN. If you’re not near a TV, you can stream them on ESPN.com or the ESPN app—pretty convenient, honestly.
Set your reminders because these are the kinds of games you’ll want to see live.
Looking Ahead: Semifinals and Beyond
Winners from the quarterfinals head to the semifinals, which are lined up like this:
Fiesta Bowl
When: Thursday, Jan. 8
Where: Glendale, Arizona
Matchup: Winners of Ohio State-Miami and Georgia-Ole Miss
Peach Bowl
When: Friday, Jan. 9
Where: Atlanta, Georgia
Matchup: Winners of Texas Tech-Oregon and Indiana-Alabama
Key Players to Watch
There are a few names you’ll probably hear a lot about as the quarterfinals get closer. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s quarterback, just won the Heisman Trophy. He’s the first Hoosier ever to do it, which is kind of wild when you think about it.
Keep an eye out for these guys too:
- C.J. Stroud (Ohio State): Quick thinker, big arm, and he doesn’t flinch under pressure.
- Tank Bigsby (Georgia): If he gets a lane, he’s gone—seriously fast.
- Matt Corral (Ole Miss): Can scramble, throw, and generally make defenses miserable.
- Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon): If he’s in the backfield, the offense is in trouble.
Any of them could swing a game with a single play. That’s what makes this round so unpredictable.
The Road to the National Championship
Getting to this point wasn’t easy for any of these teams. They’ve each had to grind through tough schedules and prove they belong.
It’s hard not to get swept up in the hype. The semifinals and the title game are going to deliver those moments you talk about for years—no doubt about it.
Final Thoughts
The 2025-26 College Football Playoff quarterfinals are shaping up to be pretty wild. Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech—yeah, those top seeds—will be going head-to-head with some tough underdogs.
Honestly, it feels like anything could happen. If you want to catch every play, you can watch on ESPN or stream it over at ESPN.com or their app.
Need the nitty-gritty on game times and matchups? Just hop over to the official source for all the details.
