Heartbreak or triumph? For college football fans, the journey to the national championship is everything. And with the expanded 12-team playoff format, the stakes are higher than ever! Get ready to mark your calendars because we're diving deep into the complete schedule, dates, TV channels, and locations for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff. This is year two of the new 12-team format, so expect even more excitement and unexpected upsets! The official bracket and matchups were unveiled on Sunday, December 7th, setting the stage for a thrilling postseason.
Before we jump in, make sure to test your prediction prowess with the College Football Playoff Bracket Challenge Game! (You can find it here: https://www.ncaa.com/play?utm_campaign=inline-article). Bragging rights are on the line!
The action kicks off on December 19, 2025, and culminates in the National Championship Game on January 19, 2026. The first round will be held on December 19th and 20th, followed by the Quarterfinals on December 31st and January 1st. The Semifinals will take place on January 8th and 9th, all leading up to the grand finale: the CFP National Championship Game on Monday, January 19th, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in sunny Miami Gardens, Florida. Here's the full breakdown:
For live scores and real-time updates throughout the playoffs, you can follow the action here: (https://www.ncaa.com/scoreboard/football/fbs)
2025-26 College Football Playoff Schedule & Games
Semifinals (Jan. 8-9)
Thursday, Jan. 8
- No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami | Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ)| 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN, WatchESPN
Friday, Jan. 9
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College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Monday, Jan. 19
- Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN, WatchESPN
First Round (Dec. 19-20)
Friday, Dec. 19
- No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6531844)
Saturday, Dec. 20:
- No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6531848)
- No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6531845)
- No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6531841)
Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
Wednesday, Dec. 31
- No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 24, No. 2 Ohio State 14 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6534493)
Thursday, Jan. 1
- No. 5 Oregon 23, No. 4 Texas Tech 0 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6531849)
- No. 1 Indiana 38, No. 9 Alabama 3 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6531850)
- No. 6 Ole Miss 39, No. 3 Georgia 34 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6531851)
A Look Back: College Football Playoff National Championship Game History
Before we get too caught up in the future, let's take a quick trip down memory lane and revisit the history of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. This is where legends are made and dreams are either realized or crushed. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the CFP National Championship has consistently delivered unforgettable moments.
| Year (Game Date) | Game | LOCATION |
| :---------------- | :-------------------------------------- | :------------------ |
| 2015 | No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20 | Arlington, Texas |
| 2016 | No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40 | Glendale, Arizona |
| 2017 | No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31 | Tampa, Florida |
| 2018 | No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23 | Atlanta, Georgia |
| 2019 | No. 2 Clemson 44, No. 1 Alabama 16 | Santa Clara, CA |
| 2020 | No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25 | New Orleans, LA |
| 2021 | No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24 | Miami Gardens, FL |
| 2022 | No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18 | Indianapolis, IN |
| 2023 | No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7 | Inglewood, CA |
| 2024 | No. 1 Michigan 34, No. 2 Washington 13 | Houston, Texas |
| 2025 | No. 8 Ohio State 34, No. 7 Notre Dame 23 | Atlanta, Georgia |
Future CFP National Championship Game Locations
Mark your calendars! Here's where the championship dreams will play out in the coming years:
- 2026: Jan. 19 — Miami (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida)
- 2027: Jan. 25 — Las Vegas (Allegiant Stadium)
Reliving the Glory: 2024-25 College Football Playoff Results
To truly appreciate the future, let's glance back at the intensity of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff. Remember those nail-biting finishes and stunning upsets? Here’s a recap:
First Round (Dec. 20-21)
- Friday, Dec. 20: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382594)
- Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382584)
- Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382583)
- Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382600)
Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382592)
- Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (2OT) (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382590)
- Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382591)
- Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382593)
Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
- Orange Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 6 Penn State 24 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382588)
- Cotton Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 28, No. 5 Texas 14 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6382589)
CFP National Championship
- No. 8 Ohio State 34, No. 7 Notre Dame 23 (https://www.ncaa.com/game/6384676) (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
More College Football Action
Want even more college football content to devour? Check out these related articles:
- 2025-26 College Football Playoff bracket, schedule, scores, rankings: READ MORE
- History: Orange Bowl: READ MORE
- 2025-26 college football bowl game schedule, scores, TV channels, times: READ MORE
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So, who are your picks to make a deep run in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff? Do you think the expanded format will lead to more parity, or will the usual suspects dominate? And, perhaps more controversially, is a 12-team playoff too big? Will it dilute the importance of the regular season? Let's hear your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
