Get ready, college football fans! The 2025-26 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be an absolute thriller, and we've got all the key dates, matchups, and rankings you need to stay in the know.
First things first: the bracket! The quarterfinals kick off on Thursday, January 1st, with three exciting games. You can also check your picks in the College Football Bracket Challenge Game. The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, January 8th, and Friday, January 9th, leading up to the grand finale: the national championship on Monday, January 19th.
Here's a sneak peek at the 2025-26 College Football Playoff bracket, based on the CFP selection committee's final top 25 rankings from Sunday, December 7th. Remember, the top 25 rankings don't always dictate the seeds. The five highest-ranked conference champions get automatic bids, even if they're ranked lower than other teams.
Let's dive into the schedule:
Quarterfinals (December 31st - January 1st)
- Wednesday, December 31st
- No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 24, No. 2 Ohio State 14
- Thursday, January 1st
- No. 5 Oregon 23, No. 4 Texas Tech 0
- No. 1 Indiana 38, No. 9 Alabama 3
- No. 6 Ole Miss 39, No. 3 Georgia 34
- Wednesday, December 31st
Semifinals (January 8th-9th)
- Thursday, January 8th
- No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami | Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ) | 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, January 9th
- No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon | Peach Bowl (Atlanta) | 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, January 8th
College Football Playoff National Championship Game
- Monday, January 19th
- Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. | 7:30 p.m.
- Monday, January 19th
First Round (December 19th-20th)
- Friday, December 19th
- No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24
- Saturday, December 20th
- No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3
- No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10
- No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34
- Friday, December 19th
Who's in the running? Here are the latest CFP top 25 rankings:
- Indiana
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Miami (Fla.)
- Notre Dame
- BYU
- Texas
- Vanderbilt
- Utah
- USC
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Virginia
- Tulane
- Houston
- Georgia Tech
- Iowa
- James Madison
- North Texas
Important Note: There is no re-seeding of the bracket after the first round.
But here's where it gets interesting... The quarterfinal games won't be played on campus. Instead, they'll be hosted at the Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. The four highest-ranked teams will be assigned to these bowls, considering historic relationships and seeding.
The four quarterfinal winners will then face off in the semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl or the Peach Bowl. If the seeds hold, we could see No. 1 playing No. 4 and No. 2 taking on No. 3. The two teams that emerge victorious will then battle it out for the national championship in Miami on January 19th.
And this is the part most people miss... The automatic bids for conference champions can significantly shake up the bracket. A lower-ranked conference champion could potentially knock out a higher-ranked team, adding extra excitement and unpredictability to the playoffs.
What do you think? Will the committee's rankings accurately reflect the best teams? Which matchups are you most excited to see? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
