College football playoffs: who plays today Friday Jan. 9? Semifinals, teams, times and matchups
A ticket to the national championship game is on the line today, as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts the second 2025-26 CFP semifinal.
Undefeated meets battle-tested in the College Football Playoff semifinals, with a national title berth on the line in Atlanta.
Indiana vs Oregon: CFP semifinal game preview
The College Football Playoff continues on Friday, Jan. 9, with a heavyweight Big Ten showdown between Indiana Hoosiers and Oregon Ducks in the Peach Bowl.
Top-seeded Indiana (14-0) has been one of the season’s defining stories. Under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers surged to No. 1 in the rankings behind a balanced offense, a relentless defense and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Indiana is chasing its first national championship appearance in the modern era.
The Hoosiers were 3-24 in Big Ten play from 2021-23.
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 7, 2026
They are now No. 1 in the country and a win away from playing for the national title.
The Curt Cignetti Effect 📈 pic.twitter.com/BLaa3cwcOG
Oregon (13-1), seeded fifth, arrives with revenge on its mind. The Ducks’ lone loss came at home to Indiana in October, a 30-20 defeat in which turnovers and sacks derailed their offense. Since then, Dan Lanning’s team has rebounded emphatically, capped by a 23-0 shutout of Texas Tech in the CFP quarterfinals.
Leading the way. @CoachDanLanning is a finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award. #GoDucks x @bryantawards pic.twitter.com/SCRiOWDEbm
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) January 8, 2026
This semifinal also serves as a rematch, adding extra edge to a game that could shape the Big Ten’s growing claim as college football’s dominant conference.
CFP semifinal (Peach Bowl): when and where?
Teams: Indiana (1) vs Oregon (5)
Time: Friday, Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
How to watch Indiana vs Oregon
In the United States, the CFP semifinal between Indiana and Oregon will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, with streaming available via ESPN’s digital platforms.
The winner advances to the College Football Playoff national championship game on Jan. 19, one step away from college football’s ultimate prize. The Hurricanes await.
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