Kickoff excitement is here: Get ready for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff and a month of must-watch matchups. Here is the complete schedule.

MICHAEL REAVES

NCAA

Official College Football Playoff schedule: Dates and matchups for 2025-26 CFP games

Jennifer Bubel

Sports journalist who grew up in Dallas, TX. Lover of all things sports, she got her degree from Texas Tech University (Wreck ‘em Tech!) in 2011. Joined Diario AS USA in 2021 and now covers mostly American sports (primarily NFL, NBA, and MLB) as well as soccer from around the world.

Update: Dec 10th, 2025 07:09 EST

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff (CFP) is set to kick off the second season of the expanded 12-team format, offering fans a month of high-stakes college football action. The playoff will begin with the First Round on Dec. 19, 2025, and culminate with the National Championship on Jan. 19, 2026 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule

First-Round

The CFP First Round will open on Friday, Dec. 19. The following day, Saturday, Dec. 20, features a tripleheader. All ESPN broadcasts will be accessible via the ESPN App. The specific campuses hosting these games will be revealed on Selection Day, Dec.7.

Friday, Dec. 19

8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN: Alabama vs Oklahoma

Saturday, Dec. 20

Noon on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN: Miami vs Texas A&M
3:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max: Tulane vs Ole Miss
7:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max: James Madison vs Oregon

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas): 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN: Ohio State vs winner of Miami vs Texas A&M

Thursday, Jan. 1

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, Florida): Noon on ESPN, WatchESPN: Texas Tech vs winner of James Madison vs Oregon
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California): 4 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN: Indiana vs winner of Alabama vs Oklahoma
Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, Louisiana): 8 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN: Georgia vs winner of Tulane vs Ole Miss

#CFBPlayoff bracket, networks, and kickoff times in one handy graphic. #CFP pic.twitter.com/dnmEBruXVD
— Jake Kline (@JakeAKline) December 7, 2025

Semifinals

Thursday, Jan. 8

Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.): 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN

Friday, Jan. 9

Peach Bowl (Atlanta): 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN

CFP National Championship

The championship game returns to Miami on Jan. 19. ESPN will carry the broadcast, concluding the 12-team playoff journey with the nation’s top college football programs competing for the title.

Monday, Jan. 19

National Championship (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida): 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN