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Here’s the schedule for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff bracket. This is the second year the CFP is using a 12-team format. The bracket and matchups were announced on Sunday, Dec. 7.

BRACKET GAME: Make your picks in the College Football Bracket Challenge Game

Games are Dec. 19, 2025 to Jan. 19, 2026, with the first round on Dec. 19-20, quarterfinals on Dec. 31-Jan. 1, semifinals on Jan. 8-9 and finally the CFP National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Check out the full schedule below.

2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule, games

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  • First round (Dec. 19-20)
    • Friday, Dec. 19
    • Saturday, Dec. 20:
  • Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
    • Wednesday, Dec. 31
      • No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami (Fla.) winner | Cotton Bowl | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
    • Thursday, Jan. 1
  • Semifinals (Jan. 8-9)
    • Thursday, Jan. 8
      • Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
    • Friday, Jan. 9
      • Peach Bowl (Atlanta) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
  •  College Football Playoff National Championship Game
    • Monday, Jan. 19
      • Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

Here is the history of the College Football Playoff national championship game.

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, California 2020 No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25 New Orleans, Louisiana 2021 No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24 Miami Gardens, Florida 2022 No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18 Indianapolis, Indiana 2023 No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7 Inglewood, California 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

  • 2026: Jan. 19 — Miami (Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida)
  • 2027: Jan. 25 — Las Vegas (Allegiant Stadium) 

2024-25 College Football Playoff scores, results

  • First round (Dec. 20-21)
  • Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
  • Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
  • CFP National Championship

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