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.
Games are scheduled 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, Florida. Check out the full schedule below.
2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule, dates, TV channel, sites
All times Eastern
- First round (Dec. 19-20) — on campus
- Friday, Dec. 19: One game
- Saturday, Dec. 20: Three games
- Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
- Wednesday, Dec. 31: Cotton Bowl
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Orange Bowl (early afternoon)
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Rose Bowl (late afternoon)
- Thursday, Jan. 1: Sugar Bowl (primetime)
- Semifinals (Jan. 8-9)
- Thursday, Jan. 8: Fiesta Bowl
- Friday, Jan. 9: Peach Bowl
- CFP National Championship
- Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
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)
- Friday, Dec. 20: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17
- Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10
- Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24
- Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17
- Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14
- Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (2OT)
- Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21
- Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10
- Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
- Orange Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 6 Penn State 24
- Cotton Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 28, No. 5 Texas 14
- CFP National Championship
- No. 8 Ohio State 34, No. 7 Notre Dame 23 (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
2023-24 College Football Playoff scores, results
Downing one of the most efficient offenses in college football, the 15-0 Michigan Wolverines finished their perfect season by winning their first football national title since 1997. Michigan topped Washington, 34-13, in the 2023-24 CFP National Championship Game.
Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy showcased his arm as well as his legs as he tossed for 140 yards and clocked his longest carry all season at 22 yards on a crucial third-and-long in the third quarter. With a key third quarter interception, defensive back Will Johnson earned Defensive MVP. Donning the same jersey number as Johnson (No. 2), Blake Corum earned Offensive MVP after notching 134 rushing yards. He also added two rushing touchdowns to tally 58 of his career — a school record. He concluded during the trophy ceremony, "Business is finished."
In his ninth season at the helm of his alma mater, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh collected his first national championship with the Wolverines. The game capped off the 10-year stint of the four-team College Football Playoff, with the playoff expansion to 12 teams for the 2024-25 season.
