College Football Playoff Bracket Revealed: Key Matchups and Dates

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff bracket has officially been revealed, showcasing a 12-team field that includes some of the top programs in college football. The playoff will feature the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers, who claimed the top seed following their Big Ten Championship victory over Ohio State, which fell to No. 2.

The other top seeds include SEC champion Georgia at No. 3 and Big 12 champion Texas Tech at No. 4, all receiving first-round byes. The first-round matchups include No. 9 Alabama facing No. 8 Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma on December 19, and three games on December 20: No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss, and No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon.

Winners of these first-round games will advance to the quarterfinals held at iconic bowl venues like the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The semifinals will take place on January 8 and 9, leading to the national championship game on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

This year’s playoff field features five teams from the Southeastern Conference, alongside teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference, and two Group of Five teams. Notably, Notre Dame and BYU were left out of the playoff bracket, causing significant discussion among fans and analysts alike.

According to CBS Sports, the matchups and schedule have set the stage for an exciting playoff run as teams vie for the national title.