College Football Playoff: 2025 Bracket and Key Matchups

The 2025 College Football Playoff bracket has been officially announced, introducing a new 12-team format that significantly alters the postseason landscape. According to CBS Sports, Indiana secured the top overall seed after their historic Big Ten Championship victory over Ohio State, marking their first outright conference title in 80 years.

Ohio State follows as the No. 2 seed, with SEC champion Georgia at No. 3, and Big 12 champion Texas Tech rounding out the top four, all of which receive first-round byes. The playoff kicks off with four first-round games on December 19 and 20, featuring intriguing matchups such as No. 9 Alabama visiting No. 8 Oklahoma, and No. 11 Tulane taking on No. 6 Ole Miss.

The quarterfinals will take place at iconic bowl venues with winners advancing to the semifinals on January 8 and 9, before the national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium on January 20. ESPN highlights that the first-round rematches include Alabama and Oklahoma, where Oklahoma previously defeated Alabama 23-21 this season, and Ole Miss against Tulane, who they beat 45-10 earlier in the year.

The bracket also features notable team identities and storylines, with Indiana aiming to maintain their successful strategy of slowing down opponents, while teams like Georgia and Texas Tech look to assert their dominance through strong defensive play.

The new format not only heightens the excitement surrounding matchups but also sets the stage for discussions about team strategies and potential outcomes as they vie for college football's ultimate prize.