Get ready for an exciting journey as we dive into the world of college football and its highly anticipated postseason! The College Football Playoff (CFP) is about to reveal its 2025-26 season schedule, and we're here to bring you every twist and turn.
On Sunday, December 7th, 2025, at 12 pm ET, the 12-team CFP bracket will be unveiled, and it's a moment that has football enthusiasts on the edge of their seats. This is the second year with an expanded bracket, and there are some intriguing changes to keep an eye on.
But here's where it gets controversial... Last year, the top four conference champions enjoyed automatic byes into the quarterfinals. However, for the 2025 season, this system has been overhauled. Now, it's all about rankings, with the top four teams securing those coveted byes. But wait, there's more! The top five highest-ranked conference champions still get automatic entry into the field, adding a layer of complexity to the selection process.
And this is the part most people miss... Teams ranked 5-8 will have the home-field advantage in the first round, a significant boost as they aim to progress further in the tournament. Beyond the CFP, Sunday's announcements will also reveal the matchups for numerous bowl games, forming the backbone of Bowl Season. By the end of the day, we'll have a comprehensive understanding of the entire college football postseason schedule.
We'll be your guide as the postseason picture crystallizes. Stay tuned for live updates and expert analysis as we navigate the exciting world of college football's postseason.
CFP Projection by CBS Sports' Brad Crawford:
Championship Game: January 19th - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida
Peach Bowl Semifinal: January 9th
Fiesta Bowl Semifinal: January 8th
Quarterfinals:
- Rose Bowl, January 1st: (1) Indiana vs. (8/9) Winner
- Cotton Bowl, January 1st: (2) Ohio State vs. (7/10) Winner
- Orange Bowl, January 1st: (3) Georgia vs. (6/11) Winner
- Sugar Bowl, December 31st: (4) Texas Tech vs. (5/12) Winner
First Round:
- (12) James Madison at (5) Oregon - Winner faces (4)
- (9) Notre Dame at (8) Oklahoma - Winner faces (1)
- (11) Tulane at (6) Ole Miss - Winner faces (3)
- (10) Alabama at (7) Texas A&M - Winner faces (2)
2025 Bowl Games:
- Bowl projections by Brad Crawford: https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/bowl-projections-college-football-playoff-bracket-indiana-ohio-state-georgia-texas-tech/
- CFP Rankings prediction: https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-rankings-projection-top-25-teams-final-bracket-reveal/
- Experts pick CFP teams 1-12: https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/college-football-playoff-expert-picks-notre-dame-or-miami-in-last-spot-does-alabama-get-in/
Are you ready for the excitement of college football's postseason? What are your predictions for the CFP and bowl games? Feel free to share your thoughts and engage in the discussion below! We'd love to hear your insights and opinions.
