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College Football Playoff – Key Information & Betting Insights for CFB Playoffs

Paul Costanzo

By Paul Costanzo

Updated:

Verified by: Patrick Cwiklinski


The College Football Playoff has grown into one of the biggest events in sports. It’s also grown in size, and that’s giving sports bettors more of their favorite thing: massive football games to wager on.

We’re entering the second year of the extended CFP, and we have everything you need to know about the playoffs along with valuable information to help you make the most of College Football Playoff betting.

2025-26 College Football Playoff Key Details

First RoundTBD
CFP QuarterfinalsDec. 31 (Cotton Bowl) & Jan. 1 (Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl)
CFP SemifinalsJan. 8 (Fiesta Bowl) & Jan. 9 (Peach Bowl)
National ChampionshipJan. 19 in Miami, Fla.
TV BroadcastESPN
Opening 2025-26 CFP FavoriteOhio State & Texas

Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will host the College Football Playoff National Championship game this year, having last done so in 2021.

First round games will be played in late December at campus sites of the higher seeded teams.

Ohio State is the reigning champion, having defeated Notre Dame in the final of the inaugural 12-team playoff.

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College Football Playoff Stats

The College Football Playoff has been around since 2014, but the current 12-team bracket didn’t debut until the end of the 2024 season.

But the games are the games, and here’s a look at some quick stats from the playoff era:

  • Current Format: 12 teams (five conference champions, seven at-larges)
  • Most CFP Titles: Alabama (3)
  • Most CFP Appearances: Alabama (8)
  • Most CFP Wins: Alabama (9)
  • Most CFP Losses: Clemson (5)
  • Biggest CFP Margin of Victory: Georgia 65, TCU 7 (2023 title game)
  • Highest Scoring CFP Game: TCU 51, Michigan 45 (2023 Semifinal)
  • Lowest Scoring CFP Game: Alabama 24, Clemson 6 (2018 Semifinal)
  • Highest TV Rating for CFP Game: Ohio State vs. Oregon, 33.9 million viewers (18.6 rating) in 2015

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Paul Costanzo
Paul Costanzo

Evergreen Writer/Editor; Sportsbook Expert

With nearly two decades of experience in sports media, Paul Costanzo turned his professional attention to sports betting and online gambling in January of 2022. He's covered every angle of the industry since then, managing and creating content for PlayMichigan and The Sporting News, and now SBD.

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