CFP Bracket 2025-26: Quarterfinals Schedule, Results & Updated Playoff Field

Updated CFP bracket after Indiana’s upset win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal.

The College Football Playoff bracket is down to seven teams after the first quarterfinal game. Miami beat Ohio State 24-14 in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31. Three more quarterfinal games are set for Thursday, Jan. 1.

Three more quarterfinal games are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 1. Indiana faces Alabama in the Rose Bowl at 4 PM ET. Oregon plays Texas Tech at noon in the Orange Bowl, and Georgia meets Ole Miss at 8 PM in the Sugar Bowl.

Jump to: Miami Upsets OSU | Today’s Schedule | First-Round Recaps | Semifinals Bracket

The CFP Bracket uses a 12-team format. The top four teams get first-round byes. Seeds 5-8 host seeds 9-12 on campus in the first round. Quarterfinals and semifinals are at neutral bowl sites.

Miami’s Cotton Bowl win marks the first quarterfinal result. The Hurricanes will face either Georgia or Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl semifinals on Jan. 8.

Miami 24, Ohio State 14: Cotton Bowl Quarterfinal

Miami won the Cotton Bowl as a 9.5-point underdog on Dec. 31. The No. 10 seed Hurricanes knocked off defending champion Ohio State to reach the semifinals.

Miami’s Defense Takes Over

Miami defensive back Keionte Scott jumped a screen pass in the first quarter and took it 72 yards for a touchdown. The pick-six put the Hurricanes up 14-0.

Carson Beck went 19/26 for 138 yards. He hit Mark Fletcher Jr. for an early touchdown and let his defense eat. Miami sacked Julian Sayin five times and forced three turnovers.

Sayin threw for 287 yards and found Jeremiah Smith seven times for 157 yards and a touchdown. But the freshman QB threw two picks. ChaMar Brown added a 5-yard touchdown run late to ice it.

Looking to bet on today’s quarterfinal games? Check out the best college football betting apps for the CFP.

CFP Quarterfinals Schedule – Jan. 1

Three quarterfinal games are set for Thursday, Jan. 1. Here’s the complete schedule:

Orange Bowl: Oregon vs. Texas Tech

Oregon is the No. 5 seed and put up 51 points against James Madison in the first round. Texas Tech is the No. 4 seed and Big 12 champion. The Red Raiders’ defense features a projected top-10 NFL Draft pick at defensive end who’ll need to pressure Oregon’s QB.

Rose Bowl: Indiana vs. Alabama

Indiana is the No. 1 seed after going 13-0 in the regular season. The Hoosiers beat Ohio State 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship to earn the top spot in the CFP bracket.

Alabama rolled past Oklahoma 34-24 in the first round. The No. 9 seed Tide are the lowest-seeded team left in the bracket.

Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Ole Miss

Georgia is the No. 3 seed and SEC champion. The Bulldogs had a first-round bye. Ole Miss is the No. 6 seed and rolled past Tulane 41-10 in the first round.

The winner gets Miami in the Fiesta Bowl semifinals on Jan. 8.

First-Round Results: How We Got Here

The first round (Dec. 19-20) set the table for the quarterfinals. Here’s how the four games played out:

Alabama 34, Oklahoma 24

Alabama erased a 17-0 deficit with a 27-0 scoring run in Norman. The Tide defense shut down Oklahoma in the second half.

Ty Simpson threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Zabien Brown’s 50-yard pick-six in the second quarter sparked the comeback. Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell nailed a 51-yard field goal early but missed two late kicks from 36 and 51 yards when the Sooners needed points.

Miami 10, Texas A&M 3

The ultimate defensive slugfest in College Station. Miami’s defense sacked Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed seven times and picked him off twice.

The game stayed 3-3 into the fourth quarter. Mark Fletcher Jr. broke a 56-yard run to flip the field. Carson Beck found freshman Malachi Toney for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:44 left. Bryce Fitzgerald sealed it with an end zone interception.

Ole Miss 41, Tulane 10

Ole Miss rolled at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Rebels scored on their first possession and led 14-0 before fans settled in.

Trinidad Chambliss threw for 282 yards. Kewan Lacy scored on a 20-yard touchdown run. Ole Miss put up over 500 yards of total offense.

Oregon 51, James Madison 34

James Madison hung around early and even led 6-0. But Oregon’s depth took over.

Dante Moore threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score. Malik Benson caught two TD passes, including a 46-yard bomb before halftime. Jayden Limar scored on a 15-yard blocked punt return in the third quarter that blew it open.

Semifinals Bracket & Schedule

The semifinals take place Jan. 8-9. Here’s how the bracket shapes up after Miami’s win:

Fiesta Bowl – Jan. 8, 7:30 PM ET (Glendale, Ariz.)
No. 10 Miami vs. Winner of Georgia/Ole Miss

Peach Bowl – Jan. 9, 7:30 PM ET (Atlanta)
Winner of Indiana/Alabama vs. Winner of Oregon/Texas Tech

National Championship – Jan. 19, 7:30 PM ET
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)

CFB Championship Odds After Miami Upset

The betting odds shifted dramatically after Miami knocked off Ohio State. Check out the updated National Championship odds:

---

CFP Frequently Asked Questions

When Are the College Football Playoff Semifinals?

The semifinals are on Jan. 8-9, 2026. The Fiesta Bowl is Jan. 8 at 7:30 PM ET in Glendale, Arizona. The Peach Bowl is Jan. 9 at 7:30 PM ET in Atlanta.

When Is the National Championship Game?

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff National Championship Game is Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET. The game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

How Did Miami Beat Ohio State?

Miami’s defense dominated the Cotton Bowl. The Hurricanes sacked Julian Sayin five times and forced three turnovers. Keionte Scott’s 72-yard pick-six in the first quarter put OSU in a 14-0 hole they never climbed out of.

What Channel Are the CFP Quarterfinals On?

All three remaining quarterfinal games on Jan. 1 are on ESPN. Oregon vs. Texas Tech kicks off at noon ET. Indiana vs. Alabama starts at 4 PM ET. Georgia vs. Ole Miss begins at 8 PM ET.

Who Won Last Year’s National Championship?

Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 to win the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship in Atlanta. The Buckeyes became the first 8-seed to win it all, running through Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame.

Ready to bet on today’s quarterfinal games? Check out these sportsbook promos for college football.

Same game parlays are perfect for playoff games. Claim a DraftKings promo code to experience their Same Game ParlayX feature. See the best Fanatics sportsbook promo for betting on today’s games.

For bonus bets on the quarterfinals, unlock the BetMGM promo code for regular bonus bet offers. Also check out the Bet365 bonus code for their Bet $1, Get $200 in Bonus Bets promo.

Missouri bettors can now join the action. Sports betting launched in Missouri on December 1, 2025. Residents can bet on college football at licensed sportsbooks across the state.