2025-26 College Football Playoff Bracket: Projected Field & Format

CFP Bracket projection following Week 1 results. Will be updated weekly through Selection Sunday on December 7, 2025.

The 2025-26 season marks year two of the expanded 12-team playoff. After Ohio State stormed from the 8-seed to win it all last year, the Buckeyes have taken control early with a statement win over Texas.

One major format change: the four highest-ranked teams get first-round byes, regardless of conference championships. This fixes last year’s wonky seeding that saw all four bye teams lose their opening games.

First-round games will be played on campus on Dec. 19-20. Quarterfinals take place at bowl sites on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, followed by the semifinals at the Fiesta and Peach Bowls on Jan. 8-9. The national championship is set for Jan. 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

The final CFP Rankings will be released on Dec. 7 following conference championship weekend.

Early CFP Playoff Picture

Week 1 delivered chaos. Ohio State’s defense dominated Texas 14-7 to vault the Buckeyes to No. 1. LSU upset Clemson, Florida State stunned Alabama, and South Florida destroyed Boise State’s playoff hopes.

Following a wild opening weekend, here’s how the Week 2 AP Poll shapes the early playoff conversation:

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Key Storylines

Ohio State’s defense made the statement of the weekend, holding Texas to just 7 points and making two goal-line stands. Julian Sayin became the first QB since 1984 to win his first career start against a No. 1 team.

Arch Manning’s debut was rough. The Texas offense managed just 230 total yards against Ohio State’s suffocating defense. The Longhorns dropped from No. 1 to No. 7 but still control their SEC destiny.

The SEC went 1-3 against ranked opponents in Week 1. Alabama fell to Florida State 31-17, while Texas dropped their marquee matchup to OSU. LSU got the conference’s signature win over Clemson. The Big Ten, meanwhile. flexed with Ohio State and Penn State now sitting at No. 1 and No. 2.

Early CFP Bracket Projections

Based on Week 2 AP rankings and early results, here’s our current playoff projection:

Conference Champions (Projected):

• SEC: Georgia
• Big Ten: Ohio State
• ACC: Miami
• Big 12: Arizona State
• Group of Five: South Florida

Projected 12-Team Field:

1. Ohio State (Big Ten champion) – BYE
2. Penn State (at-large) – BYE
3. LSU (at-large) – BYE
4. Georgia (SEC champion) – BYE
5. Miami (ACC champion)
6. Oregon (at-large)
7. Texas (at-large)
8. Clemson (at-large)
9. Notre Dame (at-large)
10. South Carolina (at-large)
11. Arizona State (Big 12 champion)
12. South Florida (Group of Five champion)

Projected First-Round CFP Matchups

Based on current rankings, here are the projected first-round matchups:

CFB Championship Odds and Playoff Projections

The betting markets have shifted dramatically after Week 1:

Keys to Watch

Ohio State’s Defense
The Buckeyes proved they’re the team to beat. Their defense completely shut down Texas and looks championship-caliber already.

Texas Bounce Back
Can Arch Manning and the Longhorns recover from their stunning loss? They host San Jose State in Week 2 to get back on track.

SEC Gauntlet
With Georgia still dominant and LSU rising, the SEC race remains brutal. Teams that navigate with just two losses should make the playoff.

Who Gets First-Round Byes?

Under the new format, the top four teams in the final CFP rankings get byes – period. Conference championships don’t guarantee a bye anymore. This change came after all four teams with byes lost their first playoff games last year.

How the 12-Team College Football Playoff Works in 2025-26

The format stays mostly the same as last year, with one crucial change. The 12 teams include the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, plus the seven highest-ranked remaining teams.

The big difference? The four highest-ranked teams overall get first-round byes, not just conference champions. This means Notre Dame could earn a bye if they’re ranked high enough. It also prevents a situation where a lower-ranked conference champion (like Boise State at No. 8 last year) gets a bye over stronger teams.

The bracket structure:

• No. 12 at No. 5
• No. 11 at No. 6
• No. 10 at No. 7
• No. 9 at No. 8

Winners advance to face the top four seeds in the quarterfinals. The bracket doesn’t reseed – it follows a fixed path to the championship game.

The quarterfinals rotate among four New Year’s Six bowls – this year it’s the Cotton, Orange, Rose, and Sugar Bowls. The Fiesta and Peach Bowls host the semifinals on Jan. 8-9.

The national championship game moves to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

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Last Year’s Inaugural 12-Team Playoff Bracket

For context on how wild the playoff can get, here’s what happened in the first-ever 12-team bracket:

Ohio State’s run from the 8-seed to the title proved that getting a bye isn’t everything. The Buckeyes knocked off Tennessee at home, then beat Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame to claim their first championship since 2014.

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CFP Frequently Asked Questions

Where Are the College Football Playoffs This Year?

The first-round games take place on the campus of the higher-seeded team on Dec. 19-20, 2025. The quarterfinals rotate among the Cotton, Orange, Rose, and Sugar Bowls on Dec. 31, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026.

The semifinals are at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl on Jan. 8-9, 2026. The national championship game will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

When Are the College Football Playoffs?

The first-round games kick off on Friday, Dec. 19 and Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. The quarterfinals are on Dec. 31, 2025 and Jan. 1, 2026.

Both national semifinal games (the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl) will be played on Jan. 8-9, 2026. The 2025-26 College Football Playoff concludes with the National Championship Game at 7:30 pm ET on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami.

How Do Teams Qualify for the College Football Playoff?

Under the 12-team format, the field consists of the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams as determined by the CFP selection committee.

There are no limits on teams per conference. The Big Ten or SEC could theoretically place five or six teams if they’re ranked high enough. The selection committee continues to rank teams using the same protocols as before.

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, proving that first-round byes aren’t necessary for a title run.

It marked Ohio State’s first national championship since 2014 and validated Ryan Day after years of criticism. The Buckeyes ran through Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame in succession.

When Is the College Football Playoff Expanding Again?

While the playoff stays at 12 teams for 2025-26, expansion talks are already heating up. The Big Ten has floated proposals for 24 or even 28 teams starting as early as 2026.

Under one proposal, the Big Ten and SEC would each get seven automatic bids. Most analysts think this is too aggressive, but expect the playoff to grow beyond 12 teams within the next few years.

Who Is on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee?

The 13-member committee for 2025-26 includes several changes from last year:

*Denotes committee chair.

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