The 2025 college football season has been a wild ride from start to finish, and now it’s time for the real show to begin. The expanded 12-team College Football Playoff is officially underway, with first-round matchups kicking off Friday and wrapping up Saturday. The bracket is locked, the contenders are set, and over the next few weeks, it’s all about who can survive and advance on the road to a national championship.
Indiana Headlines the Field
Let’s start at the top - and for the first time in college football history, that means Indiana. Yes, that Indiana.
The Hoosiers claimed the No. 1 overall seed after a statement win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, capping off a historic season with their first outright conference title in 80 years. It’s the highest playoff ranking in program history, and it puts Indiana in the driver’s seat heading into the postseason.
Ohio State, last year’s national champion, didn’t fall far after that loss. The Buckeyes land at No. 2, still very much in contention to repeat.
Georgia, the SEC champs, slide in at No. 3, while Big 12 champion Texas Tech rounds out the top four. Those four programs earn a first-round bye and a little extra time to prep for the quarterfinals.
First-Round Fireworks Begin
The action kicked off with a bang as No. 9 Alabama mounted a comeback win over No.
8 Oklahoma in the opening game of the playoff. That sets up a Rose Bowl date with Indiana for the Crimson Tide - a heavyweight clash that already feels like a semifinal.
The rest of the first-round matchups are set to deliver plenty of drama.
- **No. 10 Miami at No.
7 Texas A&M** (Saturday, Noon ET on ABC/ESPN): Kyle Field will be rocking as the Aggies host a Miami team that snuck into the playoff in controversial fashion. The Hurricanes edged out Notre Dame for the final at-large spot, despite trailing the Irish in every CFP ranking until now.
It’s a prove-it moment for Miami - and a chance for A&M to make a statement of its own.
- **No. 11 Tulane at No.
6 Ole Miss** (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV): Tulane is back in the postseason mix after winning the American Conference, and they’re part of history - this marks the first time two Group of Five teams have made the playoff.
But they’ll have their hands full against a high-powered Ole Miss squad in Oxford.
- **No. 12 James Madison at No.
5 Oregon** (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT/truTV): James Madison’s meteoric rise continues.
The Dukes took advantage of a chaotic ACC season to secure a playoff spot as Sun Belt champions. Now they head to Eugene to face an Oregon team that’s been one of the most balanced in the country all year.
Quarterfinal Matchups Locked In
Once the first-round dust settles, the quarterfinals promise elite matchups across the board:
- Cotton Bowl (Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN): No.
2 Ohio State will face the winner of Texas A&M vs. Miami.
The Buckeyes have championship pedigree and a chip on their shoulder after falling short in the Big Ten title game.
- Orange Bowl (Jan. 1, Noon ET on ESPN): No.
4 Texas Tech awaits the Oregon-James Madison winner. The Red Raiders have quietly built a strong resume and could be a dark horse to watch.
- Rose Bowl (Jan. 1, 4 p.m. ET on ESPN): No.
1 Indiana gets the winner of Alabama vs. Oklahoma.
If it’s Alabama, buckle up - that’s a clash of styles and legacies that could define the tournament.
- Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, 8 p.m. ET on ESPN): No.
3 Georgia will take on whoever emerges from the Ole Miss-Tulane game. The Bulldogs know what it takes to win in January, and they’ll be ready for whoever comes their way.
Semifinals and Championship on the Horizon
The winners of the quarterfinals will move on to the semifinals, set for January 8 and 9 at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl, respectively. From there, it all builds toward the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 20 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
The Bottom Line
This year’s playoff field is the deepest and most diverse we’ve seen. From Indiana’s Cinderella run to the inclusion of two Group of Five programs, the 12-team format is already delivering on its promise of more access, more drama, and more meaningful football. Now it’s time to see who can seize the moment.
The road to the title starts now. Let the games begin.