The 2024-25 college football season is coming to a close, but for sports fans we have good news. The College Football Playoff (CFP) committee has announced alredythe game dates and bowl allocations for the 2025-26 season. The second to be played under the 12-team playoff format.
Expansion to a 12-Team Playoff Format
The move to a 12-team playoff was originally decided by the CFP Board of Managers on September 2, 2022, with plans to implement it in 2026. However, after further discussions, it was announced on December 1, 2022, that the expanded format would begin in 2024.
Under this format, the 12-team field will consist of the six highest-ranked conference champions along with the six highest-ranked at-large teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will earn a first-round bye, while the remaining eight teams will play in the first round. Higher-seeded teams will host their first-round matchups either on campus or at other designated sites.
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When does the next college football season start?
The 2025 college football season is set to begin with Week 0 on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. However the schedule is tentative and subject to change until it is finalized in the spring or summer prior to the season.
College Football Playoff 2025-26 Schedule
First Round (On-Campus)
- Friday, December 19, 2025: One Game (evening)
- Saturday, December 20, 2025: Three Games (early afternoon, late afternoon, and evening)
Quarterfinals
- Wednesday, December 31, 2025: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (evening)
- Thursday, January 1, 2026: Capital One Orange Bowl (early afternoon), Rose Bowl Game (late afternoon), and Allstate Sugar Bowl (evening)
Semifinals
- Thursday, January 8, 2026: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (evening)
- Friday, January 9, 2026: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (evening)
CFP National Championship
- Monday, January 19, 2026: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Exact kickoff times for each game will be announced at a later date.