College Football Playoff schedule for 2025 season

USA Today

27-05-2025

College Football Playoff schedule for 2025 season | Buckeyes Wire
Even the hardest and staunchest traditionalist has to agree that the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff was a resounding success. More teams were involved, meaning more fans and players played meaningful games down the stretch and in the postseason, the venues were still well-attended, and we got to see a lot of really good teams doing battle against each other.
Now that we have 12 teams that will be a part of the CFP party on an annual basis, it's important to keep track of how the schedule plays out with more than just two rounds to keep track of. To that end, and with the 12-team model continuing next season, we thought we'd look at the calendar and give you an idea of what the schedule looks like for the CFP this upcoming year.
But first, as a reminder, the CFP Committee just approved a straight-seeding model, meaning gone is the procedure of awarding the four highest conference champions an automatic bye. Instead, each of the Power Four conference champions and the highest-ranked non-Power Four champ will still get in, but won't be slotted for four of the available bye-slots. Instead, whatever the CFP ranking is will dictate the seeding.
We like the change, and we also like keeping the 12-team format with first-round games on the campuses of the higher seeds. That being said, here is how the College Football Playoff schedule looks for when YOUR Ohio State football team tries to make a run at back-to-back national titles.
First round games - Dec. 19 and 20: On campus of higher seeds Friday, Dec. 19 - initial first-round game Saturday, Dec. 20 - three other first-round matchups
Quarterfinals - Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 Wednesday, Dec. 31 - Cotton Bowl | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN Thursday, Jan. 1 - Orange Bowl | 12 p.m. ET | ESPN Thursday, Jan. 1 - Rose Bowl | 4 p.m. ET | ESPN Thursday, Jan. 1 - Sugar Bowl | 8 p.m. ET | ESPN
Semifinals - Jan. 8 and 9 Thursday, Jan. 8 - Fiesta Bowl | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN Friday, Jan. 9 - Peach Bowl | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
College Football Playoff National Championship Game Monday, Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens, Florida at Hard Rock Stadium - 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
It still feels like this is all a long way out, but the season will be here before you know it. We'll have more through the offseason here.
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