At a Glance
- The 2025-26 College Football Playoff quarterfinals begin Dec. 31 and finish Jan. 1.
- Top four seeds: Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas Tech; first-time CFP appearance for Texas Tech.
- Games move to neutral sites and will be broadcast on ESPN.
The College Football Playoff is set to deliver four high-stakes matchups as the top eight teams converge on neutral venues for the 2025-26 season’s quarterfinals. With a first-round bye for the top four seeds, the action kicks off on New Year’s Eve and culminates on New Year’s Day, all televised across the nation.
Quarterfinal Matchups
The bracket pits the highest seeds against the lower-ranked challengers, with the top seeds avoiding each other until the semifinals.
- Orange Bowl – No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon
- Rose Bowl – No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama
- Sugar Bowl – No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss
- Cotton Bowl – No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami
Game Dates, Times, and Venues
Each quarterfinal will be played at a neutral site with a specific kickoff time. All games are on ESPN.
| Game | Date & Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State vs. Miami | Wed, Dec. 31 – 7:30 p.m. | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| Texas Tech vs. Oregon | Thu, Jan. 1 – 12:00 p.m. | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida |
| Indiana vs. Alabama | Thu, Jan. 1 – 4:00 p.m. | Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, California |
| Georgia vs. Ole Miss | Thu, Jan. 1 – 8:00 p.m. | Caesars Superdome, New Orleans |
All games will also be streamed on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
What Happens Next
The winners will advance to the semifinals on Jan. 8 and 9. The Fiesta Bowl will feature the Ohio State-Miami winner against the Georgia-Ole Miss winner, while the Texas Tech-Oregon and Indiana-Alabama winners will meet in the Peach Bowl.
Fernando Mendoza, the Miami-native quarterback of No. 1 Indiana, captured the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, becoming the first Hoosier to win the award since 1935.
Key Takeaways
- Quarterfinals start Dec. 31 and finish Jan. 1.
- Top seeds: Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas Tech.
- All games broadcast on ESPN and streamed on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
With neutral sites, prime-time TV, and a path to the national title, the 2025-26 College Football Playoff quarterfinals promise a thrilling start to the postseason.
