College Football Playoff Kicks Off Dec. 19 With First‑Round Matchups and Broadcast Details

The second edition of the 12‑team College Football Playoff is set to kick off Friday, Dec. 19, with a full slate of first‑round matchups that will determine the quarterfinal field.

First‑Round Schedule

Friday, Dec. 19

• No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma, 5 p.m. PT

Saturday, Dec. 20

• No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M, 9 a.m. PT
• No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss, 12:30 p.m. PT
• No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon, 4:30 p.m. PT

Broadcast and Streaming

Two networks will air the CFP first‑round games:

• ABC/ESPN: Alabama‑Oklahoma, Miami‑Texas A&M
• TNT/truTV: Tulane‑Ole Miss, James Madison‑Oregon

All four games will also stream on either ESPN or HBO Max:

• ESPN: Alabama‑Oklahoma, Miami‑Texas A&M
• HBO Max: Tulane‑Ole Miss, James Madison‑Oregon

Quarterfinal Bracket

The top four seeds, who earned first‑round byes, know their potential opponents:

• No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama (Rose Bowl)
• No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami (Cotton Bowl)
• No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane (Sugar Bowl)
• No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison (Orange Bowl)

Key Takeaways

• The 2025‑26 CFP starts on Dec. 19 with Oklahoma hosting Alabama.
• ABC/ESPN and TNT/truTV will broadcast the games; ESPN and HBO Max provide streaming.
• Quarterfinal matchups are set, with Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech awaiting winners.

The second edition of the College Football Playoff promises a thrilling weekend of games, clear broadcast options, and a bracket that sets the stage for the national title chase.