College Football Playoff schedule: Bracket, games, kickoff times, location for 2025-26 national championship
Breaking down the schedule as the 2025-26 College Football Playoff comes to a close
By
Will Backus
•
2 min read
The 2025 College Football Playoff has reached its final stage, with No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami set to play for the national championship on Jan. 19 in Miami.
What began as a 12-team field has been whittled down to two programs that took wildly different paths to the title game. Miami has embraced its role as the Cardiac Canes this postseason, winning three games in three distinct ways — a late road touchdown to edge Texas A&M in a 10-3 defensive struggle, a physical 24-14 upset of No. 2 Ohio State in the quarterfinals and a dramatic, last-minute comeback to beat No. 6 Ole Miss 31-27 in the semifinals.
Awaiting the Hurricanes is an Indiana team that has been historically dominant. The Hoosiers are the first team in CFP history to win two playoff games by 28-plus points -- and both victories came by more than 35. Indiana throttled No. 9 Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinals and dismantled No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl semifinals.
All that stands between Indiana and a perfect 15-0 season -- and the first national championship in program history -- is a Miami team riding an improbable playoff run. The Hurricanes have already dethroned two top-three seeds and will be unusually comfortable playing the sport's biggest game inside their home stadium.
Both teams arrive with electric defenses. Miami's dominant front and aggressive secondary have driven its postseason surge, while Indiana has controlled the line of scrimmage and smothered opposing offenses with relentless pursuit and execution.
Offensively, both units face stiff tests but enter with confidence following strong semifinal performances. Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza has shredded Alabama and Oregon, aided by an Indiana offensive line that has provided time and a deep receiving corps capable of winning downfield. Miami's offense did just enough in its first two games before opening things up against Ole Miss, as Carson Beck caught fire and freshman standout Malachi Toney continued to show why he's one of the sport's rising stars.
The championship will ultimately come down to which team can solve the other's defensive puzzle. Either way, Jan. 19 will crown a fresh champion: Indiana is seeking its first national title, while Miami is chasing its first in 24 years.
Below, you can stay updated with the College Football Playoff schedule as we move on to the national championship game.
2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule
All times Eastern
College Football Playoff National Championship
Monday, Jan. 20
- (1) Indiana vs. (10) Miami -- 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Hard Rock Stadium -- Miami Gardens, Fla.
2025-26 College Football Playoff scores, results
First round
Friday, Dec. 19
- (9) Alabama 34, (8) Oklahoma 24 | Recap
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium -- Norman, Oklahoma
Saturday, Dec. 20
- (10) Miami 10, (7) Texas A&M 3: | Recap
Kyle Field -- College Station, Texas - (6) Ole Miss 41, (11) Tulane 10 | Recap
Vaught-Hemingway Stadium -- Oxford, Mississippi - (5) Oregon 51, (12) James Madison 34 | Recap
Autzen Stadium -- Eugene, Oregon
Quarterfinals
- Cotton Bowl -- (10) Miami 24, (2) Ohio State 14 | Recap
AT&T Stadium -- Arlington, Texas - Orange Bowl -- (5) Oregon 23, (4) Texas Tech 0 | Recap
Hard Rock Stadium -- Miami Gardens, Fla. - Rose Bowl -- (1) Indiana 38, (9) Alabama 3 | Recap
Rose Bowl -- Pasadena, Calif. - Sugar Bowl (6) Ole Miss 39, (3) Georgia 34 | Recap
Caesars Superdome -- New Orleans
