For the 2025 season, the College Football Playoff runs from December 19, 2025 through January 19, 2026, under the 12‑team format.
Key dates
- First-round games are scheduled for Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20, 2025, and are played on campus sites.
- Quarterfinals are on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and Thursday, January 1, 2026, hosted by the Cotton, Orange, Rose, and Sugar Bowls.
- Semifinal games are on Thursday, January 8 and Friday, January 9, 2026, at the Fiesta and Peach Bowls.
- The College Football Playoff National Championship is Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
