The College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket for the 2025-26 season has been officially revealed, with some exciting matchups on the horizon. The quarterfinals are set to take place on December 31 and January 1, featuring the nation’s top teams as they vie for a national title.
Topping the bracket is Indiana, securing the No. 1 seed with an impressive 13-0 record. Following closely are No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia, and No. 4 Texas Tech, all of which received first-round byes based on their performances throughout the season. This setup highlights the strength of these programs, each boasting a solid record, with Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech all standing at 12-1.
The bracket was determined using the CFP selection committee’s final top 25 rankings, which were released on December 7. A noteworthy aspect of these rankings is that the top four teams, regardless of their conference standings, earn byes, while the five highest-ranked conference champions automatically qualify for the playoffs, even when they rank lower than non-champion teams.
Here are the current top 25 teams making up the playoff bracket:
1. Indiana: 13-0
2. Ohio State: 12-1
3. Georgia: 12-1
4. Texas Tech: 12-1
5. Oregon: 11-1
6. Ole Miss: 11-1
7. Texas A&M: 11-1
8. Oklahoma: 10-2
9. Alabama: 10-3
10. Miami (Fla.): 10-2
11. Notre Dame: 10-2
12. BYU: 11-2
13. Texas: 9-3
14. Vanderbilt: 10-2
15. Utah: 10-2
16. USC: 9-3
17. Arizona: 9-3
18. Michigan: 9-3
19. Virginia: 10-3
20. Tulane: 11-2
21. Houston: 9-3
22. Georgia Tech: 9-3
23. Iowa: 8-4
24. James Madison: 12-1
25. North Texas: 11-2
In this unique format, there will be no re-seeding after the initial rounds. Instead, the quarterfinals will be hosted at historic bowl sites: Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl, where the top four teams will be matched against one another based on their seedings.
Following the quarterfinals, the winners will advance to the semifinals held on January 8 and January 9 at either the Fiesta Bowl or the Peach Bowl. If the seeding plays out as expected, the Final Four will feature No. 1 against No. 4 and No. 2 against No. 3. The ultimate showdown for the national championship is set for January 19 in Miami.
As fans eagerly anticipate these matchups, the excitement surrounding this year’s College Football Playoff is sure to bring thrilling games and unforgettable moments in college football history.