College Football Playoff 2025: How It Works, Selection Process, and Full Schedule

The 2014 season marked the start of the College Football Playoff era. Four teams were chosen to compete in the playoffs for the first ten years, which included two semifinal matches and a national championship game. Here is the updated, extended format to be aware of beginning in the 2024–25 season:

• 12 teams will be selected to the Playoff field, with the selection committee’s five highest-ranked conference champions earning automatic bids
• The four highest-ranked teams regardless of conference champion status will receive the top four seeds in the playoff and a first-round bye.
  • In the inaugural 12-team playoff in 2024, the four highest-ranked conference champions were seeded 1-4 and each will received a first-round bye
• Teams seeded 5-12 will play each other in the first round on the home field of the higher-ranked team

The six bowls that alternate between the quarterfinals and semifinals are Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar. Around the New Year’s holiday, both semifinals will take place, and at least a week later, the national championship game will take place on a Monday night. The CFP schedule for the first two years is shown below.

2025-26 College Football Playoff round-by-round schedule

• First round | Week of Saturday, Dec. 20
  • Location: the home field of the higher-seeded team or another site designated by the higher-seeded program.
  • One game | Friday, Dec. 19
  • Three games | Saturday, Dec. 20
• Quarterfinal sites:
  • Cotton Bowl | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  • Orange Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 12 p.m. | ESPN
  • Rose Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 4 p.m. | ESPN
  • Sugar Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 | 8 p.m. | ESPN
• Semifinal sites:
  • Fiesta Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
  • Peach Bowl  | Friday, Jan. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
• CFP National Championship Game:
  • Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 (in Miami, Florida) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Here is everything you need to know about the postseason schedule that was created by Notre Dame’s athletic director and the commissioners of the 11 major college football conferences.

Who makes the rankings for the College Football Playoffs?

The CFP selection committee consists of thirteen individuals. It is made up of individuals who have worked as journalists, coaches, athletes, college administrators, and athletic directors.

A proposal for a new 12-team College Football Playoff was endorsed by a committee of university presidents. The College Football Playoff Board of Managers decided in 2024 to change the 12-team CFP field’s start to a 5-7 format starting with the 2024–25 season.

How often are the rankings revealed?

To create rankings, the members of the Selection Committee will convene once a week. ESPN will reveal the ranks of the committee. This is the 2025–2026 season schedule:

• 8-8:45 p.m. | ET Tuesday, Nov. 4
• 7-8 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Nov. 11
• 8:30-9 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Nov. 18
• 7-8 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Nov. 25
• 7-7:30 p.m. ET | Tuesday, Dec. 2
• 12-3 p.m. ET | Sunday, Dec. 7 (Selection Day)

How will teams be ranked by the committee?

According to the CFP website: “The selection committee ranks the teams based on the members’ evaluation of the teams’ performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and comparison of results against common opponents to decide among teams that are comparable.”

How is the voting process carried out?

According to the CFP website, it begins like this: “Each committee member will create a list of the 30 teams he or she believes to be the best in the country, in no particular order. Teams listed by three or more members will remain under consideration. At the conclusion of any round, other teams can be added to the group of teams under consideration by a vote of three or more members.” You can read about each step here.

When and where do the games take place?

According to the CFP, “College Football Playoff Semifinal games rotate among the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Game, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl.”