College Football Playoff bracket: Semifinals field, scores and schedule

How the 12-team College Football Playoff field shapes the national championship race

By Carter Bahns

& Cody Nagel

Jan 9, 2026 at 12:17 am ET • 2 min read

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Only three teams remain standing in the race for the national championship.

The College Football Playoff semifinals kicked off in style with Miami edging Ole Miss in an instant classic. The Hurricanes dominated the game on both lines of scrimmage, but the Rebels looked poised to steal a win in the Fiesta Bowl after Trinidad Chambliss led his team down the field to take a 27-24 lead with just over three minutes remaining.

It turned out to be far too much time for Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck. The sixth-year senior drove down the field with a series of big throws, then capped off a drive that will live in Miami lore with a 3-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds on the clock.

As if two late go-ahead touchdown drives weren't enough, Ole Miss treated fans to a thrilling finish by marching down to the Hurricanes' 31-yard line for one final heave into the end zone. Chambliss' pass fell incomplete (not without some controversy of its own) and the Hurricanes were finally free to celebrate their first national title game appearance since 2002.

Friday promises even more fun when Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza meets Dante Moore again in a compelling rematch. Both the Ducks and Hoosiers advanced to the penultimate round by way of convincing victories. Their blowout wins over No. 4 Texas Tech and No. 9 Alabama, respectively, made them appear as the top two contenders to win the championship. On the other side of the bracket, the Rebels and Hurricanes both toppled blue-blood opponents in the previous round and planted their flag as worthy title hopefuls.

There is a lot of new blood left in the bracket. Oregon is the only team of the bunch to have played in the national semifinals. Indiana, like Oregon, is in search of its first national championship.

Below, you'll find all the viewing information for every game all the way through to the CFP National Championship.

2025-26 College Football Playoff bracket

All times Eastern

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

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Cotton Bowl -- (10) Miami 24, (2) Ohio State 14 | Recap
AT&T Stadium -- Arlington, Texas

Thursday, Jan. 1

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