When do College Football Playoffs start? How to watch first round
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The College Football Playoff is ready to kick off a month-long run that will culminate in the national championship game on Jan. 19.
For the second consecutive year, the playoffs will feature 12 teams, with the top four getting byes to the quarterfinals, which will incorporate bowls. Everyone else opens this weekend, with Oklahoma and Alabama beginning the playoffs on Friday, Dec. 19.
When are College Football Playoffs games?
The Alabama vs Oklahoma College Football Playoff first-round game is on Friday, Dec. 19.
The Miami vs. Texas A&M, Tulane vs. Ole Miss, and James Madison vs. Oregon games are on Saturday, Dec. 20.
What times are the CFP first-round games?
The Alabama-Oklahoma game on Dec. 19 begins at 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT.
The Dec. 20 games start with Miami-Texas A&M at 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT, with Tulane-Ole Miss at 1:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. CT and James Madison-Oregon at 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT.
College football TV schedule
- No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2), 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT, Friday, Dec. 19, ABC, ESPN (stream with FUBO)
- No. 10 Miami (10-2) at No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1), 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT, Saturday, Dec. 20, ABC, ESPN (stream with FUBO)
- No. 11 Tulane (11-2) at No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1), 1:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. CT, Saturday, Dec. 20, TNT, truTV (stream with Sling)
- No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon (11-1), 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT, Saturday, Dec. 20, TNT, truTV (stream with Sling)
No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2)
6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT, Friday, Dec. 19, ABC, ESPN (stream with FUBO)
No. 10 Miami (10-2) at No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1)
10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT, Saturday, Dec. 20, ABC, ESPN (stream with FUBO)
No. 11 Tulane (11-2) at No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1)
1:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. CT, Saturday, Dec. 20, TNT, truTV (stream with Sling)
No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at No. 5 Oregon (11-1)
5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT, Saturday, Dec. 20, TNT, truTV (stream with Sling)
College Football Playoff bracket 2025
THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE 2025-26 PLAYOFF 🏈🏆#CFBPlayoffpic.twitter.com/GPoYiE5YmQ
— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) December 7, 2025
College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchups
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Cotton Bowl (Game 5): No. 2 Ohio State vs. Winner of No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami | 5:30 p.m. MT/6:30 p.m. CT | ESPN
Thursday, Jan. 1
Orange Bowl (Game 6): No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Winner of No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison | 10 a.m. MT/11 a.m. CT | ESPN
Rose Bowl (Game 7): No. 1 Indiana vs. Winner of No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama | 2 p.m. MT/3 p.m. CT | ESPN
Sugar Bowl (Game 8): No. 3 Georgia vs. Winner of No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane | 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT | ESPN
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: When do College Football Playoffs start? How to watch
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