College Football Playoff bracket: Updated schedule, results, scores for 2026 CFP semifinals

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College Football Playoff bracket: Updated schedule, results, scores for 2026 CFP semifinals originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Just two teams still have their eyes on a national championship.

The two 2026 College Football Playoff semifinal games had much different results, as the Miami Hurricanes first pulled out a thrilling win over the Ole Miss Rebels in the Fiesta Bowl. Mario Cristobal’s squad will be playing for its first title since 2001, and the Hurricanes will also have a chance to win it in their home territory.

In the Peach Bowl, however, the Indiana Hoosiers flat-out dominated the Oregon Ducks. Curt Cignetti’s squad remained unbeaten to advance to the CFP championship, where the Hoosiers will attempt to complete a perfect 16-0 season.

There have plenty of upsets in the 2026 College Football Playoff, from the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes falling at the hands of Miami, to sixth-seeded Ole Miss going on a run to take down the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs. Now, both national championship squads are locked in, as Miami and Indiana will go head-to-head for the title.

The Sporting News has a full breakdown of the updated CFP bracket, including the playoff schedule and how to watch the games. 

MORE:Indiana vs. Oregon results, highlights from College Football Playoff semifinals

College Football Playoff bracket

Here’s a look at the full bracket for the 2026 College Football Playoff:

First round

• Game 1: No. 5 Oregon def. No. 12 James Madison, 51-34
• Game 2: No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 11 Tulane, 41-10
• Game 3: No. 10Miami def. No. 7 Texas A&M, 10-3
• Game 4: No. 9 Alabama def. No. 8 Oklahoma, 34-24

Quarterfinals

• Game 5: No. 1 Indiana def. No. 9 Alabama, 38-3
• Game 6: No. 10 Miami def. No. 2 Ohio State, 24-14
• Game 7: No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 3 Georgia, 39-34
• Game 8: No. 5 Oregon def. No. 4 Texas Tech, 23-0

Semifinals

• Game 9: No. 10 Miami def. No. 6 Ole Miss, 31-27
• Game 10: No. 1 Indiana def. No. 5 Oregon, 56-22

National Championship

• Game 11: No. 10 Miami vs. No. 1 Indiana

SN AWARDS: 2025 All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year

How was the CFP bracket determined?

Just one of the top-four seeds is still alive in the CFP, and the bracket was a bit different this year.

The bracket came together from the CFP Committee’s design, as usual, but there were a few rule tweaks. This year, it was comprised of the five highest-ranked conference champions, with the remaining seven teams being the best of the rest as at-large bids. The top four teams received first-round byes.

Similar to 2024, teams are not reseeded in later rounds, so each team’s path to the championship was already determined. 

MORE: Who were bowl season’s biggest winners and losers?

College Football Playoff schedule

Semifinals

National Championship

MORE: Ranking the four remaining CFP teams

TV Channels, live streams for the College Football Playoff

• TV Channels: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN App, Fubo

The remainder of the 2026 College Football Playoff games, including the semifinals and championship, will air on ESPN and be streamed on the ESPN App and Fubo.

Fubo carries ESPN in its channel lineup and is currently offering a free trial. 

SN’s PLAYOFF HQ:Live CFP scores | Updated CFP bracket | Full CFP schedule

When does the College Football Playoff end?

• Start date: Friday, December 19
• End date: Monday, January 19

The 2026 CFP began with first-round matchups on Dec. 19, and it will last one month in total.

There will be a 10-day break between the second semifinal game and the national championship, which is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Miami and Indiana will be playing for the title.

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