The College Football Playoff will continue with its 12-team format, designed to offer a more inclusive and exciting postseason. After Ohio State won the initial CFP, the Buckeyes will look to defend their title in the 2025-2026 College Bowl Season’s CFP.

Key Features of the Format:

• Team Selection: The 12-team field consists of the six highest-ranked conference champions and the six highest-ranked teams not among those champions. ​

• Seeding and Byes: The four highest-ranked conference champions are seeded 1 through 4 and receive first-round byes. ​

• First-Round Games: Seeds 5 through 12 compete in first-round games hosted at the higher seed’s home field or another site chosen by the higher seed.

• Quarterfinals and Semifinals: These rounds are played at rotating bowl sites. ​

• Championship Game: The national championship continues to be held at a neutral site. ​

2025–2026 CFP Schedule:

• First Round: December 19–20, 2025​

• Quarterfinals:

  • December 31, 2025: Cotton Bowl

  • January 1, 2026: Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl​

• Semifinals:

  • January 8, 2026: Fiesta Bowl

  • January 9, 2026: Peach Bowl​

• National Championship: January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida ​

Bowl Game Adjustments

The expansion of the CFP has led to adjustments in the traditional bowl game schedule and locations:​

• Quarterfinal Hosts: The Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl will host the quarterfinal games for the 2025–2026 season. ​

• Semifinal Hosts: The Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl are designated as the semifinal venues. ​

These changes integrate the historic New Year’s Six bowls into the playoff structure, enhancing their significance in determining the national champion.​

Media Rights and Financial Implications

ESPN has secured exclusive rights to the College Football Playoff through 2031 under a $7.8 billion deal, averaging $1.3 billion annually. Starting in 2026, the national championship game will move to ABC. This agreement reflects the playoff’s growing scale and significance.​

Looking Ahead to the 2025-2026 Bowl Season

As the 2025–2026 season approaches, these changes promise to deliver a more dynamic and inclusive postseason, offering fans and teams alike an enhanced college football experience.​ As the Buckeyes look to defend their title, Alabama, Texas, Oregon and many other powerhouses continue to reload making the upcoming season one you will not want to miss!