How the college football national championship changed through the decades
Here's the schedule for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff. This is the second year the CFP is using a 12-team format. The bracket and matchups were announced on Sunday, Dec. 7.
BRACKET GAME: Check your picks in the College Football Bracket Challenge Game
Games are Dec. 19, 2025 to Jan. 19, 2026, with the first round on Dec. 19-20, quarterfinals on Dec. 31-Jan. 1, semifinals on Jan. 8-9 and finally the CFP National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Check out the full schedule below.
Here is the history of the College Football Playoff national championship game.
| Year (Game Date) |
Game | LOCATION |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20 | Arlington, Texas |
| 2016 | No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40 | Glendale, Ariz. |
| 2017 | No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31 | Tampa, Fla. |
| 2018 | No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23 | Atlanta, Ga. |
| 2019 | No. 2 Clemson 44, No. 1 Alabama 16 | Santa Clara, Calif. |
| 2020 | No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25 | New Orleans, La. |
| 2021 | No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24 | Miami Gardens, Fla. |
| 2022 | No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18 | Indianapolis, Ind. |
| 2023 | No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7 | Inglewood, Calif. |
| 2024 | No. 1 Michigan 34, No. 2 Washington 13 | Houston, Texas |
| 2025 | No. 8 Ohio State 34, No. 7 Notre Dame 23 | Atlanta, Ga. |
| 2026 | No. 1 Indiana 27, No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 21 | Miami Gardens, Fla. |
Future CFP National Championship Game locations
- 2027: Jan. 25 — Las Vegas
- 2028: Jan. 24 — New Orleans
- 2029: Jan. 22 — Tampa Bay
2024-25 College Football Playoff scores, results
- First round (Dec. 20-21)
- Friday, Dec. 20: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17
- Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10
- Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24
- Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17
- Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14
- Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (2OT)
- Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21
- Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10
- Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)
- Orange Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 6 Penn State 24
- Cotton Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 28, No. 5 Texas 14
- CFP National Championship
- No. 8 Ohio State 34, No. 7 Notre Dame 23 (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)
