Here's everything you need to know for the first round of College Football Playoff games, including TV channel and streaming options for each matchup.
Who plays in the College Football Playoff today? Full schedule, times, channels, streams for CFP first-round games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2025 College Football Playoff gets underway this weekend with a jam-packed schedule of highly anticipated matchups.
An all-SEC showdown kicks things off Friday, with No. 9 Alabama visiting No. 8 Oklahoma and looking for payback after the Sooners' win in Tuscaloosa last month.
Six squads will be going head-to-head Saturday, all looking to keep their season alive. The slate will kick off with No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami, followed by No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane and then No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison.
The winners of each game will punch their ticket to the quarterfinal round of major bowl games, where the top four seeds are awaiting their arrival. Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia and Texas Tech all received a first round bye.
Here's everything you need to know about the College Football Playoff games, including TV channel and streaming options for each matchup.
Who plays in the College Football Playoff today?
Friday, Dec. 19
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama | 8 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
Saturday, Dec. 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
|---|---|---|
| No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (FL) | 12 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, Fubo |
| No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane | 3:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
| No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, DIRECTV |
How to watch the College Football Playoff today: TV channel, live stream
The first matchup of the opening round — Oklahoma vs. Alabama— will be broadcast nationally on ABC and ESPN, along with Texas A&M vs. Miami on Saturday, and can be streamed on the ESPN app or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)
The last two games on Saturday will be shown on TNT and truTV, and cord-cutters can instead stream those matchups on DIRECTV.
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College Football Playoff 2025-26 schedule
Friday, Dec. 19
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP First Round | No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama | 8 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
Saturday, Dec. 20
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP First Round | No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) | Noon | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| CFP First Round | No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane | 3:30 p.m. | TNT, DIRECTV |
| CFP First Round | No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, DIRECTV |
Wednesday, Dec. 31
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP Quarterfinal (Cotton Bowl) | No. 2 Ohio State vs. Texas A&M/Miami (Fla.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Thursday, Jan. 1
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP Quarterfinal (Orange Bowl) | No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Oregon/JMU | Noon | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| CFP Quarterfinal (Rose Bowl) | No. 1 Indiana vs. Alabama/Oklahoma | 4 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| CFP Quarterfinal (Sugar Bowl) | No. 3 Georgia vs. Ole Miss/Tulane | 8 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Thursday, Jan. 8
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP Semifinal (Fiesta Bowl) | Cotton winner vs. Sugar winner | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Friday, Jan. 9
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP Semifinal (Peach Bowl) | Rose winner vs. Orange winner | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Monday, Jan. 19
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP National Championship | TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
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