The NCAA playoff schedule kicks off tonight with No. 8 Oklahoma facing No. 9 Alabama in the first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The matchup airs at 8 p.m. ET from Norman, Oklahoma, with the winner advancing to face either No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia, or No. 4 Texas Tech in the quarterfinals. Three more first-round games follow tomorrow, setting the stage for an unprecedented playoff format.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Oklahoma enters as 1.5-point favorites against Alabama in the opening playoff game
- The 12-team playoff format features four first-round games on campus sites December 19-20
- Indiana (13-0), Ohio State (12-1), Georgia (12-1), and Texas Tech (12-1) receive first-round byes
- The national championship game takes place January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami
College Football Playoff First Round Matchups
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Three more games round out the first-round slate tomorrow, pitting No. 7 Texas A&M against No. 10 Miami at noon ET, followed by No. 6 Ole Miss versus No. 11 Tulane at 3:30 p.m. ET. The final first-round game features No. 5 Oregon taking on No. 12 James Madison at 7:30 p.m. ET tomorrow night.
All first-round games are played at campus sites, giving the higher seeds significant home-field advantage. The four winners from the opening round advance to the quarterfinals beginning December 31, where they’ll face the top-four seeds in a four-game tournament.
Playoff Seeding and Top Seeds
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Indiana earns the No. 1 seed with a perfect 13-0 record, making them title favorites entering the playoff. Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech round out the top four seeds, all with 12-1 records and critical bye weeks before facing first-round winners.
The five highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic playoff bids, including Oregon (Big Ten), Ole Miss (SEC), Texas A&M (SEC), Tulane (American), and James Madison (FCS). This format ensures champion representation while rewarding the strongest at-large candidates.
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 1 | Indiana | 13-0 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 12-1 |
| 3 | Georgia | 12-1 |
| 4 | Texas Tech | 12-1 |
| 5 | Oregon | 11-1 |
| 6 | Ole Miss | 11-1 |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 11-1 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 10-2 |
| 9 | Alabama | 10-3 |
| 10 | Miami | 10-2 |
| 11 | Tulane | 11-2 |
| 12 | James Madison | 12-1 |
Quarterfinals and Playoff Timeline
Quarterfinal matchups begin December 31 at the Cotton Bowl when Ohio State faces the Oklahoma-Alabama winner. Three additional quarterfinals follow on January 1 at the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl, respectively. These four bowl games compress the traditional New Year’s festivities into playoff action.
The two semifinal games occur on January 8 and 9 at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl. If seeds hold, the top seed would face the fourth seed while two and three square off. The final two teams advance to the championship game in Miami on January 19.
“This is the second year the CFP is using a 12-team format.”
— NCAA.com, Official Playoff Information
Oklahoma and Alabama Rivalry Context
Oklahoma enters tonight’s game with recent momentum against Alabama, having won both meetings in the past 13 months. The teams last faced off during a recent playoff preview, with the Sooners dominating their rival. Alabama famously defeated Oklahoma 45-34 in the 2018 playoff, but the Sooners have taken over the series of late.
Home-field advantage at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium provides the Sooners with critical support in this high-stakes opener. Alabama’s 10-3 record raises questions about whether the Crimson Tide can capture a third consecutive first-round win, particularly as an underdog.
Will the college football playoff favorites deliver on their seeds?
The top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers stand undefeated at 13-0 with expectations to reach the national championship game. Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech enter as co-favorites depending on sportsbook projections. Meanwhile, James Madison’s remarkable 12-1 season from the FCS level generates intrigue as a 12-seed capable of pulling off a historic upset.
The bracket sets up potential rematches and regional tournaments that will determine whether chalk dominates the 2025-26 season. Keep your eyes on tonight’s Oklahoma-Alabama game, as it’s only the beginning of what promises to be an unpredictable first round of college football’s expanded playoff.
Sources
- NCAA.com – Official College Football Playoff bracket and schedule
- ESPN – Live game coverage and betting odds
- CBSSports.com – Playoff predictions and analysis
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