College Football Playoff Schedule, Odds, First Round Matchups And Stats
Summary
The 2025-26 college football postseason features 36 bowl games plus an expanded 11-game College Football Playoff. The playoff begins on December 19th with first-round matchups hosted by higher seeds, including Oklahoma vs. Alabama and Texas A&M vs. Miami. The schedule continues through the quarterfinals on New Year’s Eve and Day, semifinals in early January, and concludes with the national championship in Miami on January 19th.
Betting information and analysis is provided for the key games. Early wagering data shows strong support for favorites Oregon and Ole Miss, while the Miami-Texas A&M game is expected to be close. The summary also includes insights on quarterback transfers and previews each first-round contest, noting factors like coaching changes and team strengths that could influence outcomes.
Following “America’s Game” and Navy’s 17-16 win over Army, the 2025-26 bowl season includes 36 bowl games plus 11 additional College Football Playoff games to fill the holiday and New Year with daily College Football coverage and watch and wager action.
The College Football Playoff schedule kicks off Dec. 19 and 20 with first round games at home sites of top SEC teams Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Mississippi and Oregon in the Big Ten.
BetOnline has all the spreads, totals and moneylines on the matchups, and best bets for the biggest games including the College Football National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami. The CFP Quarterfinals are Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 followed by the Semifinals Jan. 8 and 9.
Check out the quarterback ratings, profiles and stats for the key players in the most watched and wagered games during the College Football Playoff and Bowl season.
College Football Playoff Schedule With Watch And Wager Info
Betting lines and college football odds from BetOnline refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live/in-game betting. Current points spread on favorites, plus game totals.
Friday, Dec. 19
- No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama (-1), 40.5 | 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
Sat., Dec. 20
- No. 7 Texas A&M (-3.5) vs. No. 10 Miami, 51.5 | 12 p.m. on ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN
- No. 6 Ole Miss (-17.5) vs. No. 11 Tulane, 56.5 | 3:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
- No. 5 Oregon (-21) vs. No. 12 James Madison, 49 | 7:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
Early Betting Data First Round College Football Playoff
Leading online sportsbook BetOnline reports the following betting data and splits ahead of the four first round College Football Playoff games with a majority of the betting action coming 24 hours before each contest. Percentages reflect handle, or money bet.
- 65% on Oregon -21, 92% on under
- 92% on Ole Miss -17.5, 56% on over
- 55% on Miami +3.5, 89% on under
- About 50% each on Alabama and Oklahoma, 76% on under
BetOnline also has special futures and prop bets including which of the four first round CFP games will be the highest scoring contest.
- +115: Tulane-Ole Miss
- +225: Miami-Texas A&M
- +300: James Madison-Oregon
- +1600: Alabama-Oklahoma
Alabama (10-3) had an impressive run midseason beating Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee – all top 20 teams at the time. The Tide then escaped at South Carolina 29-22 scoring 2 TD’s plus a 2-point conversion in the final 2 minutes while struggling on offense until then and getting out-gained by the Gamecocks. Alabama’s running game ranked last in the SEC this season averaging 104 yards per game including just 78 rushing yards per game over their last three contests vs. FBS opponents. That included against Oklahoma (10-2) in a 23-21 Alabama loss as a touchdown favorite with three costly turnovers. The Crimson Tide did outgain the Sooners and their elite, top defense 406-312. A loss to Georgia 28-7 in the SEC Championship Game leaves more questions about the Crimson Tide offense after gaining just 210 net yards on 11 first downs. But Oklahoma’s offense has scored just 17 points against both Missouri and LSU in low-scoring wins since beating Alabama while struggling to run the ball themselves with QB John Mateer not his normal self since suffering a hand injury halfway through the season.
A competitive contest to kickoff Saturday with more balanced offenses and defenses between Texas A&M (12-1) and Miami (10-2). The Aggies only loss came in the regular season finale and rivalry game against Texas, 27-17. The Hurricanes only lost one fumble all season and can match the Aggies along the lines and with future NFL-caliber talent on offense and defense. In fact, the Hurricanes are the only team in the country to rank top 5 in both offensive and defensive line unit grades by Pro Football Focus (PFF). Miami’s only two losses were when QB Carson Beck threw six total interceptions against Louisville and SMU in 3 and 6 point defeats. Texas A&M only had three takeaways in their final seven games and nine all season while the Aggies offense lost the ball 11 times over their last five games. Quarterback Marcel Reed has the mobility and elusiveness edge at quarterback, but he tossed 10 interceptions this season including two against Texas and two more against South Carolina at home in a miracle comeback win, 31-30.
The Ole Miss (11-1) versus Tulane (11-2) game is a rematch of the Rebels 45-10 win over the Green Wave in September. While Tulane was held to a season-low 282 yards offense including some garbage time against backups, the Green Wave defense allowed a season-high 548 in defeat. But situations have changed considerably since and most recently with Ole Miss head coach leaving to take the LSU coaching vacancy and Kiffin won’t coach this CFP game. The media scrutiny and chaos surrounding the program and coaching change is a distraction, and plenty of Ole Miss players are entering the transfer portal. Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall will coach his team in this contest despite also accepting the Florida head coaching position. Tulane’s defense was able to force five turnovers against the high-powered North Texas attack in the Green Wave’s 34-21 win to capture the American Athletic Conference championship. If the Tulane defense performs well again, the passing attack can keep the Green Wave within striking distance.
Both Oregon (11-1) and James Madison (12-1) feature stronger, balanced offenses with the Ducks averaging 461 yards per game at 6.9 yards per play (215 rush, 246 pass) and Dukes 448 yards per game at 6.3 yards per play (241 rush, 207 pass). Oregon holds the edges with the superior strength of schedule while winning their last six games versus Big Ten opponents and 3-0 ATS their final three games with double-digit wins over Minnesota, USC and Washington while scoring 42 points in two of those home games. The Ducks running game is dominant with various attacks in zone or counter rushing and PFF’s No. 1 ranked rushing rate at 6.2 yards per rush (5.7 vs FBS) with JMU No. 2. But James Madison’s schedule ranks outside the top 100, and the Dukes lost their only game against a Power Four school, 28-14 at Louisville in September. JMU head coach Bob Chesney will coach the Dukes through the CFP and has accepted the same position at UCLA. This game total looks too low, as JMU quarterback has a top 10 PFF grade since Week 8 and he’ll be taking shots down field while likely playing from behind and JMU’s stronger run game will be slowed by the Ducks dominant defense and front seven. With prop bets more popular and breaking news affecting market efficiency, there may be a good opportunity to cash in on Oregon’s team total over 34.5 points in this first round matchup.
Top QB Transfer Portal Odds
Also note that the transfer portal is just starting to heat up and the players portal window opens Jan. 2, 2026 and closes Jan. 16. Four College Football Playoff teams are among the leading favorites to land 3-4 top quarterbacks entering the portal, according to odds at BetOnline.
- Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola is favored to go to Oregon (2/1), Miami (3/1) or Alabama (4/1).
- Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby could also follow the big (oil) NIL money and end up at favored Texas Tech (5/2) or Miami (3/1).
- Florida QB DJ Lagway could end up at Miami (4/1) or Texas Tech (5/1) as well if the NIL money/offer is right with Baylor (3/1) and LSU (7/2) slightly favored.
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Dec. 31
- No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami winner | Cotton Bowl | 7:30 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
Thursday, Jan. 1
- No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison winner | Orange Bowl | 12 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
- No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama winner | Rose Bowl | 4 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
- No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane winner | Sugar Bowl | 8 p.m. on ESPN, WatchESPN
Semifinals
Thursday, Jan. 8
- Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
Friday, Jan. 9
- Peach Bowl (Atlanta) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Monday, Jan. 19
- Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN
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