2025 College Football Playoff schedule, dates, kickoff times and locations

The 2025 College Football Playoff will continue in its expanded 12-team format, following its initial implementation last year. This format change has significantly impacted team strategies in scheduling, roster management, and late-season performance, providing more teams with a chance to compete for the national title. The first College Football Playoff (CFP) Rankings of the season will be announced on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the final stretch towards Selection Sunday on December 7, when the playoff bracket will be finalized.

ESPN retains primary broadcast rights for nine of the 11 playoff games, with first-round matchups also airing on ABC and TNT Sports. The first-round games will take place on campus sites, granting higher seeds a home-field advantage. The top four seeds will receive byes into the quarterfinals, which, along with subsequent rounds, will be held at neutral New Year’s Six bowl locations. This new straight-seeding model replaces the previous system that guaranteed spots for conference champions.

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