This year’s Ohio State football team has done a fantastic job defending its College Football Playoff national championship from last season. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 1 in the initial CFP rankings of 2025, are undefeated, have two Heisman candidates, and have the best defense in the country. All of this after losing 14 players to the NFL draft last April.
But the job is not done. The Buckeyes should take care of business until they meet Michigan up in Ann Arbor and try to end the four-game losing streak, and if so, they are likely a lock to be in the 12-team CFP field again, no matter what happens against That Team Up North. In fact, barring an earth-shattering upset, it’s likely just a matter of seeding now.
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And, on that note, the College Football Playoff released the bracket and schedule of games for the upcoming playoff, and we thought that sure felt like important information for Buckeye Nation. Here’s how things line up for this year’s CFP.
|
DATE |
TIME (ET) |
GAME |
NETWORK |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Friday, Dec. 19 |
8 p.m. |
CFP First-Round Game |
ABC & ESPN |
|
Saturday, Dec. 20 |
Noon |
CFP First-Round Game |
ABC & ESPN |
|
3:30 p.m. |
CFP First-Round Game |
TNT, truTV & HBO Max |
|
|
7:30 p.m. |
CFP First-Round Game |
TNT, truTV & HBO Max |
|
|
Wednesday, Dec. 31 |
7:30 p.m. |
Playoff Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic |
ESPN |
|
Thursday, Jan. 1 |
Noon |
Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl |
ESPN |
|
4 p.m. |
Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential |
ESPN |
|
|
8 p.m. |
Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl |
ESPN |
|
|
Thursday, Jan. 8 |
7:30 p.m. |
Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl |
ESPN |
|
Friday, Jan. 9 |
7:30 p.m. |
Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl |
ESPN |
|
Monday, Jan. 19 |
7:30 p.m. |
College Football Playoff National Championship |
ESPN |
Interestingly enough, the first quarterfinal game will take place on New Year’s Eve, with the other three scheduled for New Year’s Day. Again, you have to believe at this point that Ohio State will get one of those first-round byes, but we’ll keep an eye on things as the landscape of the sport continues to take shape. Let’s hope that the Buckeyes will again make it all the way and be playing on Jan. 19 in Miami.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: College Football Playoff 2025-26 dates, TV schedule, bracket announced
