The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship caps off the 2025-26 season. This marks the second year of the expanded 12-team playoff format, wrapping up in a primetime showdown under the lights in South Florida. The title game pits the winners of the CFP semifinals (scheduled for January 8-9, 2026) against each other for the national crown. Here’s everything you need to know about the big game, plus some early predictions as bowl season heats up.
2026 College Football Playoff National Championship Game Details
Here are the key details for the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship game for you.
- Date: Monday, January 19, 2026
- Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM ET
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, Florida
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN app, WatchESPN, Fubo
- Announcers (expected): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), with sideline reporters Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath
Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins and University of Miami Hurricanes, previously hosted the CFP National Championship in 2021 (Alabama def. Ohio State). It’s a proven big-game venue, having also staged multiple Super Bowls and the 2024 Copa América final.
Path to the Championship
The 12-team CFP bracket features:
- First Round: December 19-20, 2025 (on-campus sites)
- Quarterfinals: December 31, 2025 – January 1, 2026 (Fiesta, Peach, Rose, Sugar Bowls)
- Semifinals: January 8-9, 2026 (Orange and Cotton Bowls)
- National Championship: January 19, 2026
The top four seeds earn byes into the quarterfinals, while seeds 5-12 host first-round games.
Early Predictions
With the first-round games kicking off this week (Dec 19-20), it’s still wide open-but here are some early calls for who could hoist the trophy in Miami. Please do your own research.
- Favorite: Indiana (No. 1 seed with bye) – The Hoosiers have been dominant all season; a deep run feels likely if they avoid upsets.
- Dark Horse: Oregon (No. 5 seed) -The Ducks have the talent to upset higher seeds and make a surprise run.
- Potential Rematch: Watch for Alabama vs. a Big Ten powerhouse. Revenge angles could fuel a classic final.
- Championship Pick: Indiana over Texas Tech in a high-scoring affair. The Hoosiers’ balance edges the Red Raiders’ explosive offense. Predicted score: Indiana 38, Texas Tech 31.
(These are super-early, check back after the semifinals for updated picks!)
Free Printable CFP Resources
Download our free printables to track the action:
- 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket: Printable 12-Team PDF (Blank or filled with current seeds)
- Full CFP Pick’em Sheet PDF (Including championship tiebreakers)
More CFP & Bowl Resources on SportsBrackets.net
- Full 2025-26 College Football Bowl Schedule: Printable PDF & TV Grid (Updated regularly)
- CFP First-Round Dec 19-20: Schedule, Pick’em & Predictions
- Bowl Games Dec 24-30: Schedule, Pick’em & Predictions
- All Bowl Pick’em Sheets & Confidence Pools
- Full Bowl Predictions: All 42 Games
The playoff is just getting started—stay tuned for updates, results, and more as we march toward Miami!
