The 2025-26 College Football Playoff is heating up! After an exciting first round where underdogs like Miami, Oregon, Ole Miss, and Alabama pulled off impressive wins, we’re down to the elite eight. The quarterfinals kick off on New Year’s Eve with one blockbuster game, followed by a New Year’s Day tripleheader featuring three historic bowl games.
All games will be broadcast on ESPN (with streaming on ESPN+ and the ESPN app). Here’s your complete guide to the action, including the full schedule grid, current betting odds (as of Dec. 30 from DraftKings and consensus lines), key storylines, our expert predictions, and links to free printable brackets.
2025-26 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Schedule Grid
Here’s the 2025-26 college football playoff quarterfinals schedule grid for you.
| Bowl Game | Date & Time (ET) | Matchup | Location | TV/Streaming | Spread (Favorite) | Over/Under |
| Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic | Wednesday, Dec. 31 – 7:30 p.m. | No. 10 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes | AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX) | ESPN | Ohio State -9.5 | 40.5 |
| Capital One Orange Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 – Noon | No. 5 Oregon Ducks vs. No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL) | ESPN | Oregon -2.5 | ~55 |
| Rose Bowl Game | Thursday, Jan. 1 – 4:00 p.m. | No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers | Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA) | ESPN | Indiana -7 | ~48.5 |
| Allstate Sugar Bowl | Thursday, Jan. 1 – 8:00 p.m. | No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels vs. No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs | Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, LA) | ESPN | Georgia -7 | ~56.5 |
Game-by-Game Previews, Predictions & Picks
1. Cotton Bowl: No. 10 Miami vs. No. 2 Ohio State (-9.5)
Miami stormed into the quarterfinals with a gritty road win, proving the committee right for including them as the last team in. Their elite defense, led by playmakers like Rueben Bain Jr., shut down a high-powered offense in the first round. Ohio State, fresh off a bye, boasts one of the nation’s top defenses and a potent passing attack.
Key Storyline: Can Miami’s speed and physicality disrupt Ohio State’s rhythm after the long layoff? The Buckeyes are 10-3 ATS this season but face a Hurricanes team playing with house money.
Prediction: Ohio State wins a low-scoring battle, but Miami covers the spread. Pick: Miami +9.5 | Projected Score: Ohio State 24, Miami 17
2. Orange Bowl: No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (-2.5 for Oregon)
Oregon looked dominant in their first-round rout, with their high-flying offense clicking despite some coaching turnover news. Texas Tech, in the playoff for the first time after winning the Big 12, rides momentum but faces a Ducks team that’s won every prior meeting in the series.
Key Storyline: Texas Tech’s home-field advantage in the bracket vs. Oregon’s explosive playmakers. This could be the highest-scoring game of the round.
Prediction: Oregon pulls away in the second half. Pick: Oregon -2.5 | Projected Score: Oregon 38, Texas Tech 31
3. Rose Bowl: No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana (-7)
In a new-era matchup, undefeated Indiana – the No. 1 overall seed – hosts Alabama in the historic Rose Bowl. The Crimson Tide survived a comeback in the first round, while the Hoosiers enjoyed a bye as the top team.
Key Storyline: Alabama’s pedigree vs. Indiana’s perfect season. The Hoosiers are favorites, signaling massive respect for their dominant campaign.
Prediction: Indiana stays unbeaten behind a balanced attack. Pick: Indiana -7 | Projected Score: Indiana 31, Alabama 20
4. Sugar Bowl: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Georgia (-7)
A rematch of Georgia’s earlier regular-season win over Ole Miss. The Rebels exploded in the first round, while Georgia’s defense remains elite under Kirby Smart.
Key Storyline: Revenge for Ole Miss in an SEC showdown. This could be the most physical game of the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Georgia’s experience prevails in a close one. Pick: Ole Miss +7 | Projected Score: Georgia 30, Ole Miss 27
Printable CFP Bracket & Resources
Download your free updated 12-team CFP bracket (with quarterfinals filled in) here:
- Printable 2025-26 College Football Playoff Bracket PDF (Blank and pre-filled versions available)
- Full 2025-26 Bowl Schedule + Playoff Grid – One-page printable with all games through Jan. 19
Here’s the printable 2025-26 College Football Playoff Bracket for you too.
For more bowl picks, predictions, and printables (including pick’em sheets and confidence pools), check our 2025-26 College Football Bowl Hub.
