The college football regular season has come and gone and even the conference championships are behind us. What lies ahead, is a very meaningless bowl season, and a 12 team tournament involving handpicked teams from the CFP committee. Let’s take a look at who made the field, as well as some of the matchups and betting odds for the opening rounds contests.
12 Team College Football Playoff Bracket
The Field of 12 is set for the College Football Playoff
In regards to the bracket, there really isn’t too much to be surprised about. Once conference championship Saturday was over, it seemed fairly cut and dry. The top eight were in, along with two spots for the G5 conference winners, who ended up being the fourth and fifth highest ranked conference champions, thanks to Virginia losing the ACC. That essentially left two spots for the following four teams: Alabama, Notre Dame, BYU, and Miami, who mind you, came into the weekend ranked as such.
Alabama and BYU both lost their conference championships, while Notre Dame and Miami sat at home. Somehow, the geniuses on the committee decided to punish BYU for losing, thus dropping them behind the Hurricanes. Okay fine, but what about Alabama? Wouldn’t they drop too? BYU, North Texas, Virginia, and even Ohio State, all dropped in the rankings following their conference championship loss. Shouldn’t Alabama get knocked below the Irish, acting as a new buffer in between them and the Hurricanes?
Nope. That would make too much sense.
Instead, BYU drops, Alabama stays stagnant, giving us Notre Dame and Miami side by side in the rankings. Anyone with a brain will tell you that the head to head matchup has to come into play at this point, letting the Canes jump into the playoff and sneak in behind Alabama. After leading the Irish on every single week with their rankings, in the end, the committee makes up their own rules in order to handpick teams for their postseason invitational. Something needs to change next year, but regardless, this is where we stand for this season’s CFP.
College Football Playoff Round One Matchups
Can John Mateer and the Sooners beat Alabama twice this year?
#9 Alabama (PK) vs. #8 Oklahoma: 40.5
- Venue & Location: Memorial Stadium (Norman, OK)
- Date: Friday, December 19, 2025
- Kick Off: 8:00 p.m. eastern
- Broadcast: ABC/ESPN
The Tide are a short road favorite in this rematch against the Sooners on the road, the only SEC team to beat them during the regular season. Despite some not thinking they are worthy, here they are as a favorite in the opening round of the CFP. The winner will face the No. 1 ranked Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day.
Carson Beck and the Hurricanes snuck their way into the College Football Playoff
#10 Miami (+3.5) vs. #7 Texas A&M: 51.5
- Venue & Location: Kyle Field (College Station, TX)
- Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
- Kick Off: 12:00 p.m. eastern
- Broadcast: ABC/ESPN
The Hurricanes are getting a little over a field goal against the Aggies who are coming off their only loss of the season. Both teams beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this season and now the winner of this contest heads to the Cotton Bowl to take on the Big Ten Runner Ups and defending National Champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels have a rematch against Tulane in the first round of the CFP
#11 Tulane (+16.5) vs. #6 Ole Miss: 56.5
- Venue & Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, MS)
- Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
- Kick Off: 3:30 p.m. eastern
- Broadcast: TNT/truTV
A rematch between the Green Wave and Rebels who already played once this season. Will Ole Miss win by 35 again at home without Lane Kiffin guiding them? Jon Sumrall is also moving on from Tulane, but he will at least be coaching the Green Wave in this matchup. A date with the No. 3 ranked Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl is on the line.
Dan Lanning and the Ducks are looking for redemption after losing as the No. 1 overall seed in last year’s CFP
#12 James Madison (+20.5) vs. #5 Oregon: 50.5
- Venue & Location: Autzen Stadium (Eugene, OR)
- Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. eastern
- Broadcast: TNT/tru TV
The Dukes are the last team in as the fifth highest rated conference champion. Now they play the Ducks and Dan Lanning in Eugene. Whoever comes out on top heads to the Orange Bowl to face the Big 12 Champion Texas Tech Red Raiders in the CFP Quarterfinals.
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