The Rose Bowl is one of the most iconic bowl games in college football history. Its pageantry and tradition make it one of the sport’s crown jewels.
Now part of the 12-team College Football Playoff, the Rose Bowl will host a quarterfinal matchup each year. Despite the new playoff format, the game is expected to remain an integral part of the postseason for years to come.
Here’s a look at who will play in the 2026 Rose Bowl and how the winner’s path to the national title could unfold.
NCAAF HQ: Live NCAAF scores | Updated CFP rankings | Full NCAAF schedule
College football playoff bracket
Who plays in the Rose Bowl?
The Rose Bowl will feature the No. 1–seeded Indiana Hoosiers, who are set to face the winner of No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma. Indiana earned the top seed in the College Football Playoff and a first-round bye after defeating previously unbeaten Ohio State 13-10 in the Big Ten championship game. The win also delivered the program’s first Big Ten title since 1967.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround under head coach Curt Cignetti, who brought his winning formula from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Elon and James Madison to Bloomington. Indiana owns a 507-691-38 all-time record dating back to 1899, but in just two seasons, Cignetti has guided the Hoosiers to a 24-2 mark.
The winner of Indiana vs. Alabama/Oklahoma will advance to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, where it will face the winner of No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison and No. 4 Texas Tech.
MORE: Watch Fernando Mendoza’s emotional Heisman acceptance speech
When is the Rose Bowl?
The Rose Bowl will be played on New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2026 at 4 p.m. ET.
Where is the Rose Bowl?
The Rose Bowl has been played in Pasadena, Calif., every year since 1923. The stadium sits among the San Gabriel Mountains, creating a picturesque venue for college football. The sun setting over the stadium is one of the most iconic images in the sport.
MORE: Why Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman over Vandy's Diego Pavia
College football playoff schedule 2025
Dec. 19
| Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| First-Round CFP game | Alabama vs. Oklahoma | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
Dec. 20
| Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| First-Round CFP game | Miami vs. Texas A&M | 12 p.m. | TNT |
| First-Round CFP game | Tulane vs. Ole Miss | 4 p.m. | TNT |
| First-Round CFP game | James Madison vs. Oregon | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
Dec. 31
| Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| Cotton Bowl Classic (quarterfinal) | TBD vs. Ohio State | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Jan. 1
| Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| Capital One Orange Bowl (quarterfinal) | Texas Tech vs. TBD | 12 p.m. | ESPN |
| Rose Bowl Game (quarterfinal) | Indiana vs. TBD | 4 p.m. | ESPN |
| Allstate Sugar Bowl (quarterfinal) | Georgia vs. TBD | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
Jan. 8
| Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (semifinal) | TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Jan. 9
| Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (semifinal) | TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Jan. 19
| Game | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| CFP National championship | TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
MORE: College football picks for 2025 CFP first-round games |