Just four teams still have their eyes on a national championship, and it's been a long time coming for each.
There's been plenty of upsets in the 2026 College Football Playoff, from the defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes falling at the hands of the Miami Hurricanes, to the sixth-seeded Ole Miss Rebels going on a run to take down the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs.
The semifinal games include a pair of elite Big Ten squads going head-to-head, plus a matchup between an SEC squad with something to prove and a historic ACC power.
AllSportsPeople has a full breakdown of the updated CFP bracket, including the playoff schedule and how to watch the games.
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College Football Playoff bracket
Here's a look at the full bracket for the 2026 College Football Playoff:
First round
- Game 1: No. 5 Oregon def. No. 12 James Madison, 51-34
- Game 2: No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 11 Tulane, 41-10
- Game 3: No. 10 Miami def. No. 7 Texas A&M, 10-3
- Game 4: No. 9 Alabama def. No. 8 Oklahoma, 34-24
Quarterfinals
- Game 5: No. 1 Indiana def. No. 9 Alabama, 38-3
- Game 6: No. 10 Miami def. No. 2 Ohio State, 24-14
- Game 7: No. 6 Ole Miss def. No. 3 Georgia, 39-34
- Game 8: No. 5 Oregon def. No. 4 Texas Tech, 23-0
Semifinals
- Game 9: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon
- Game 10: No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami
National Championship
- Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner
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How was the CFP bracket determined?
Just one of the top-four seeds is still alive in the CFP, and the bracket was a bit different this year.
The bracket came together from the CFP Committee's design, as usual, but there were a few rule tweaks. This year, it was comprised of the five highest-ranked conference champions, with the remaining seven teams being the best of the rest as at-large bids. The top four teams received first-round byes.
Similar to 2024, teams are not reseeded in later rounds, so each team's path to the championship was already determined.
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College Football Playoff schedule
Semifinals
| Date | Bowl Game | Matchup | Location | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Thu., Jan. 8 | Fiesta Bowl | No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami | Glendale, Ariz. | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| Fri., Jan. 9 | Peach Bowl | No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 5 Oregon | Atlanta | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
National Championship
| Date | Bowl Game | Matchup | Location | Time (ET) | TV Channel |
| Mon., Jan. 19 | CFP National Championship | TBD | Miami | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
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TV Channels, live streams for the College Football Playoff
The remainder of the 2026 College Football Playoff games, including the semifinals and championship, will air on ESPN and be streamed on the ESPN App and Fubo.
Fubo carries ESPN in its channel lineup and is currently offering a free trial.
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When does the College Football Playoff end?
- Start date: Friday, December 19
- End date: Monday, January 19
The 2026 CFP began with first-round matchups on Dec. 19, and it will last one month in total.
There will be a 10-day break between the second semifinal game and the national championship, which is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.