2025 College Football Playoff: Updated Bracket, Final Rankings and Full Schedule

And then there were two.

The 2025 college football season began with 136 FBS programs dreaming of a chance at championship glory. After months of shocking upsets, heated rivalries and a flurry of coach firings, the postseason is here, and the first three rounds have come and gone. Just two teams remain in the hunt to claim a national championship in the second edition of the College Football Playoff 12-team bracket.

On Thursday night, No. 10 Miami—after wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State in the opening two rounds—defeated No. 6 Ole Miss 31–27 at the Fiesta Bowl to advance to the national championship. The following night, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and No. 1 Indiana bulldozed their way past No. 5 Oregon 56–22 in the Peach Bowl to set up a matchup against the Hurricanes for the title.

As the 2025 College Football Playoff continues, here’s a look at the final CFP rankings and the updated bracket and schedule. The race to the national championship in Miami Gardens nears its conclusion:

2025 College Football Playoff final rankings

The College Football Playoff selection committee announced the final rankings Dec. 7 on the CFP Selection Show. Here they are:

Indiana (13–0)
Ohio State (9–0)
Georgia (12–1)
Texas Tech (12–1)
Oregon (11–1)
Ole Miss (11–1)
Texas A&M (11–1)
Oklahoma (10–2)
Alabama (10–3)
Miami (10–2)
Notre Dame (10–2)
BYU (11–2)
Texas (9–3)
Vanderbilt (10–2)
Utah (10–2)
USC (9–3)
Arizona (9–3)
Michigan (9–3)
Virginia (10–3)
Tulane (11–2)
Houston (9–3)
Georgia Tech (9–3)
Iowa (8–4)
James Madison (12–1)
North Texas (11–2)

(Note: Teams in bold were selected to the 12-team playoff.)

2025 College Football Playoff bracket

The second 12-team bracket in CFP history was officially announced Dec. 7 during ESPN’s CFP Selection Show.

The four highest-ranked teams—No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Texas Tech—earned a first-round bye and played their first CFP games in the quarterfinals.

The five automatic bids went to the five highest-ranked conference champions in the latest CFP rankings: No. 1 Indiana (Big Ten), No. 3 Georgia (SEC), No. 4 Texas Tech (Big 12), No. 20 Tulane (American) and No. 24 James Madison (Sun Belt).

The seven at-large bids went to four SEC programs (No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 Alabama), two Big Ten teams (No. 2 Ohio State, No. 5 Oregon) and No. 10 Miami, the ACC’s lone representative.

Here’s the full bracket heading into the national championship:

CFP bracket — The 2025 College Football Playoff bracket heading into the national championship. | Sports Illustrated

RELATED: 2025 College Football Playoff Bracket Revealed: SI Experts Predict Every Matchup

2025 College Football Playoff: Full schedule

CFP First-Round Games

Friday, Dec. 19

Game 1: No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24 | Story: Flawed but Fighting Alabama Answers Doubters With a Stunning CFP Comeback Win

Saturday, Dec. 20

Game 2: No. 10 Miami 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3 | Story: Mario Cristobal Built a Contender at Miami—Can He Coach It to a Title?
Game 3: No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10 | Story: Life After Lane Kiffin Begins With CFP Statement for Ole Miss, Pete Golding
Game 4: No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34 | Story: College Football World Had a Lot to Say As Tulane, James Madison Got Demolished in CFP

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Cotton Bowl: No. 10 Miami 24, No. 2 Ohio State 14 | Story: Miami Closes a 23-Year Wound By Finally Slaying Its Ohio State Demon

Thursday, Jan. 1

Orange Bowl: No. 5 Oregon 23, No. 4 Texas Tech 0 | Story: Dan Lanning Calls for College Football Playoff Change Even After Oregon’s Big Win
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana 38, No. 9 Alabama 3 | Story: Indiana Continues Power Shift With Historic Rose Bowl Beatdown of Alabama
Sugar Bowl: No. 6 Ole Miss 39, No. 3 Georgia 34 | Story: Ole Miss Moves on From Lane Kiffin and Closer to National Title in CFP Shocker

Semifinals

Thursday, Jan. 8

Fiesta Bowl: No. 10 Miami 31, No. 6 Ole Miss 27 | Story: With Belief in Carson Beck, Miami Is Back Exactly Where It Expected to Be

Friday, Jan. 9

Peach Bowl: No. 1 Indiana 56, No. 5 Oregon 22 | Story: Three Takeaways From Indiana's Dominant Win Over Oregon to Advance to CFP Title

National championship

Monday, Jan. 19

No. 10 Miami vs. No. 1 Indiana — 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Miami Gardens, Fla.

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