CFP bracket predictions: Instant picks for 2025-26 College Football Playoff

The 12-team field for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff was finally revealed on Sunday and the countdown to the national title game in Miami on January 19 is officially on.

Indiana is the No. 1 overall seed is as the only 13-0 team in the country and it will be joined by Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech as the top-four seeds in the field who will get byes straight into the quarterfinals on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. They will await the other eight schools in the bracket, who will compete in a set of first-round games at on-campus sites taking place on Friday, December 19 and Saturday, December 20.

Let’s not waste any more time and make some quick predictions for how this CFP will play out.

First Round

Friday, December 19

No. 9 Alabama @ No. 8 Oklahoma, 8 p.m. ET

Winner: Oklahoma

Saturday, December 20

No. 10 Miami @ No. 7 Texas A&M, 12 p.m. ET

Winner: Texas A&M

No. 11 Tulane @ No. 6 Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET

Winner: Ole Miss

No. 12 James Madison @ No. 5 Oregon, 7:30 p.m. ET

Winner: Oregon

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, December 31

No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 2 Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. ET, (Cotton Bowl)

Winner: No. 2 Ohio State

Thursday, January 1

No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Texas Tech, 12 p.m. ET, (Orange Bowl)

Winner: No. 4 Texas Tech

No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Indiana, 4 p.m. ET, (Rose Bowl)

Winner: No. 1 Indiana

No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Georgia, 8 p.m. ET, (Sugar Bowl)

Winner: No. 6 Ole Miss

Semifinals

Thursday, January 8

No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 2 Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. ET (Fiesta Bowl)

Winner: No. 2 Ohio State

Friday, January 9

No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 1 Indiana, 7:30 p.m. ET (Peach Bowl)

Winner: No. 4 Texas Tech

CFP National Championship

Monday, January 19

No. 4 Texas Tech vs No. 2 Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. ET (Miami)

Winner: No. 2 Ohio State