College Football Playoff Quarterfinals Set: Top Four Seeds Await Opponents in Classic Bowls

The 2025‑26 College Football Playoff has revealed its quarterfinal matchups, giving fans a clear view of the path the nation’s top teams will take to the national title game.

The four teams that received a bye to the quarterfinals are the unbeaten No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers, the defending champion No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders. These teams earned their byes by finishing as the top four seeds in the 12‑team playoff, a reward that grants them a direct pass to the second round.

Unlike many post‑season tournaments, the College Football Playoff will not reseed teams after the opening round. The bracket format will remain fixed throughout the playoffs, so each team’s potential opponent is known in advance. This structure is similar to the NFL postseason, where the bracket determines the path regardless of any upsets that may occur.

For example, if the No. 12 James Madison Dukes were to upset the No. 5 Oregon Ducks in the first round, the Dukes would still face the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders in the quarterfinals. The upset would not alter the bracket, meaning the Red Raiders would not play the top‑seeded Hoosiers even if they had defeated Oregon.

The quarterfinal matchups are set as follows:

• No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama (Rose Bowl)
• No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami (Cotton Bowl)
• No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane (Sugar Bowl)
• No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison (Orange Bowl)

The games will take place on New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31, and New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1. These dates split the quarterfinals across two nights, with the Cotton Bowl scheduled for the earlier evening.

Each quarterfinal will be played in one of the sport’s most historic bowl venues. The Cotton Bowl will be hosted at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Orange Bowl will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Rose Bowl will be held at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. The Sugar Bowl will be played at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

The choice of venues reflects the prestige of the College Football Playoff. AT&T Stadium is one of the largest stadiums in the United States, offering a modern, high‑capacity setting for the Cotton Bowl. Hard Rock Stadium provides a vibrant, beach‑side atmosphere for the Orange Bowl. The Rose Bowl, often called the “Granddaddy of Them All,” carries decades of tradition for the Rose Bowl game. Caesars Superdome, with its iconic dome, gives the Sugar Bowl a distinctive, energetic backdrop.

These locations not only provide world‑class facilities but also highlight the national reach of college football. Fans traveling from across the country can experience the playoffs in different regions, each venue adding its own character to the postseason narrative.

In summary, the College Football Playoff quarterfinals have been mapped out with clear matchups, fixed dates, and historic bowl venues. The top four seeds—Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech—will face their designated opponents on December 31 and January 1, setting the stage for the next round of competition.

Key Takeaways

• The top four seeds receive byes to the quarterfinals.
• The bracket remains unchanged after the first round.
• Quarterfinals occur on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 in four classic bowl stadiums.

The playoffs promise high‑stakes matchups and iconic venues as the nation watches the quest for the national title unfold.