2025 College Football Playoff Bracket: Complete Schedule, Results, and National Champion
The 2024-25 College Football Playoff marked the debut of the new 12-team format, delivering a postseason packed with drama, upsets, and a thrilling conclusion. The expanded bracket saw lower seeds make surprising runs, culminating in a classic championship showdown between two powerhouse programs. After a chaotic first round and quarterfinals reshaped by a national tragedy, the final two teams left standing battled for the title in Atlanta.
This guide breaks down the entire playoff journey, from the first-round matchups to Ohio State’s triumphant finish. We’ve compiled the complete schedule, final scores, and the updated bracket so you can relive every pivotal moment of the historic tournament.
The Final 2025 CFP Bracket & Results
Related Video: THE 12-TEAM CFP BRACKET IS SET ‼️ + REACTIONS & ANALYSIS 😱 | ESPN College Football
The playoff field was set by the CFP Selection Committee’s final rankings, with the Indiana Hoosiers earning the top seed. The bracket unfolded with several key upsets, most notably in the first round, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Complete Playoff Results & Schedule
Below is the full schedule and results for the 2024-25 College Football Playoff. Note that the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal was rescheduled due to the terrorist attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
| Round | Date | Matchup & Bowl | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Fri, Dec 20, 2024 | #10 Indiana vs. #7 Notre Dame | Notre Dame advanced |
| First Round | Fri, Dec 20, 2024 | #11 SMU vs. #6 Penn State | Penn State 38, SMU 10 |
| First Round | Fri, Dec 20, 2024 | #12 Clemson vs. #5 Oregon | Oregon advanced |
| First Round | Fri, Dec 20, 2024 | #9 Alabama vs. #8 Oklahoma | Alabama advanced |
| Quarterfinal | Wed, Jan 1, 2025* | #7 Notre Dame vs. #2 Ohio State (Fiesta Bowl) | Ohio State advanced |
| Quarterfinal | Wed, Jan 1, 2025 | #6 Penn State vs. #3 Georgia (Rose Bowl) | Georgia advanced |
| Quarterfinal | Wed, Jan 1, 2025 | #5 Oregon vs. #4 Texas Tech (Peach Bowl) | Texas Tech advanced |
| Quarterfinal | Sat, Jan 4, 2025 | #9 Alabama vs. #1 Indiana (Sugar Bowl – Rescheduled) | Notre Dame advanced** |
| Semifinal | Fri, Jan 10, 2025 | #7 Notre Dame vs. #3 Georgia (Orange Bowl) | Notre Dame advanced |
| Semifinal | Fri, Jan 10, 2025 | #8 Ohio State vs. #4 Texas Tech (Cotton Bowl) | Ohio State advanced |
| National Championship | Mon, Jan 20, 2025 | #7 Notre Dame vs. #8 Ohio State | Ohio State 28, Notre Dame 24 |
*Multiple quarterfinals were played on January 1. **Notre Dame advanced to face Indiana after Alabama’s first-round win, defeating the top-seeded Hoosiers.
Breaking Down the Championship Run
The path to the title was anything but straightforward. The seventh-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish and eighth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes navigated a gauntlet of higher-ranked opponents to reach the final.
Ohio State’s Road to the Title
The Buckeyes entered as the No. 2 seed but faced immediate pressure. They handled business in the quarterfinals, setting up a semifinal clash with No. 4 Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. ESPN reported on the semifinal, “Ohio State topples Texas to advance to the CFP championship,” highlighting their resilience. In the title game, they faced a Notre Dame team that had already taken down the No. 1 and No. 3 seeds.
Notre Dame’s Cinderella Story
Notre Dame’s run was the story of the playoff. After winning their first-round game, they pulled off a massive upset by defeating the top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers in the rescheduled Sugar Bowl quarterfinal. They then took down the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl semifinal. Their championship game started with a defensive struggle; Georgia had taken an early 3-0 lead in their quarterfinal on a field goal, and the title game followed a similar tense pattern before Ohio State found its rhythm.
“The game’s first score came on its fifth drive; each team punted on their first drive, Georgia’s second drive ended with a fumble… before Georgia took a 3–0 lead on a 41-yard Peyton Woodring field goal.” This snippet from a quarterfinal describes the kind of defensive battle that defined much of the playoff.
Final CFP Selection Committee Rankings
The bracket was built from the final CFP rankings released on December 7. Here are the top 12 teams that earned playoff berths.
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 13-0 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 12-1 |
| 3 | Georgia | 11-1 |
| 4 | Texas Tech | 11-1 |
| 5 | Oregon | 10-2 |
| 6 | Ole Miss | 10-2 |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 9-3 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 9-3 |
| 9 | Alabama | 9-3 |
| 10 | Notre Dame | 8-4 |
| 11 | SMU | 9-3 |
| 12 | Clemson | 8-4 |
The 2025 playoff proved the new 12-team format’s capacity for unpredictability and excitement. While the top seeds like Indiana and Georgia had strong odds, it was the lower-seeded teams with momentum, like Ohio State and Notre Dame, who fought their way to the final act at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Ohio State’s victory secured their seventh national title, capping off a historic and unforgettable College Football Playoff.
Common Questions
Who won the 2025 College Football Playoff national championship?
The Ohio State Buckeyes won the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship, defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 28-24 on January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Why was a CFP quarterfinal game rescheduled in 2025?
The Allstate Sugar Bowl quarterfinal (featuring #1 Indiana) was postponed from January 1, 2025, following a deadly terrorist attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on the morning of New Year’s Day. The game was played on January 4.
What were the biggest upsets in the 2025 CFP bracket?
The two major upsets were #7 Notre Dame defeating #1 Indiana in the quarterfinals and #8 Ohio State’s run to the title as a lower seed. The first round also saw lower seeds like Alabama advance.
Where was the 2025 CFP National Championship game played?
The 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship was held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.