ESPN and TNT Sports to broadcast four-game opening round with new start times across two days
New York, NY– The College Football Playoff (CFP) has officially announced kickoff times and broadcast information for the 2025 CFP First Round, launching the second year of the expanded 12-team playoff format that has captivated college football fans nationwide.
The first-round action will span two days, beginning Friday, December 19, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN, followed by a Saturday tripleheader on December 20 featuring new start times at noon, 3:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. ET across ESPN and TNT Sports networks.
Broadcast Distribution Across Networks
ESPN, the exclusive home of the College Football Playoff since its inception in 2015, enters the second year of its expanded package that includes all four first-round games. Two of those matchups will be sublicensed to TNT Sports as part of the collaborative broadcast agreement.
ABC and ESPN will carry the Friday night opener and Saturday’s noon game, while TNT will present the 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. ET contests on Saturday. All ESPN network games will be available on the ESPN App, while TNT and truTV broadcasts will also stream on HBO Max.
“We are pleased to work with both ESPN and TNT Sports to deliver these first-round games to fans across the country in premier viewing windows,” said Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff. “We also appreciate the collaboration with the National Football League in coordinating schedules to best serve fans of both college and professional football. This all reflects the growing reach and excitement surrounding the new Playoff format, and we look forward to showcasing the best of college football on both networks.”
Campus Hosting and Selection Day
Each of the four first-round games will be played on campus sites, with host locations to be announced on Selection Day, December 7. The campus hosting format marks a significant change from previous playoff structures, bringing postseason action directly to college towns and creating electric home-field atmospheres for the highest-seeded teams.
Under the new 12-team format, the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams will be seeded into the bracket based on the final CFP rankings. The top four seeds receive first-round byes, while teams ranked Nos. 5-12 compete in the opening round, with higher seeds hosting lower seeds.
College Football News:
- Army Falls in Heartbreaker to Tulane, 24-17, Despite Valiant Fourth-Quarter Rally
- No. 12 Georgia Bounces Back from First Loss, Dominates Kentucky 35-14
- Washington Stages Dramatic Fourth-Quarter Rally to Stun Maryland 24-20 in College Park
Record-Breaking Viewership in Inaugural Year
The inaugural 2024 CFP First Round delivered impressive numbers, averaging 10.6 million viewers across ESPN networks and TNT Sports. The success continued throughout the playoffs, with the quartet of Playoff Quarterfinals scoring multi-year viewership highs.
The CFP Semifinals produced historic numbers, including the most-watched Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on record with 20.6 million viewers and the second-most-watched Capital One Orange Bowl in nearly 20 years with 17.8 million viewers.
The 2025 CFP National Championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame attracted 22.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched non-NFL sporting event over the past year. The showdown peaked with 26.1 million viewers, underscoring the massive appetite for elite college football.
Complete 2025-26 CFP Schedule
First Round
- Friday, December 19 – 8 p.m. ET on ABC & ESPN
- Saturday, December 20 – Noon ET on ABC & ESPN
- Saturday, December 20 – 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV & HBO Max
- Saturday, December 20 – 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV & HBO Max
Quarterfinals
- Wednesday, December 31 – 7:30 p.m. ET: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (ESPN)
- Thursday, January 1 – Noon ET: Capital One Orange Bowl (ESPN)
- Thursday, January 1 – 4 p.m. ET: Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential (ESPN)
- Thursday, January 1 – 8 p.m. ET: Allstate Sugar Bowl (ESPN)
Semifinals
- Thursday, January 8 – 7:30 p.m. ET: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl (ESPN)
- Friday, January 9 – 7:30 p.m. ET: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (ESPN)
National Championship
- Monday, January 19 – 7:30 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida (ESPN)
Miami Returns as Championship Host
The CFP National Championship returns to Miami for the first time since the 2021 contest, marking the second consecutive season the national championship game returns to a city for a second time, following Atlanta’s hosting of the title games in 2018 and 2025.
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will provide the backdrop for college football’s ultimate prize on Monday, January 19, 2026, as ESPN presents the championship game to a national audience.
Rotating Bowl System
The Playoff Quarterfinals and Semifinals rotate annually among six prestigious bowl games: the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This rotation ensures geographic diversity and honors the rich traditions of college football’s most iconic postseason venues.
What’s Next
Further scheduling details, including full MegaCast information and additional broadcast enhancements, will be announced later this year. The CFP selection committee will unveil the final 12-team bracket on Selection Day, December 7, setting the stage for what promises to be another thrilling postseason.
Go Army, Beat Navy! – From the Black Knights at Bad Dawg Sports
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