2025-26 College Football Playoff Preview

The CFP bracket is set for the 12-team 2025-26 College Football Playoff. Notre Dame was left out, causing some chaos and crying in South Bend with the Irish electing not to play in any bowl game. How can you blame them with the CFP Committee snub?  The Big Ten championship game was a 13-10 defensive duel won by Indiana (13-0) over Ohio State (12-1), and those two teams are the top 2 seeds in the CFP and get a bye along with SEC champion No. 3 Georgia (12-1) and Big 12's best champion No. 4 Texas Tech (12-1). 

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I've included the schedule, early matchups and odds, and four teams will host opening round games Dec. 19-20 on their home fields - Oklahoma (10-2), Texas A&M, (11-1), Ole Miss (11-1) and Oregon (11-1).

Updates as  quarterfinal matchups and odds are determined with additional information you can bet on. 

That includes the article and College Football Playoff quarterback ratings and profiles, stats and insight I provided for BetOnline. 

Check back and follow along as I add more Fairway Forecasts and updates with picks and opinions on the most watched and wagered games in the College Football Playoff. 

Our coverage at OSGA of Conference Championship games picks and opinions on side selections went 5-2 ATS. That followed 11-4 ATS on CFB rivalry weekend and the biggest rivalry games. 

CFP Opening Round

(Dec. 19-20)

No. 8 Oklahoma (pk) vs. No. 9 Alabama, 40.5| 8 p.m. ET | ABC, ESPN (Friday)

Alabama opened a -1.5 point favorite, and currently pick 'em at BetOnline, where live/in-game betting will peak on Saturday during the three additional quarterfinal games. 

Saturday, Dec. 20

No. 7 Texas A&M (-3.5) vs. No. 10 Miami, 51.5 | 12 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN

No. 6 Ole Miss (-16.5) vs. No. 11 Tulane, 56.5|  3:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, HBO Max

No. 5 Oregon (-20.5) vs. No. 12 James Madison, 50.5|  7:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, HBO Max

CFP Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)

Wednesday, Dec. 31No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami winner | Cotton Bowl | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

Thursday, Jan. 1

No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison winner | Orange Bowl | 12 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama winner | Rose Bowl | 4 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane winner | Sugar Bowl | 8 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

CFP Semifinals (Jan. 8-9)

Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

Peach Bowl (Atlanta) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

College Football Playoff National Championship

NCAAF Championship Game

Monday, Jan. 19 - Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN

BetOnline has also posted advance lines for potential matchups in the CFP quarterfinals. 

- Texas A&M +7 vs Ohio State
- Miami FL +10 vs Ohio State
- Oregon -1 vs Texas Tech
- JMU +13.5 vs Texas Tech
- Oklahoma +6 vs Indiana
- Alabama +4.5 vs Indiana
- Ole Miss +4.5 vs Georgia
- Tulane +17.5 vs Georgia

Check back and follow @FairwayJay and @OffShoreGaming on X for more updates on College Football Playoff, sports betting news and information you can bet on. 

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.