College football’s regular season is winding down, which means one thing: the playoffs are almost here! At StreamSafely, we’re counting down the minutes until the College Football Playoff National Championship Games kick off. With brand-new changes to the bracket format, the championship is anybody’s game — literally! Don’t miss the excitement by scrambling to figure out how to watch the 2025-26 NCAA football playoffs at the last minute. We have everything you need to know!
Our mission at StreamSafely is to connect you with trusted, secure streaming options that let you focus on the game instead of worrying about illegal piracy websites and all the risks of viewing unauthorized content. We’re committed to delivering reliable access to the most exciting weeks of college football!
Bracket Changes, Key Dates & Channels
Last year, the NCAA introduced an all-new 12-team field, and that same playoff bracket is back for 2025 — with a twist! As NCAA reporter Stan Becton explains, the auto-bids are staying the same: The five highest-ranked conference champions will automatically get bids. That means that the ACC, SEC, Big Twelve, and Big Ten are not guaranteed bids. Any combination of conferences could make the playoffs — no matter the size — as long as they are the highest-ranked champions.
However, new in 2025, the top four seeds and first-round byes will go to the four highest-ranked teams overall, not necessarily the top four conference champions. The seven highest-ranked teams remaining will fill out the rest of the 12-team format. From there, the teams will battle through the bowl games toward the national title.
Regular Season Ends: December 13
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First Round December 19-20 |
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| Date | Time | Channel | |
| On-Campus | Friday, December 19 | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, December 20 | TBD | TBD | |
| Saturday, December 20 | TBD | TBD | |
| Saturday, December 20 | TBD | TBD | |
Check back in with the official NCAA website for updates!
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Quarterfinals December 31 – January 1 |
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| Location | Date | Time | Channel |
| Cotton Bowl, Arlington, TX | Wednesday, December 31 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, FL | Thursday, January 1 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA | Thursday, January 1 | 4:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sugar Bowl, New Orleans, LA | Thursday, January 1 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
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Semifinals January 9 – 10 |
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| Location | Date | Time | Channel |
| Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, AZ | Thursday, January 8 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Peach Bowl, Atlanta, GA | Friday, January 9 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
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CFP National Championship Game January 19, 2026 |
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| Location | Date | Time | Channel |
| Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL | Monday, January 19 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
All times are in Eastern Time.
The 2024–25 NCAA Football Playoff: Chaos and a Champion
Last year, the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff did not disappoint. Oregon came in unbeaten at No. 1, Georgia looked like Georgia, Boise State sat back waiting, and everyone assumed the heavyweights would cruise. Instead, the underdogs stole the show.
Ohio State shocked Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Notre Dame bounced Georgia in the Sugar, and Texas survived a double-overtime thriller against Arizona State. By the semifinals, the bracket was flipped upside down with 7-seed Notre Dame and 8-seed Ohio State still standing.
From there, the Buckeyes went full steam ahead. Jack Sawyer’s scoop-and-score in the Cotton Bowl became an instant highlight, while Notre Dame leaned on clutch plays to edge Penn State in the Orange Bowl. That set up a title game for the ages: Buckeyes vs. Fighting Irish in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Ohio State owned the moment. Transfer QB Will Howard led the offense, the defense stayed nasty, and the Buckeyes rolled 34–23 to win their first title since 2014.
This season showed exactly why the expanded playoff works: more teams, more chaos, and more chances for blue-blood programs and upstarts to make a run. If Year One was this wild, imagine what this year will be like.
Top Streaming Options To Watch the NCAA Football Playoffs
As the worldwide broadcasting rights holder of all NCAA championships, ESPN and its partners are the only legitimate option to view the best of college football. If you have cable or are considering getting it, check with your provider to make sure that ESPN is part of your plan. Last year, ABC and TNT were also part of First Round coverage, but be sure to check in with the NCAA’s official website for information on early matchups as they’re announced. Otherwise, take a look at these great streaming options to find the service that works best for you:
ESPN Unlimited: Get the action straight from the source! Officially launched in August 2025, ESPN Unlimited is ESPN’s brand-new streaming service and will have live coverage of the 12-team college football playoffs and championship game. The standalone platform is just $29.99 per month, or you can use the Disney Trio Bundle to get ESPN Unlimited, Hulu, and Disney+ all in one!
Hulu + Live TV: Watch live TV from 95 channels, including ESPN, with Hulu + Live TV! For just $82.99 per month, Hulu + Live TV subscribers gain automatic access to Disney+, ESPN Unlimited, and ESPN Select (all with ads) for one of the most comprehensive sports and entertainment packages available today. Start your free 3-day trial now!
YouTube TV: Offering over 100 TV channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, NBA TV, and NFL Network, YouTube TV is an excellent streaming option for sports fans. New subscribers to the Base Plan can enjoy their first two months at $49.99, or upgrade to get NFL Sunday Ticket and stream every local, national, and out-of-market Sunday game. Experience it now with a 21-day free trial!
DIRECTV STREAM: ESPN is available through DIRECTV STREAM’s ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE, and ULTIMATE packages. Starting at $84.99 plus $35 off your first month, choose up to over 160 channels and add the Sports Pack free for one month to watch professional and college teams live, with over 40 specialty and regional sports networks. Try any pack for free!
Sling Orange: As one of the most budget-friendly options, Sling TV’s Orange plan allows you to watch over 30 channels of live sports, including ESPN. For as little as $4.99, you can grab a day, week, weekend, monthly, or prepaid subscription to view the NCAA, WNBA, ESPN, TNT, and more.
Fubo: With unlimited cloud DVR and no contracts, Fubo is attractive for anyone looking to catch the NCAA football playoffs. Monthly plans start at $45.99, but you can enjoy a free trial beforehand to test it out.
