College Football Playoff bracket: Schedule, TV for the playoffs

On By Littum

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After a riveting 15-week college football season filled with unforgettable moments and unexpected upsets, the highly anticipated College Football Playoff is ready to begin. With 12 teams still in contention for the coveted national title, the excitement is palpable.

In the first round of the College Football Playoff, teams seeded no. 5 to no. 12, participate in elimination matches. The action kicks off with a Friday night showdown between No. 7 Notre Dame and no. 10 Indiana. Saturday will be a day filled with three matches. The winners of these matchups will earn the right to challenge one of the top four seeds in the quarterfinals.

The top four teams from the quarterfinals advance to the deciding semifinals, which will be held at either the Orange Bowl on January 9 or the Cotton Bowl on January 10. The results of these matchups will determine the two teams that will battle for the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

Here’s the complete College Football Playoff bracket and information on how to watch your team’s journey to the national title.

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When is the College Football Playoff first round?

All times eastern

FRIDAY DEC. 20

  • Game 1: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Indiana, at 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

SATURDAY DEC. 21

  • Game 2: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 SMU, noon (TNT)
  • Game 3: no. 5 Texas vs. no. 12 Clemson, at 16 (TNT)
  • Game 4: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee, at 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

Catch all the CFP games with Fubo

The four quarterfinal games will be played on New Year’s weekend at the site of four bowl games, with one game on December 31 and three on January 1.

TUESDAY DEC. 31

  • Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. Penn State/SMU winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

WEDNESDAY JAN. 1

  • Peach Bowl: Winner no. 4 Arizona State vs. Texas/Clemson, 7 p.m. 1 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Rose Bowl: Winner no. 1 Oregon vs. Ohio State/Tennessee, 7 p.m. 5 p.m. (ESPN)
  • Sugar bowl: Winner no. 2, Georgia vs. Notre Dame/Indiana, 7 p.m. 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)

When are the College Football Playoff Semifinals?

The semifinal games will be played Jan. 9 and Jan. 10 at the site of two bowl games.

THURSDAY JAN. 9

  • Orange bowl: Fiesta Bowl Winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

FRIDAY, JAN. 10

  • Cotton bowl: Peach Bowl Winner vs. Rose Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

When is the College Football Playoff National Championship?

  • at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
  • Orange Bowl Winner vs. Cotton Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

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