After all this time, all these questions, and a few surprises, we know exactly who’s going to be matching up for the second-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. Here’s the bracket, schedule, and more.

All we know about 2025 College Football Playoff

The field is officially set. Heading into the final conference championship games, this was the top 12:

1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Georgia
4. Texas Tech
5. Oregon
6. Ole Miss
7. Texas A&M
8. Oklahoma
9. Alabama
10. Notre Dame
11. BYU
12. Miami

Because of the power-four bids and some other unique quirks, not all 12 were in the field even then, but some who weren’t playing, like Notre Dame, felt safe and that they would get in despite sitting at home for a week. They were not.

Here’s the final 12-man field for the 2025 College Football Playoffs:

1. Indiana
2. Georgia
3. Ohio State
4. Texas Tech
5. Oregon
6. Ole Miss
7. Texas A&M
8. Oklahoma
9. Alabama
10. Miami
11. (20.) Tulane
12. (24.) James Madison

The 11th and 12th teams not in the field were Notre Dame and BYU. There are a few interesting things to note here. First, of course, is Miami’s entry to the field over Notre Dame. That was probably the right choice, especially after the debacle that was the ACC Conference Championship, but if Miami was better, why were they not ranked better than Notre Dame all this time? Neither team played a conference championship.

Alabama not dropping at all is a little surprising, especially after getting blown out by Georgia in the SEC title game. Removing them from the field would’ve been a surprise, because it’s hard to fault them for splitting with the number three team in the country, but a small drop would’ve made sense, just as it made sense for BYU to drop a couple of spots.

Because of how lackluster several conferences were, the 11th and 12th teams did not make it in. Instead, those two spots went to Tulane and James Madison, who, with all due respect, are likely to get absolutely demolished in the first round. However, since Tulane drew Ole Miss, who will not have head coach Lane Kiffin available, there’s a decent chance they can shock the world. Still, Ole Miss has plenty of talent to overcome their coach’s exit against an inferior team.

Speaking of, here are the matchups:

• 12 JMU vs. 5 Oregon
• 9 Alabama vs. 8 Oklahoma
• 10 Miami vs. 7 Texas A&M
• 11. Tulane vs. 6 Ole Miss

Indiana, Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas Tech all get byes. Indiana takes on the winner of Alabama/Oklahoma. Georgia will face either Tulane or Ole Miss. Ohio State, the defending champs, gets either Miami or Texas A&M. Finally, Texas Tech is awaiting the winner of James Madison/Oregon.

This is the last time this sort of field will happen. Next year, there will be some substantial changes, although the 12-team number will remain. In 2026, if this scenario unfolds, Notre Dame is guaranteed a spot if they’re in the top 12.

Additionally, there will be guaranteed playoff spots for the conference champions from the ACC, Big Ten, SEC, and Big 12, as well as the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion, according to a report from ESPN. That would’ve led to some chaos this year. ACC champion Duke would have made the field at just 8-5, and Sun Belt champion James Madison, at 12-1, would’ve missed out. And as interesting as Duke’s title was, their coach was not right in saying they’re a playoff team. Winning seven Power Four games and beating a solid but not spectacular Virginia team in the conference title game does not make anyone a team worthy of the playoff, so hopefully, the ACC is in better shape next year.