For those in Sooner Nation with a lot of faith in the 2025 Oklahoma Sooners, you can start making plans now around the College Football Playoff.
The College Football Playoff and ESPN on Tuesday announced the schedule for the 2025-26 quarterfinals, semifinals and finals for the second 12-team CFP.
After the first round is again played on campuses of higher seeds, the quarterfinals will start on Dec. 31 with the Cotton Bowl on ESPN. New Year's Day will include a tripleheader of playoff games with the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
The semifinal games, hosted by the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl, will be on two different days. The Fiesta Bowl will be on Thursday, Jan. 8, followed by the Peach Bowl on Friday, Jan. 9. The championship game will again be on a Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
The most noteworthy change in the schedule was to kickoff times for the three quarterfinal games on New Year's Day. All three games will start earlier than their traditional kickoff times.
The Orange Bowl will be first at 11 a.m. CT on Jan. 1. The Rose Bowl will kick off at 3 p.m. CT, followed by the Sugar Bowl at 7 p.m. CT. All three games will be on ESPN. This schedule more mirrors that of a traditional college football Saturday.
“All three bowls shifting their start times allows us to place each game in an ideal window on New Year’s Day and provide the optimal viewing experience," College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark said in a statement. "New Year’s Day and college football are synonymous with each other, and these changes only strengthen that relationship.”
Full schedule, how to watch College Football Playoff
Cotton Bowl (quarterfinal)
When: 6:30 p.m. CT Wednesday, Dec. 31
Watch: ESPN
Orange Bowl (quarterfinal)
When: 11 a.m. CT Thursday, Jan. 1
Watch: ESPN
Rose Bowl (quarterfinal)
When: 3 p.m. CT Thursday, Jan. 1
Watch: ESPN
Sugar Bowl (quarterfinal)
When: 7 p.m. CT Thursday, Jan. 1
Watch: ESPN
Fiesta Bowl (semifinal)
When: 6:30 p.m. CT Thursday, Jan. 8
Watch: ESPN
Peach Bowl (semifinal)
When: 6:30 p.m. CT Friday, Jan. 9
Watch: ESPN
College Football National Championship
When: 6:30 p.m. CT Monday, Jan. 19
Watch: ESPN
Read more about OU football