2025-2026 College Football Playoff Schedule and Payouts
By Kristi Dosh
Last Updated on January 7, 2026
The bracket for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff is set, which means we also know how much money each team is set to make for their conference for the first round.
Final College Football Playoff Top 25 Rankings
- Indiana
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Miami (Fla.)
- Notre Dame
- BYU
- Texas
- Vanderbilt
- Utah
- USC
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Virginia
- Tulane
- Houston
- Georgia Tech
- Iowa
- James Madison
- North Texas
College Football Playoff Seeding
The 12 teams selected for the College Football Playoff include the five highest-ranked conference champions (automatic bids) and then the next seven highest-ranked teams (at-large).
- Indiana (first-round bye)
- Ohio State (first-round bye)
- Georgia (first-round bye)
- Texas Tech (first-round bye)
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Miami
- Tulane
- James Madison
2024-2025 College Football Playoff Payouts
With the new 12-team playoff comes a new revenue distribution model. For 2025-2026, are the College Football Playoff payouts:
- $4 million for each of the 12 teams that makes the College Football Playoff
- $4 million for each of the 8 teams that makes the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals
- $6 million for each of the 4 teams that makes the College Football Playoff Semifinals
- $6 million for each of the 2 teams that makes the College Football Playoff National Championship Game
There is a one-time change in 2025-26 as a result of the change from byes for the four highest-ranked conference champions to the four highest-ranked teams. A one-year exception was made that the fourth highest-ranked conference champion (Tulane) would still get that payment, meaning Tulane earned $8 total for its first-round appearance.
Additionally, each team who participates in the College Football Playoff receives $3 million to cover expenses for each round.
Total Earnings Through the Semifinals
Here’s how much each conference has earned through the semifinals this year (not including travel expenses):
SEC: $38 million
Big Ten: $24 million
ACC: $14 million
Big 12: $20 million
The American: $8 million
Sun Belt: $4 million
After applying conference distribution policies (see below), Miami, Georgia, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama and Tulane have an advantage over other teams, however.
2025-26 Conference Payouts to Teams
The financial impact of College Football Playoff participation differs widely depending on conference policy. While some leagues pass most or all CFP revenue directly to the schools playing in the games, others distribute those funds more broadly, allowing non-participants to share in the proceeds.
The ACC revised its CFP distribution model ahead of last season, a change that allows Miami to retain the full $8 million it has earned from the playoff to date. Should the Hurricanes advance, they would also keep the entire $6 million payout associated with each additional round. Under ACC rules, participating teams also receive the CFP’s $3 million per-round travel reimbursement.
In the SEC, CFP payouts are tiered by round. Teams receive $3 million for first-round participation, $3.5 million for quarterfinal appearances, $3.75 million for semifinal games, and $4 million for reaching the national championship. Participating schools also receive a travel stipend for each game, with the amount set by the SEC Executive Committee.
For at least the last few years, the Big 12 has compensated CFP participants through a formula that awarded at least $1.9M (plus travel) for the first two rounds and $2.2 million (plus travel) for the semifinal and championship. However, this year the Big 12 is dividing all revenue equally between conference members.
That’s the approach the Big Ten has always taken with CFP revenues. The Big Ten has confirmed that policy remains in place for 2025-26.
Any CFP revenue not paid directly to participating schools is distributed to conference members according to each league’s standard revenue-sharing formula.
In the American Athletic Conference, Tulane’s first-round CFP appearance will generate $8 million in total revenue from the playoff — $4 million from the base CFP payout and an additional $4 million tied to its status as the fourth-highest-ranked conference champion without a bye. Of that amount, $6.1 million will be allocated directly to Tulane, while the remaining $1.9 million will flow into the conference’s shared revenue pool. Tulane will also receive $2 million in travel reimbursements, bringing its total CFP-related earnings to $8.1 million.
We also have historic College Football Playoff payouts.
College Football Playoff TV Schedule
| DATE | GAME | TIME (ET) | PLATFORM |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST ROUND | |||
| Fri., Dec. 19 | No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama | 8 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN |
| Sat., Dec. 20 | No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) | 12 p.m. | ABC, ESPN, WatchESPN |
| No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane | 3:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, HBO Max | |
| No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, HBO Max | |
| QUARTERFINALS | |||
| Wed., Dec. 31 | Playoff Quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami (Fla.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| Thurs., Jan. 1 | Playoff Quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon | 12 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama winner | 4 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| Playoff Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss | 8 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN | |
| SEMIFINALS | |||
| Thu., Jan. 8 | Playoff Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 10 Miami (FL) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| Fri., Jan. 9 | Playoff Semifinal at the Peach Bowl No. 1 Indiana vs. No 5. Oregon | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN |
| NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP | |||
| Mon., Jan. 19 | CFP National Championship (Miami, Fla.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, WatchESPN |
