What’s new in CFP right now

The outcomes of several conference championships altered the possibility of playoffs:  In the Big 12 Championship Game, Texas Tech defeated the BYU Cougars with a rout, earning a bye in the first round thanks to a strong 12-1 record.   In the ACC Championship Game, the Duke Blue Devils beat the Virginia Cavaliers in overtime. This shocking outcome could change which East Coast teams make it into the playoffs.  * American Athletic Conference Championship Game: Tulane Green Wave sealed a CFP berth by defeating North Texas Mean Green — giving Tulane an automatic bid as a top conference champion.

 What's coming up and when to watch? 

Selection Sunday: Today at noon ET — watch the full bracket reveal. 

 First-Round games: December 19–20, 2025 — these will be campus-site games. 

 Quarterfinals (New Year’s bowls): Dec. 31, 2025, and Jan.  1, 2026. 

 January will be the semi-finals. 8–9, 2026.

 Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, will be the National Championship. 

What to Watch / Storylines. 

Makes it into the 12-team field, which includes at-large spots and automatic bids for the top-ranked conference champions. Recent upsets, such as Duke's victory over Virginia in the ACC, may alter who receives those bids. * The significance of first-round byes: teams have a significant advantage if they finish in the top four seeds. * Potential drama for “bubble” or at-large teams — especially those in conferences with strong records but who failed to win their title games. The playoff was shaped by conference title games, particularly the Big 12, ACC, and AAC this week.

 Here’s a projected field for the College Football Playoff (CFP) 2025-26, based on current standings, recent conference-championship results, and expert projections.  Although the official bracket will be announced on "Selection Sunday," this is how things appear to be right now. This is not official.

 Teams with a Real Chance (but Not Guaranteed)

on the Bubble, these teams are still in the running, particularly in light of how the final rankings play out and how results from conference championships are weighed: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a solid record against two-loss teams and are commonly projected to advance to the first round. Crimson Tide of Alabama: Even though they lost to Georgia, they still have a chance if the committee looks at their overall record against at-large teams. The top-ranked Group of Five team, Tulane Green Wave, could sneak in, particularly if a spot as conference champion is available. The ranked and Sun Belt champion James Madison Dukes remain a dark horse candidate for openings. Likely Seeding & Bracket Projection (Based on Current Data)

 Here is a plausible layout for the seeding

first round, and quarterfinals if the preceding holds:

The first-round games will probably be played on campus, and the quarterfinals will alternate between major bowl games.