College Football Playoff returns with Friday night lights before Saturday tripleheader

The second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff begins with a standalone Friday night game before a tripleheader of first-round matchups on Saturday, Dec. 20.

All first-round games are played on the campus of the team receiving the better seed. The CFP, which releases rankings weekly starting Tuesday, will determine the final playoff field on Dec. 7.

The opening game of the playoff is an 8 p.m. ET kickoff on Dec. 19. The Dec. 20 tripleheader games are scheduled for Noon, 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., following the Eastern Time zone regardless of game location. The two late games are being broadcast by TNT with ABC-ESPN airing the first two games.

A tweak to the CFP format involves eliminating a conference championship qualifier to receive a top four seed and coveted first-round bye. The committee's highest-ranked teams in the final top 25, regardless of conference championship status, will not play between Dec. 6 and the CFP quarterfinals Dec. 31-Jan. 1.

The Saturday first-round games fall on a robust day for college sports, with men's college basketball showcasing the meeting between Rick Pitino and his former Kentucky player and current coach Mark Pope at Atlanta (12:30 p.m. ET). The matchup pits No. 9 Kentucky and No. 5 St. John's as one of four games matching teams currently ranked in the top 20 of the AP Top 25 poll. No. 6 Duke and No. 10 Texas Tech (at Madison Square Garden) play at 8 p.m. ET with No. 1 Purdue and No. 20 Auburn in action at 6:30 p.m. ET in Indianapolis.

NFL Week 16 games scheduled for Dec. 20 are the Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders. Kickoff times are not confirmed for either game.

The CFP national title game is Monday, Jan. 19 in Miami.

Below is the full schedule for the 2025 College Football Playoff:

Fri., Dec. 19

8 p.m. CFP First-Round Game ABC & ESPN

Sat., Dec. 20

Noon CFP First-Round Game ABC & ESPN

3:30 p.m. CFP First-Round Game TNT, truTV & HBO Max

7:30 p.m. CFP First-Round Game TNT, truTV & HBO Max

Wed., Dec. 31

7:30 p.m. Quarterfinal, Arlington, Texas, Cotton Bowl ESPN

Thu., Jan. 1

Noon Quarterfinal, Miami, Orange Bowl ESPN

4 p.m. Quarterfinal, Pasadena, Rose Bowl ESPN

8 p.m. Quarterfinal, New Orleans, Sugar Bowl ESPN

Thu., Jan. 8

7:30 p.m. Semifinal, Glendale, Ariz., Fiesta Bowl ESPN

Fri., Jan. 9

7:30 p.m. Semifinal, Atlanta, Peach Bowl ESPN

Mon., Jan. 19

7:30 p.m. National Championship, Miami, Hard Rock Stadium ESPN

--Field Level Media