2025 preseason College Football Playoff, bowl projections

The 2025 school soccer season is sort of right here, and whereas all of us look ahead to 16 weeks of pleasure, upsets and normal mayhem, there can be much more the place that got here from as soon as we hit the postseason.

The spotlight of that, after all, is the 12-team College Football Playoff, now in its second 12 months. As in final season’s inaugural CFP, the 5 highest-ranked convention champions, plus the following seven highest-ranked groups, will make the sector. Unlike final 12 months, the 4 highest-ranked groups (not essentially convention champions) can be awarded first-round byes. The different eight groups will meet in first-round video games on the campus websites of seeds Nos. 5 by way of 8.

From there, the quarterfinals and semifinals can be performed in what had been the New Year’s Six bowls, with this season’s nationwide championship recreation scheduled for Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

All of that’s simply the tip of the iceberg, although. Apart from the playoff is the 35-game slate of bowl video games, starting with the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 13.

We’re right here for all of it.

Although no video games have but been performed, ESPN bowl gurus Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are nonetheless projecting each postseason matchup, together with their breakdowns of how the playoff will play out, simply to whet your urge for food for the enjoyable forward.

And we’ll be again each week of the season till the precise matchups are set.

Jump to a bit:
Playoff picks | Quarterfinals
Semis, title game | Bowl season

College Football Playoff

First-round video games (at campus websites)

Friday, Dec. 19/Saturday, Dec. 20

Times and networks TBD.

Bonagura: No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Georgia
Schlabach: No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State

Bonagura: No. 11 Miami at No. 6 Notre Dame
Schlabach: No. 11 Arizona State at No. 6 Alabama

Bonagura: No. 10 Arizona State at No. 7 Alabama
Schlabach: No. 10 LSU at No. 7 Notre Dame

Bonagura: No. 9 LSU at No. 8 Oregon
Schlabach: No. 9 Miami at No. 8 Oregon

First-round breakdown

Bonagura: There should not be any main surprises right here, simply as there should not be any confidence from anybody speaking about what to anticipate in school soccer come December whereas we’re nonetheless in August. Here within the period of free company, it has develop into even tougher to have an excellent sense of what most groups will really seem like, and anybody who says in any other case is simply faking it.

The outdated system — final season’s success + returning starters (QB?) = projection — is not as dependable because it was. That mentioned, the standard suspects have the cash to stay on the high of the game and that issues greater than ever.

Schlabach: It’s a crapshoot whenever you’re choosing the 12 finest groups in mid-August, however I gave it my finest shot. I went with Texas, Clemson, Penn State and Georgia as my high 4 seeds, regardless that the Longhorns and Bulldogs can be breaking in new beginning quarterbacks (though Arch Manning and Gunner Stockton did get some taking part in time final 12 months). Both groups needed to change a plethora of star gamers who had been chosen within the NFL draft, however few applications have recruited in addition to Georgia and Texas in latest seasons. Honestly, I might see certainly one of three groups –Texas, Georgia or Alabama — profitable the SEC, and I feel many individuals could be sleeping on the Crimson Tide after they misplaced 4 video games in Kalen DeBoer’s first season as coach. It was by no means going to be simple for anybody to exchange Nick Saban, and I nonetheless imagine DeBoer is likely one of the finest coaches within the sport.

I like what Clemson is bringing again on the defensive position, and I feel Cade Klubnik goes to be a star. Penn State brings again lots of its finest gamers from a group that simply missed reaching the CFP National Championship recreation final season. If Drew Allar takes the following step, the Nittany Lions could be the category of the Big Ten.

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CFP quarterfinals

Wednesday, Dec. 31

CFP quarterfinal on the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 1 Texas
Schlabach: No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 1 Texas

Thursday, Jan. 1

CFP quarterfinal on the Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 4 Clemson
Schlabach: No. 10 LSU vs. No. 2 Clemson

CFP quarterfinal on the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
4 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 2 Penn State
Schlabach: No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 3 Penn State

CFP quarterfinal on the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 Ohio State
Schlabach: No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Georgia

Quarterfinals breakdown

Bonagura: After the 12-team playoff was launched final 12 months, there was one factor I hammered nearly each week on this house: It was ridiculous to offer the highest 4 seeds to convention champions. It was a format that punished the No. 1 seed, when one of many primary functions of a seeding system is to reward the perfect group. (No. 1 Oregon was “rewarded” with a quarterfinal in opposition to eventual champion Ohio State.)

The intent was comprehensible, however good on the powers that be who reversed course after one 12 months and put in the commonsense straight seeding format this 12 months. It will probably imply a number of groups from the identical convention will get byes — and that is nice. In this case, I’ve two groups from the Big Ten (Penn State and Ohio State), whereas Mark has two from the SEC (Texas and Georgia).

Schlabach: I had Ohio State, Alabama, LSU and Oregon advancing out of the first-round video games. I’m not fairly as bought on the Ducks as the opposite three applications with unproven Dante Moore taking up at quarterback and star receiver Evan Stewart sidelined with a knee harm. Oregon’s protection must take one other step after permitting 109 factors in three video games in opposition to Ohio State and Penn State (though the Ducks did win two of these video games). The Ducks play the Nittany Lions on the highway Sept. 27 and so they do not play Ohio State, Illinois or Michigan throughout the common season.

If LSU’s protection is markedly higher this season, the Tigers could possibly be an SEC title contender. They ought to have one of the vital explosive offenses within the FBS with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and receiver Aaron Anderson returning, plus a handful of playmakers from the switch portal.

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CFP semifinals, nationwide championship recreation

Thursday, Jan. 8

CFP semifinal on the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 1 Texas
Schlabach: No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 1 Texas

Friday, Jan. 9

CFP semifinal on the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Penn State
Schlabach: No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 2 Clemson

Monday, Jan. 19

CFP National Championship
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
7:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 2 Penn State vs. No. 1 Texas
Schlabach: No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 1 Texas

National championship breakdown

Bonagura: According to ESPN BET, there are 9 groups with odds of between +550 and +1,500 to win the nationwide title. It’s not an ideal science, after all, however there’s a excessive probability the eventual champion will come from that group: Ohio State (+550), Texas (+550), Penn State (+650), Georgia (+800), Clemson (+900), Alabama (+1,000), Notre Dame (+1,100), Oregon (+1,400) and LSU (+1,500). If you are searching for semifinal groups, then this group can also be an excellent place to start out.

Schlabach: I’ve my high 4 seeds advancing to the semifinals and high two taking part in within the CFP National Championship recreation. As we witnessed final 12 months, the 12-team CFP is rather more unpredictable, given the lengthy layoffs for the highest seeds and groups getting scorching on the proper time of the season.

The Georgia-Texas matchup within the Fiesta Bowl can be a rematch of final 12 months’s SEC championship recreation, which the Bulldogs gained 22-19 in extra time. The Longhorns additionally misplaced to the Bulldogs at dwelling throughout the common season in 2024, and so they may need to as soon as once more determine a solution to get previous them to win the SEC. Texas performs at Georgia on Nov. 15 in one of many league’s most anticipated video games. A Penn State-Clemson contest within the Peach Bowl would characteristic two of the sport’s finest quarterbacks. It would even be an intriguing chess match with former Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Tom Allen becoming a member of Dabo Swinney’s workers this season.

I’ve Clemson and Texas assembly within the nationwide championship recreation, and I’ll go along with the Longhorns to win all of it. That’s placing lots on Arch Manning in his first season as a starter, and the Texas offensive line goes to need to do a greater job of defending the quarterback than it did in large contests final season.

Complete bowl season schedule

Saturday, Dec. 13

Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC
Bonagura: Southern vs. South Carolina State
Schlabach: Jackson State vs. South Carolina State

LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Colorado vs. UNLV
Schlabach: Oregon State vs. San José State

Tuesday, Dec. 16

IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Appalachian State vs. Western Kentucky
Schlabach: Eastern Michigan vs. Jacksonville State

Wednesday, Dec. 17

StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
5 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: UConn vs. Florida Atlantic
Schlabach: Northern Illinois vs. Coastal Carolina

68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
8:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: James Madison vs. Florida International
Schlabach: Georgia Southern vs. Miami (Ohio)

Friday, Dec. 19

Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: Jacksonville State vs. South Alabama
Schlabach: East Carolina vs. James Madison

Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Auburn vs. Boston College
Schlabach: Vanderbilt vs. North Carolina

Monday, Dec. 22

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Toledo vs. San José State
Schlabach: Buffalo vs. Air Force

Tuesday, Dec. 23

Boca Raton Bowl
Flagler Credit Union Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: East Carolina vs. Ohio
Schlabach: South Florida vs. Toledo

New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Louisiana vs. Liberty
Schlabach: Louisiana vs. Western Kentucky

Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Frisco, Texas
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Georgia Southern vs. Northern Illinois
Schlabach: North Texas vs. Sam Houston State

Wednesday, Dec. 24

Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Fresno State vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: UNLV vs. Navy

Friday, Dec. 26

GameAbove Sports Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
1 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Maryland vs. Miami (Ohio)
Schlabach: Michigan State vs. Ohio

Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Baylor vs. Iowa
Schlabach: TCU vs. Minnesota

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Cincinnati vs. Texas State
Schlabach: UTSA vs. Arkansas State

Saturday, Dec. 27

Go Bowling Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
11 a.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Duke vs. Army
Schlabach: Virginia Tech vs. Memphis

Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York)
Noon, ABC
Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Illinois
Schlabach: Pittsburgh vs. Iowa

Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
2:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: NC State vs. Navy
Schlabach: NC State vs. Tulane

Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: SMU vs. Texas Tech
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Texas Tech

Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m., CW Network
Bonagura: Bowling Green vs. Colorado State
Schlabach: Bowling Green vs. Fresno State

Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
5:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Hawai’i vs. Cal
Schlabach: Colorado State vs. Texas State

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
7:30 p.m. ABC
Bonagura: Virginia Tech vs. Missouri
Schlabach: Georgia Tech vs. Missouri

Kinder’s Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
9:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: BYU vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach: Iowa State vs. Tennessee

Monday, Dec. 29

Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Arkansas vs. Tulane
Schlabach: Auburn vs. Boston College

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Iowa State vs. Louisiana Tech
Schlabach: BYU vs. Liberty

Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Minnesota vs. Oklahoma
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Ole Miss

Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Kansas State vs. Washington
Schlabach: Kansas State vs. USC

Wednesday, Dec. 31

ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: Indiana vs. Ole Miss
Schlabach: Indiana vs. South Carolina

Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: Virginia vs. UCLA
Schlabach: Florida State vs. Colorado

Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Michigan vs. Tennessee
Schlabach: Illinois vs. Texas A&M

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Nebraska vs. Utah
Schlabach: Nebraska vs. Utah

Friday, Jan. 2

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
1 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: TCU vs. Memphis
Schlabach: Kansas vs. Army

AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Kansas vs. Florida
Schlabach: Baylor vs. Oklahoma

Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Louisville vs. South Carolina
Schlabach: Duke vs. Florida

TBD

DIRECTV Holiday Bowl
Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
Time TBD, Fox
Bonagura: Georgia Tech vs. USC
Schlabach: SMU vs. Washington