There are no College Football Playoff games on Sunday, December 21, 2025. The CFP's first round was played on December 19 and 20, and the winners from those campus-site matchups now move on to quarterfinal bowls on December 31 and January 1, with semifinals in early January and the national title game scheduled for January 19, 2026.

Quick snapshot: what happened in the CFP first round

The 12-team playoff's opening weekend produced four decisive outcomes, with higher seed and underdog storylines mixed across results. Key facts from the first round:

• No. 9 Alabama 34, No. 8 Oklahoma 24, December 19, in Norman, Oklahoma.
• No. 10 Miami 10, No. 7 Texas A&M 3, December 20, at Kyle Field.
• No. 6 Ole Miss 41, No. 11 Tulane 10, December 20, in Oxford, Mississippi.
• No. 5 Oregon 51, No. 12 James Madison 34, December 20, in Eugene, Oregon.

The first round closed the campus-site portion of the bracket, and the winners now head to New Year’s quarterfinals, which will decide the four teams left for the semifinal pairings.

What’s next on the CFP calendar

The bracket now advances to the quarterfinal round, played at traditional bowl sites, with exact dates and kickoff times already set.

After the quarterfinals, CFP semifinals are scheduled for January 8 and 9, and the national championship is set for Monday, January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

How the weekend played out, and why it matters

Saturday’s slate reinforced a couple of themes analysts have flagged all season: veteran programs still carry weight in big moments, and the expanded 12-team field can produce both marquee home wins and breakout performances from mid-major programs.

• Alabama handled a tough road test to advance, which lines them up for a high-profile Rose Bowl meeting with top-seeded Indiana.
• Miami’s defensive effort in a low-scoring win gives the Hurricanes momentum, and their reward is a Cotton Bowl quarterfinal against Ohio State on Dec. 31.
• Ole Miss and Oregon both delivered offensive fireworks, and each now faces a ranked, well-coached opponent in New Year’s quarterfinals.

Multiple viewpoints exist about the expanded format’s effect on December football. Supporters point to more teams having a shot at a title, which increases national interest and meaningful games across the calendar. Critics argue the longer postseason stretches player workloads and complicates traditional bowl matchups, and some question whether campus-site first rounds diminish the bowl atmosphere.

Practical info for viewers and fans

• There are no CFP games on December 21, 2025. The next CFP action is the quarterfinals on December 31 and January 1, televised on ESPN networks, with some first-round games previously carried on TNT and streaming platforms.
• If you are following from a different time zone, check local listings, since kickoff times in the table are in Eastern Time. Plan travel and ticketing early for quarterfinal bowls, which are played at major neutral-site venues.

Quick tips for fans

• Buy tickets only from official bowl or school channels, not resale sites with unclear guarantees.
• If you plan to stream, confirm your provider carries ESPN, TNT, or the specific streaming platform listed for the game.
• Expect travel congestion around major bowl cities on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, and book hotels and airport transfers now.

Key takeaways

• There are no College Football Playoff games on December 21, 2025, the first round concluded Dec. 19-20.
• Winners advancing to quarterfinal bowls are Alabama, Miami, Ole Miss and Oregon.
• Quarterfinals are Dec. 31-Jan. 1, semifinals Jan. 8-9, and the championship is Jan. 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens.

Data table: First round results (Dec. 19-20, 2025)

For the analysts: what to watch in the quarterfinals

• Miami vs. Ohio State, Cotton Bowl, Dec. 31, is a matchup of Miami’s stingy defense against Ohio State’s top-ranked offense, and oddsmakers list Ohio State as a favorite in early markets.
• Alabama vs. Indiana, Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, will probe Alabama’s road toughness after their Norman win, and Indiana’s balanced attack will be a different test.
• Oregon vs. Texas Tech, Orange Bowl, Jan. 1, projects to be a wide-open, high-scoring contest.
• Ole Miss vs. Georgia, Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1, pits the Rebels’ momentum against a Georgia program that consistently performs in postseason play.

Short code snippet: convert Eastern Time kickoff to local time using Python

```python
from datetime import datetime
import pytz

def et_to_local(et_string, local_tz='America/Los_Angeles'):
et = pytz.timezone('US/Eastern')
local = pytz.timezone(local_tz)
dt = et.localize(datetime.strptime(et_string, '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M'))
return dt.astimezone(local).strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M %Z')

Example: Cotton Bowl, Dec 31 at 19:30 ET

print(et_to_local('2025-12-31 19:30', 'America/Los_Angeles'))
```

Final perspective

The first weekend of the 12-team CFP delivered both expected winners and lively matchups, and there will be plenty of storylines to follow through New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day as the field narrows. If you are asking "Are there CFP games today?" the short answer for December 21, 2025 is no, but the next wave of playoff drama arrives December 31 and January 1, and the outcomes there will shape the semifinal matchups for January 8 and 9, and ultimately the title game on January 19.

If you want I can pull live odds, TV channel links for your market, or a printable calendar with local kickoff times for the quarterfinals and beyond.