articleThe Brief The College Football Playoff (CFP) is changing its 12-team seeding and bye policies starting in the 2025-26 season. The College Football Playoff (CFP) Management Committee voted unanimously to modify the seedling and bye policies of the 12-team Playoff for the 2025-26 season. The 2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule following the first-round includes:Playoff QuarterfinalsDecember 21, 2025The Goodyear Cotton Bowl ClassicJanuary 1, 2026Capital One Orange BowlRose Bowl Game presented by PrudentialAllstate Sugar BowlPlayoff SemifinalJanuary 8, 2026Vrbo Fiesta BowlJanuary 9, 2026Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl2026 College Football National ChampionshipJanuary 19 at Hard Rock Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ETWhat they're saying:Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff, spoke about these policy changes and why they were implemented. About the College Football PlayoffThe College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football.