When Does the CFP Bracket Come Out? Final Rankings Time and TV Details

The 12-team College Football Playoff bracket will be revealed on Sunday, December 7, at noon ET on ESPN. Fans are asking when the CFP bracket comes out because conference championship weekend has reshaped the national picture heading into the final rankings.

The reveal follows a dramatic finish to the 2025 regular season, including Indiana’s stunning Big Ten Championship win and several pivotal SEC results. The final bracket announcement will determine seeding, matchups, and which teams officially secure their place in the expanded playoff field.

CFP Bracket Reveal Time and Schedule Explained

The CFP bracket show begins at noon ET on Sunday, December 7. ESPN will broadcast the full selection program. This reveal comes after two days of conference title games across the country, which set the table for the selection committee’s last meeting.

Indiana earned the expected No. 1 seed after beating Ohio State 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship. In the SEC, Georgia defeated Alabama 28-7, creating uncertainty around whether Alabama will make the field. Tulane, James Madison, and other conference champions strengthened their bids after key victories earlier in the weekend.

The full CFP schedule for 2025–26 is set. First-round games will be played on December 19–20. Quarterfinals follow on December 31 and January 1. Semifinals are set for January 8–9. The national championship will be held on Monday, January 19. These dates mark the first full year of the 12-team playoff format, which was approved to expand opportunities for conference champions and top-ranked at-large programs.

Major outlets such as the Associated Press and Reuters have noted how the new format changes access for teams outside traditional power structures. The bracket reveal is the most consequential moment, as it defines seeding and home-site first-round matchups.

How the Final Bracket Shapes the Playoff Race

The expanded CFP structure increases the stakes for every result on championship weekend. Multiple SEC teams remain in contention, with the conference potentially landing four or five total entrants. The Big Ten and ACC results also shifted the board, giving teams like James Madison pathways into the field.

For fans, the bracket release ends weeks of speculation about matchups and rankings. Programs awaiting at-large bids face the most uncertainty, especially after high-profile results involving Alabama and North Texas. The selection committee will finalize its decisions Sunday morning ahead of the broadcast.

The final rankings set the tone for the postseason and establish the first look at the 12-team playoff era in full. Once the bracket is public, teams will begin travel planning, scouting, and preparation for the December first-round games.

The CFP bracket reveal answers the central question: when does the CFP bracket come out? With the show airing at noon ET on December 7, fans will finally learn the full playoff picture. The expanded format makes this reveal more influential than ever.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: When does the CFP bracket come out?

The bracket is released on Sunday, December 7, at noon ET on ESPN. This includes the full seeding and matchups for the 12-team field.

Q2: What time do CFP rankings come out today?

The final CFP rankings are revealed at noon ET as part of the bracket announcement show.

Q3: What channel is the CFP reveal on?

The bracket show airs on ESPN. Streaming options include the ESPN app.

Q4: When do CFP games start?

First-round games begin December 19–20. Quarterfinals follow December 31 and January 1.

Q5: How many SEC teams could make the CFP?

Up to five SEC teams are in contention based on championship weekend results.