The College Football Playoff will open with one first-round game on Dec. 19 and three more on Dec. 20, CFP administrators announced Tuesday. The Friday night game will start at 8 p.m. EST and be televised by ABC and ESPN,

The College Football Playoff, ESPN and TNT on Tuesday announced the schedule of first-round games, starting Dec. 19.

The College Football Playoff (CFP) has finalized broadcast plans for its 2025-26 12-team playoff opening round, with games set to air on multiple networks across two days.

New Mexico, Southern Miss and Temple all eyeing bowl bids after several seasons of missing out. Plus, an enticing Alamo Bowl between USC and Houston could be on tap.

The first CFP Rankings of the 2025 season will be revealed Tuesday night, meaning less than five weeks remain until Selection Sunday on Dec. 7 when the full bracket will be set to determine the second 12-team field.

Tennessee is projected to play in the Music City Bowl versus Illinois. The Music City Bowl will be contested on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST and will be televised by ESPN.

Here is where various national media outlets have Missouri football projected to play its bowl game with four games remaining in the regular season.

In the first rankings of the College Football Playoff, coach Ryan Day and unbeaten Ohio State topped the list, followed by Big Ten foe Indiana at No. 2 with Texas A&M third and Alabama landing at four.

Beyond the College Football Playoff race, there are some interesting developing stories in the push for bowl season.