ESPN predicts final score of every College Football Playoff game, National Championship

ESPN predicted the final score of every College Football Playoff game, including the national championship game. It’s a loaded bracket of 12 teams again and it should be a wild ride into January.

The first round games are on the campus of the higher seed. From there, games will be played at New Year’s Six locations before the finals in Miami.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the latest College Football Playoff predictions. Let’s fill out the bracket!

CFP First Round: No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 19
Channel: ABC, ESPN
Location: Norman, Oklahoma

This College Football Playoff first round game is a rematch of a Sooners’ win earlier this year. Oklahoma stole a win 23-21 in Tuscaloosa the first time. Alabama is reeling a bit after losing 28-7 in the SEC Championship Game, but ESPN likes their chances the second time around.

Prediction Alabama 20, Oklahoma 17

CFP First Round: No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M

Time: 12:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 20
Channel: ABC/ESPN
Location: College Station, Texas

Texas A&M was last in action in a loss to Texas in the season finale. But, they still made the College Football Playoff for the first time. Miami got the final at-large bid and are hot after some less than stellar losses in or around midseason.

Prediction: Miami 31, Texas A&M 28

CFP First Round: No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 20
Channel: TNT
Location: Oxford, Mississippi

Lane Kiffin is no more and Pete Golding is in! Ole Miss is in their first College Football playoff, as is Tulane. The Rebels blew the Green Wave out earlier this year, but this game should be more competitive in Jon Sumrall’s swan song before going to Florida. Still, there’s a gap between the two on paper.

Prediction: Ole Miss 34, Tulane 16

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 20
Channel: TNT
Location: Eugene, Oregon

For the first time, we’re getting two G5 teams in the College Football Playoff. There’s no question James Madison is a quality football team, but Oregon is a different beast. But, you have to play the game!

Prediction: Oregon 38, James Madison 13

CFP Quarterfinal at Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Miami 

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 31
Channel: ESPN
Location: Arlington, Texas

Ohio State lost the Big Ten Championship but will be favored regardless of who they play here. Miami, in its first College Football Playoff, will have their run end here in heartbreaking fashion, per ESPN

Prediction: Ohio State 27, Miami 20

CFP Quarterfinal at Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon

Time: 12:00 p.m. ET on Jan. 1
Channel: ESPN
Location: Miami, Florida

Oregon went one and done in the College Football Playoff last year and some may think Texas Tech will do the same thing. Not so fast my friend! ESPN has the Red Raiders advancing by a hair.

Prediction: Texas Tech 23, Oregon 20

CFP Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 9 Alabama

Time: 4:00 p.m. ET on Jan. 1
Channel: ESPN
Location: Pasadena, California

If Alabama wins one College Football Playoff game, they can get hot and win a second right? Sure, but the Hoosiers are too good and went 13-0 for a reason. With elite defense and borderline elite QB play, IU is too much for Alabama. Try saying that a few years ago.

Prediction: Indiana 24, Alabama 16

CFP Quarterfinal at Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET on Jan. 1
Channel: ESPN
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Georgia will once again prove to be too much for Ole Miss, this time in a College Football Playoff setting. Pete Golding will have a good foundation for 2026, but Kirby Smart will be competing for a national title again this season.

Prediction: Georgia 31, Ole Miss 21

CFP Semifinal at Fiesta Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Georgia

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 8
Channel: ESPN
Location: Glendale, Arizona

Ohio State and Georgia have some College Football Playoff history don’t they? Well, the Buckeyes get their time, again. This will be razor thin and ESPN predicts redemption for Buckeyes’ kicker Jayden Fielding!

Prediction: Ohio State 19, Georgia 16

CFP Semifinal at Peach Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 4 Texas Tech

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 9
Channel: ESPN
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

The Red Raiders’ run in the College Football Playoff ends here. Curt Cignetti and crew will keep the perfect season going, improve to 15-0 and play for a title. But it won’t be easy against the Texas Tech defense.

Prediction: Indiana 20, Texas Tech 17

CFP National Championship: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 2 Ohio State

Time: 7:45 p.m. ET on Jan. 19
Channel: ESPN
Location: Miami, Florida

This will be an all-Big Ten College Football Playoff title game. But this time, Ohio State gets the win in the rematch. It won’t be high scoring, but ESPN is banking on Jeremiah Smith being the difference maker this time around. Back to back folks.

Prediction: Ohio State 24, Indiana 20