It happened on a Monday. January 20, 2025, to be exact. If you were looking for the game to happen in the middle of the month like it usually does, you probably felt like the schedule was dragging. That’s because the 2024-2025 season changed everything we knew about the postseason.
We didn't just get a game; we got a whole new era.
For the first time ever, the when is the college football championship 2025 question wasn't just about two teams meeting after a New Year's Day bowl. It was the culmination of a massive, 12-team bracket that stretched deep into January.
The Big Date and the New Reality
Marking your calendar for January 20, 2025, felt weird for a lot of fans. Usually, the "natty" wraps up a week or so earlier. But with the expansion to 12 teams, the calendar had to stretch. The game kicked off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Why Atlanta? Well, it was actually supposed to be in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. But Vegas had a conflict with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and since you can't really move 150,000 tech bros out of town on short notice, the game moved to Georgia.
Honestly, it worked out. Atlanta knows how to host a party.
The game featured Ohio State and Notre Dame. If you’re a fan of Midwest grit, this was your Super Bowl. Ohio State ended up taking it home, winning 34-23. It wasn't just a win; it was Ryan Day finally getting that giant monkey off his back by securing the Buckeyes' ninth national title.
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Why the 2025 Championship Date Shifted
Basically, the old four-team format was a sprint. The new 12-team format is a marathon.
The playoffs started way back on December 20 and 21, 2024, with first-round games on campus sites. Then we had the quarterfinals on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. By the time the semifinals rolled around on January 9 and 10, the players were exhausted, and the fans were barely keeping up with their brackets.
- First Round: Dec 20-21, 2024 (On-campus sites)
- Quarterfinals: Dec 31, 2024 - Jan 1, 2025 (Fiesta, Peach, Rose, and Sugar Bowls)
- Semifinals: Jan 9-10, 2025 (Orange and Cotton Bowls)
- National Championship: Jan 20, 2025 (Atlanta, GA)
You've gotta realize how much of a toll this took. Teams like Notre Dame had to play four high-stakes games in a month. That’s why the championship was pushed so late into January. It gave teams a ten-day breather after the semifinals to actually, you know, heal.
The Game That Defined the 2025 Season
Let’s talk about what actually happened on the field. Ohio State entered as an 8.5-point favorite. For a while, it looked like they might blow the doors off the place.
Notre Dame actually jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a grueling 18-play opening drive that took nearly ten minutes off the clock. Riley Leonard was playing like a man possessed. But then the Buckeyes woke up. Will Howard, the Kansas State transfer who found a second life in Columbus, started carving up the Irish secondary.
The Buckeyes scored 31 unanswered points.
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Quinshon Judkins, another transfer (this time from Ole Miss), was the absolute workhorse. He had 100 yards on only 11 carries and scored three different ways—once on the ground, once through the air, and he basically set the tone for the entire second half.
Notre Dame tried to make it interesting late. They clawed back to make it 31-23 in the fourth quarter. It got tense. You could feel the "here we go again" energy from the Ohio State fans in the stands. But a 56-yard bomb from Howard to freshman sensation Jeremiah Smith on a third-and-11 effectively iced the game.
Where to Find the 2026 Championship
If you missed the when is the college football championship 2025 window and you're already looking ahead, the schedule is staying late.
The 2026 National Championship is set for January 19, 2026.
This time, the circus moves to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It's following the same 12-team blueprint. If you're planning a trip, keep in mind that the semifinals for the 2025-26 season happen on January 8 and 9.
The "Selection Day" for the upcoming playoffs is usually the first Sunday in December. That’s when the committee reveals the final 12-team bracket.
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Actionable Tips for Following the Postseason
Planning for the next title game isn't just about knowing the date. Here is how you actually stay ahead of the curve.
First, download a dedicated sports app like the ESPN app or the Score and set alerts specifically for "CFP Rankings." The rankings change every Tuesday in November, and that’s what determines the seeding.
Second, if you’re planning to attend, book your hotel the minute the semifinal matchups are set. Prices in cities like Atlanta or Miami triple the second the fanbases know their team is in.
Finally, keep an eye on the "Five Highest-Ranked Conference Champions" rule. Since they get automatic bids and the top four get byes, the "when" of their games depends entirely on that final December ranking.
If you want to see the 2026 championship, save the date for January 19. It’s going to be another long, wild ride through the bracket.
Get your travel arrangements for Miami sorted by mid-December. If you wait until the semifinals are over on January 9, 2026, you'll be paying double for a flight. Stick to the official CFP ticket exchange to avoid the scams that inevitably pop up on social media during championship week.