That first leg of the championship race features four on-campus games. No. 8 seed Oklahoma opens the action on Dec. 19 when it hosts No. 9 seed Alabama. And on Dec. 20, a trio of games pit No. 7 seed Texas A&M against No. 10 seed Miami, No. 6 seed Ole Miss against No. 11 seed Tulane and No. 5 seed Oregon against No. 12 seed James Madison.

Who will win the College Football Playoff? Check out latest CFP odds for all eight teams, with two Big Ten powers favored in betting odds for title.

Alabama is one-of-eight teams remaining with a chance to win the CFP national championship. Here is where the Crimson Tide's current title odds stand.

The 2026 CFP National Championship Game will take place Monday, Jan 19 at 7:30p ET. Teams are currently TBD. For the second year in a row, 12 teams were chosen to compete in the College Football Playoff, putting the National Championship Game in late January.

Each reporter picked every winner in the bracket and eventual national championship matchup, plus why each thinks the winning program will hoist the trophy on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Ole Miss is looking to take the next step toward a College Football Playoff national championship when it faces Georgia in their quarterfinal matchup at the Sugar Bowl, and they are borrowing transportation from an organization that knows something about winning championships.

Before we know the final two teams, let's take a look at the 12 squads that are hoping to make their way to Miami Gardens for the CFP title game this year.