The postseason will begin on December 19, and, aside from any all-star games that are scheduled, end on January 19, 2026, with the College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Two schools are playing their first FBS seasons in 2025; Delaware (from the Coastal Athletic Association) and Missouri State (from the Missouri Valley conference) began their transitions from Division I FCS in 2024 and will join Conference USA (CUSA) in July 2025.

[1][2] One formerly independent school, UMass, will rejoin the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 2025.

[5][6][7][8][9] The regular season will begin on Saturday, August 23 with four games in Week 0.

The four highest-ranked conference champions will receive a first-round bye in the playoff.