When Does the CFP National Championship Game Start?

When Does the CFP National Championship Game Start?

This article is part of our Betting Promotions series.

After three intense rounds of the first-ever 12-team bracket, the 2025 CFP national championship game is set between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The CFP national championship game will start at 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and will be broadcast on ESPN's family of networks. Bettors can use the top sports betting apps to place bets on hundreds of standard, prop and parlay wagers available on the game.

Because of the new format, Jan. 20 will be the latest a national champion will have ever been crowned. The College Football Playoff kicked off on-campus the weekend of Dec. 20 and will crown a champion a month later in a matchup of two of the nation's biggest powerhouses. Check out our College Football Betting Guide to find the latest odds on the game.

Though the primary broadcast will take place on ESPN, there will be alternative broadcasts on ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNEWS. ESPN+ members can also log into the ESPN app to watch the game featuring home and away radio calls as well as band performances.

When Does the CFP Championship Game Start Tonight?

The 2025 CFP championship game will start at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Ohio State holds a 6-2 advantage in the all-time series, and has won six straight in the matchup, with the last Notre Dame victory coming in 1936. Bettors looking to wager on the game can use the sportsbook promos listed below that can deliver thousands of dollars in bonus bets, profit boosts and first-bet insurance offers. 

The national broadcast will air on ESPN and ABC, with the worldwide leader in sports also providing a number of alternative broadcasts that include Pat McAfee, stadium noise, as well as home and away radio broadcasts. Bettors can download the best online sportsbooks to wager on the matchup. 

ESPN's A-Team of Chris Fowler (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (color commentary) will call the national broadcast at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the home of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and the annual site of the SEC championship game. College football betting promos available for the game include a host of bet-&-get opportunities, profit boosts and first-bet bonuses that will return site credits if your first wagers are unsuccessful.

CFP National Championship Game Matchup: Ohio State vs Notre Dame

Bettors who wagered on both Notre Dame and Ohio State on college football betting sites during the CFP have been rewarded. As the 7th (Ohio State) and 8th (Notre Dame) seeded teams in the playoff, respectively, both the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish have gone 3-0 straight-up and 3-0 against the spread.

The Fighting Irish won a home playoff game in the quarterfinals against Indiana before knocking off an injury-riddled Georgia team in the Sugar Bowl and kicking a game-winning field goal to beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl. The Irish have been a profitable college football betting option this season, going 13-2 against the spread, including covers in their last 11 consecutive games.

Ohio State has looked like the country's best team throughout the CFP, winning its first three games by an average scoring margin of nearly 20 points. The Buckeyes have also covered in four straight games, though a glance at the college football odds shows their overall 9-6 record against the spread isn't quite as impressive as Notre Dame's.

Still, they look like the team to beat behind standout freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who will likely enter the 2025 season as one of the frontrunners for the Heisman Trophy. Players can find the latest Heisman Trophy odds to wager on for next season after Colorado's all-purpose athlete Travis Hunter took home the award in December.

Where Can You Bet on the 2025 CFP Championship Game?

The 2025 CFP championship game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 20: Here's where you can bet on it: 

  • BetMGM: The BetMGM bonus code ROTOSPORTS awards bettors a first-bet offer up to $1,500, meaning the first wager you place will earn cash profit with a win or matching bonus bets back in return.
  • Caesars Sportsbook: Bettors who sign up using the Caesars Sportsbook promo code ROTODYW and place a single $1 bet on the CFP national championship game will earn 10 100% profit boosts, which doubles your potential winnings at no additional cost to you.
  • Fanatics Sportsbook: The Fanatics Sportsbook promo code delivers up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets – $100 each day for 10 consecutive days after signup.
  • bet365: College football fans who register for a new account using the bet365 bonus code ROTOWIRE will receive $150 in bonus bets with a first bet of $5 or more..
  • DraftKings: Bettors who sign up using the DraftKings promo code offer and place any $5 wager will receive $200 in bonus bets instantly, delivered as eight $25 bonus bets.
  • FanDuel: There's something for all types of bettors with the FanDuel promo code offer, which delivers $300 in bonus bets to new players who register and place a successful $5 wager on the CFP national championship.
  • Hard Rock Bet: Bettors in New Jersey can snag $100 in guaranteed bonus bets with a $5 or more first bet, thanks to the Hard Rock Bet promo code offer. In Arizona, Tennessee and Virginia, bettors will receive a refund in bonus bets if their first wager loses, up to $100.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Strotman
Mark Strotman is a veteran sports journalist who has covered the Chicago Bulls and the NBA for NBC Sports Chicago for about 8 years. His work has also appeared on ESPN.com, FoxSports.com, The Chicago Tribune, Yahoo Sports and NBC Sports. He covered the NBA Playoffs in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017 as well as Team USA Basketball in 2014 and 2016. He has also covered high school football and was nominated for a Midwest Emmy in 2016 for his work on a documentary featuring local Chicago product and NFL prospect Miles Boykin.