College Football Playoff 2026–27: Schedule, Dates & Sites
Selection Day is December 6. The first round is December 18–19, the quarterfinals December 30 and January 1, the semifinals January 14–15, and the national championship January 25, 2027 in Las Vegas.
The 2026–27 College Football Playoff runs from December 18, 2026 to January 25, 2027. Twelve teams, eleven games: first-round games on campus, quarterfinals and semifinals at the big bowls, and the national championship at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
- Event
- CFP National Championship 2027
- Dates
- Mon, Jan 25, 2027
- Venue
- Allegiant Stadium
- Location
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
- Organizer
- College Football Playoff
Checked against the official source (collegefootballplayoff.com) on November 2, 2026. Schedules can change, so confirm before you travel.
College Football Playoff 2026–27 schedule
| Date | Round | Site | Kickoff (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Dec 6 | Selection Day: bracket revealed | – | – | ESPN |
| Fri, Dec 18 | First round | Campus site | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sat, Dec 19 | First round (3 games) | Campus sites | Noon · 3:30 · 7:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN · TNT, truTV, HBO Max |
| Wed, Dec 30 | Quarterfinal | Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz. | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, HBO Max |
| Fri, Jan 1 | Quarterfinals (3 games) | Peach, Cotton and Rose Bowls | Noon · 4 · 8 p.m. | TNT · ABC/ESPN · ESPN |
| Thu, Jan 14 | Semifinal | Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla. | 7:30 p.m. | TNT, truTV, HBO Max |
| Fri, Jan 15 | Semifinal | Sugar Bowl, New Orleans | 7:30 p.m. | ABC and ESPN |
| Mon, Jan 25 | National Championship | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas | 7:30 p.m. | ABC and ESPN |
Which of the Peach, Cotton and Rose Bowls plays at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on New Year's Day is set on Selection Day. Source: the College Football Playoff's official 2026–27 broadcast schedule.
How the 12-team bracket works
- 12 teams are picked and seeded by the selection committee on Sunday, December 6.
- The top four seeds get a bye straight to the quarterfinals.
- Seeds 5 to 8 host the first round on their home campus against seeds 9 to 12, on December 18 and 19.
- Winners move on to the quarterfinal bowls, then the Orange and Sugar Bowl semifinals.
- The last two teams meet in Las Vegas on Monday, January 25.
Going to a playoff game: what to expect
First-round games are played at campus stadiums in mid-December, often in real winter weather, so treat them like a cold-weather road trip: warm layers, a hat, gloves and a stadium blanket. Most college stadiums follow a clear bag policy similar to the NFL's 12x6x12-inch rule. Check the host school's stadium page for bag and blanket rules before you go.
The quarterfinal and semifinal bowls are a mix of domes and open-air stadiums, and the championship at Allegiant Stadium is indoors, so you will not need cold-weather gear inside. Las Vegas can still be chilly at night in late January.
Hosting a playoff watch party
- Plan for doubleheaders. Saturday, December 19 and New Year's Day each have three games in a row, so pick food that holds for hours.
- Know where the games are. The playoff is split between ESPN networks and TNT Sports (TNT, truTV and HBO Max) this season.
- Fill out a bracket after Selection Day on December 6 to keep everyone invested.
Gear for playoff season
Our guides for cold campus games and long watch parties.
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Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026–27 College Football Playoff start?
The first round is on Friday, December 18 and Saturday, December 19, 2026, after the bracket is revealed on Sunday, December 6.
When is the 2027 CFP National Championship?
Monday, January 25, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. ET at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, on ABC and ESPN.
Which bowls host the 2026–27 CFP quarterfinals?
The Fiesta Bowl (December 30) and the Peach, Cotton and Rose Bowls (January 1).
Where are the 2027 CFP semifinals?
The Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens on Thursday, January 14, and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Friday, January 15.
How many teams are in the College Football Playoff?
Twelve. The top four seeds get first-round byes, and seeds 5 to 8 host first-round games on campus.
What channel is the College Football Playoff on?
Games are split between ESPN networks (ESPN and ABC) and TNT Sports (TNT, truTV and HBO Max). The championship is on ABC and ESPN.
Dates, times and venues are checked against the official organizer and may change. We update this page when they do. Some links on this page go to our buying guides, which may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
