2026-27 College Football Playoff Schedule and TV Broadcast Details
The 2026-27 College Football Playoff (CFP) schedule is out, and fans everywhere are starting to buzz. This year’s bracket sticks with 12 teams, so the expanded format isn’t going anywhere just yet.
From that first snap in the opening round to the final whistle of the national championship, the season’s shaping up to be a wild ride. Here’s a rundown of the schedule, some key dates, and a few thoughts on what might be in store.
First Round Matchups
The first round kicks off Friday, December 18, and rolls into Saturday, December 19. Four games will be played at campus sites—there’s nothing quite like the energy of a home crowd in college football.
Friday, December 18
Things get started at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. It’s the first of four matchups, and you can bet the atmosphere will be electric as teams battle to move on.
Saturday, December 19
Saturday brings three more games, spaced out nicely across the day:
- 12 p.m. ET | ABC/ESPN
- 3:30 p.m. ET | TNT/truTV/HBO Max
- 7:30 p.m. ET | TNT/truTV/HBO Max
Every game here matters—one slip and a team’s season is over. No pressure, right?
Quarterfinals
The quarterfinals run from Wednesday, December 30, through Friday, January 1. These games are at big-time bowl venues, and you can catch them on TNT, truTV, or HBO Max.
Wednesday, December 30
The Fiesta Bowl gets things going at 7:30 p.m. ET. That’s a tough stage to walk onto, but someone’s got to do it.
Friday, January 1
New Year’s Day is loaded with three games:
- Cotton Bowl
- Rose Bowl
- Peach Bowl
What better way to start a new year than with wall-to-wall football? These games will decide who’s heading to the semifinals.
Semifinals
Semifinals are set for mid-January. Two games, two tickets to the national championship on the line.
Thursday, January 14
The Orange Bowl hosts the first semifinal at 7:30 p.m. ET, airing on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Expect a tense, edge-of-your-seat kind of night.
Friday, January 15
The Sugar Bowl hosts the second semifinal, also at 7:30 p.m. ET, this time on ABC/ESPN. By the end of the night, we’ll know who’s playing for it all.
National Championship Game
The grand finale lands on Monday, January 25, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Whoever’s left standing after all this? They’ll be crowned national champion under the Vegas lights. Not a bad way to end the season, honestly.
Historical Context
Looking ahead is fun, but it’s hard not to glance back at some of the wild moments this playoff has given us. Since the CFP started, there’s been no shortage of drama.
Here are a few past champions, just for the nostalgia:
- 2015: No. 4 Ohio State 42, No. 2 Oregon 20 (Arlington, Texas)
- 2016: No. 2 Alabama 45, No. 1 Clemson 40 (Glendale, Ariz.)
- 2017: No. 2 Clemson 35, No. 1 Alabama 31 (Tampa, Fla.)
- 2018: No. 4 Alabama 26, No. 3 Georgia 23 (Atlanta, Ga.)
- 2019: No. 2 Clemson 44, No. 1 Alabama 16 (Santa Clara, Calif.)
- 2020: No. 1 LSU 42, No. 3 Clemson 25 (New Orleans, La.)
- 2021: No. 1 Alabama 52, No. 3 Ohio State 24 (Miami Gardens, Fla.)
- 2022: No. 3 Georgia 33, No. 1 Alabama 18 (Indianapolis, Ind.)
- 2023: No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7 (Inglewood, Calif.)
- 2024: No. 1 Michigan 34, No. 2 Washington 13 (Houston, Texas)
- 2025: No. 8 Ohio State 34, No. 7 Notre Dame 23 (Atlanta, Ga.)
- 2026: No. 1 Indiana 27, No. 10 Miami (Fla.) 21 (Miami Gardens, Fla.)
Some of these games are still talked about—and probably will be for years. College football fans never forget a classic.
Looking Ahead
We’re closing in on the 2026-27 season, and honestly, it’s hard not to feel the buzz. The College Football Playoff is gearing up for another wild ride.
This time, there’ll be a 12-team bracket. That means more teams, more drama, and probably a few surprises along the way.
If you’re hunting for updates or want the nitty-gritty details, the official NCAA website is your best bet.
The action kicks off with the first round in mid-December. It all builds up to the national championship game in late January.
Whether you live for college football or just tune in for the big moments, this season looks like one you really shouldn’t miss.
