2026 College Football Playoff Championship: Exciting Entertainment Lineup Announced
The College Football Playoff (CFP) has announced a pretty exciting lineup of pregame entertainment for the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship. This game is set for Monday, January 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
This year’s event mixes musical performances, patriotic tributes, and special recognitions. It’s shaping up to be a memorable night for everyone, whether you’re watching from the stands or your couch.
From soulful national anthems to honoring military heroes and standout educators, the CFP’s pregame festivities aim to celebrate excellence both on and off the field. There’s a lot packed in here—let’s dig into what’s planned.
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Star-Studded Musical Performances
The night kicks off with Mississippi native and breakout soul artist Jamal Roberts singing The Star-Spangled Banner. Roberts pulled off a huge win on Season 23 of American Idol, racking up 26 million votes and quickly jumping from fan favorite to chart-topping artist.
His debut single, Heal, hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs and Gospel Digital Song charts. Roberts’ anthem performance will be arranged by award-winning musician and music director Adam Blackstone.
Before the anthem, members of the Florida Memorial University Ambassador Chorale will perform America the Beautiful under the direction of Dr. Argarita Johnson. Florida Memorial University stands out as the only historically Black university in South Florida, known for its focus on leadership, scholarship, and preserving Black history and culture through education and the arts.
ASL Performances
Inclusivity gets a spotlight, too. Seventeen-year-old Brianna Therve, a junior at Barbara Goleman High School, will sign America the Beautiful in American Sign Language (ASL).
And 18-year-old Maria Pernalete, a senior at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, will sign The Star-Spangled Banner in ASL. Both are students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Florida’s largest school district and the third largest in the country.
They get support through the district’s Department of Exceptional Student Education, which provides specialized programs for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students and their families across Miami-Dade County. It’s a nice touch that feels genuinely meaningful.
Honoring the Armed Forces
The National Anthem Ceremony starts with the presentation of the Nation’s Colors by a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard from the Military District of Washington. You’ll see members from the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
After that, volunteers from the Miami-Dade community will unfurl a giant American flag. It’s a classic moment, but it never really gets old, does it?
There’s also a salute to the armed forces with video feeds of U.S. troops stationed overseas. Service members deployed in Romania with the 4-3 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army, and those in the Middle East with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, U.S. Air Force, will be tuning in to the game. The ceremony will also feature a flyover from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami in Opa-locka, Florida.
Medal of Honor Recognition
During the game, the College Football Playoff will recognize Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sergeant (Retired) Earl D. Plumlee. His extraordinary heroism during combat in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013, is truly remarkable.
Plumlee repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to protect his teammates and save lives. His courage and selflessness are just inspiring, honestly.
Celebrating Educators and Community Involvement
As part of the CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) initiative, the 2025 Teacher of the Year from every U.S. state and territory will be honored on the field during the pregame celebration. It’s a solid chance for fans to show appreciation for educators and all the hard work they put in.
Marching Bands and Drummers
The marching bands of each participating team will take the field during pregame and halftime, keeping that college football tradition alive. Drummers from the team bands will join the National Anthem presentation, adding to the energy and pageantry.
In-Stadium Entertainment
ESPN sideline reporter Stormy Buonantony is back as the in-stadium emcee for the fourth straight year. She’ll be joined by DJ Mal-Ski, who brings his signature high-energy performance to the crowd.
This year, DJ Mal-Ski teams up with eight Latin percussionists from Hussein & The Fire Drummers. Expect a dynamic collaboration that blends live percussion with electrifying beats—it should be a blast.
Event Production
Pregame festivities inside Hard Rock Stadium start at 7:30 p.m. ET, with kickoff at 7:50 p.m. ET. Michael T. Fiur Productions is handling the event presentation, so things should run pretty smoothly.
For more details on the College Football Playoff and the national championship game, check out the official CFP website. If you’re posting, don’t forget the hashtag: #CFBPlayoff.
About the College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The CFP selection committee ranks the top 25 teams at the end of the regular season.
The five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams get seeded into a 12-team bracket. Teams are placed based on the final ranking, and the four highest-ranked teams receive a first-round bye.
Teams ranked Nos. 5-12 play in the CFP First Round. Higher seeds host the lower seeds, which adds a bit of drama right from the start.
The Playoff Quarterfinals and Semifinals rotate each year among six bowl games. These are the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The College Football Playoff National Championship is set for Monday, January 19, 2026. It’ll take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida—should be a big night.
If you’re curious and want more details, check out the official CFP website.
