College Football Playoff Dates Announced for 2026 and 2027 Seasons
The College Football Playoff (CFP) just dropped the official dates for the Quarterfinal and Semifinal games in the 2026 and 2027 seasons. It’s a big moment, since this all comes as part of the new 12-team format.
Fans are in for a wild ride with this revamped schedule. The details lay out the exact dates and locations for these much-hyped games, all leading up to National Championship showdowns in Las Vegas and New Orleans.
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2026 College Football Playoff Schedule
The 2026 season will be the third run of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
This expansion is supposed to give more teams a real shot at the title, which, honestly, just makes the whole thing more fun.
Quarterfinals
Quarterfinal action kicks off Wednesday, December 30, 2026, at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. That opener should set the tone for the rest of the matchups.
Then, three more Quarterfinal games land on Friday, January 1, 2027, at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and the Rose Bowl Game.
- Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
- Friday, Jan. 1, 2027: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and Rose Bowl Game
Semifinals
Semifinals are set for two weeks later, giving teams a little breathing room to regroup and game plan.
The first Semifinal goes down Thursday, January 14, 2027, at the Capital One Orange Bowl. The next day, Friday, January 15, 2027, the other Semifinal is at the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
- Thursday, Jan. 14, 2027: Capital One Orange Bowl
- Friday, Jan. 15, 2027: Allstate Sugar Bowl
National Championship
The big finish of the 2026 season is the College Football Playoff National Championship. That’s set for Monday, January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Honestly, Vegas feels like a fitting backdrop for such a massive game.
- Monday, Jan. 25, 2027: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
2027 College Football Playoff Schedule
The 2027 schedule sticks pretty close to the previous year, but there are a few tweaks to the dates and venues.
Quarterfinals
Quarterfinals start Friday, December 31, 2027, at the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Then, on Saturday, January 1, 2028, three more Quarterfinal games take place at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and the Rose Bowl Game.
- Friday, Dec. 31, 2027: Allstate Sugar Bowl
- Saturday, Jan. 1, 2028: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and Rose Bowl Game
Semifinals
Semifinals for 2027 are on Thursday, January 13, 2028, at the Capital One Orange Bowl.
The next day, Friday, January 14, 2028, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic hosts the other Semifinal.
- Thursday, Jan. 13, 2028: Capital One Orange Bowl
- Friday, Jan. 14, 2028: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
National Championship
The season wraps up on Monday, January 24, 2028, with the College Football Playoff National Championship at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
That stadium always brings a certain energy—should be a memorable night.
- Monday, Jan. 24, 2028: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans
Why These Dates and Venues Matter
So, why pick these dates and places? According to Rich Clark, Executive Director of the CFP, it comes down to keeping things fair, making it awesome for fans, and building in some consistency year to year.
Collaboration with the bowl partners and local communities has been huge in making all this work. Clark put it this way: These dates allow us to maintain competitive balance, maximize the fan experience, and provide consistency for everyone involved in the Playoff.
He also added, I want to thank our bowl partners and their local communities for the incredible work, collaboration, and commitment they’ve shown throughout the first two years of the expanded playoff. The bowl games and the people behind them embraced change, delivered at the highest level, and helped ensure the expanded format was a success for student-athletes, fans, and the sport.
What to Expect Moving Forward
Looking ahead to the 2026 and 2027 seasons, there’s a lot to be curious about. The College Football Playoff is expanding to a 12-team format, which means more teams get a shot at the national title.
This change should make things a bit wilder—more excitement, more unpredictability, and probably a few surprises along the way. Now that the dates and venues are set, fans and teams can actually start planning for what could be two of the most interesting seasons in a while.
For the full schedule and all the details, check out the official announcement on fbschedules.com.
