College Football Playoff Dates Announced for 2026 and 2027 Seasons
College football fans, you might want to grab a pen and jot this down. The College Football Playoff (CFP) just dropped the official dates for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 playoff seasons, and honestly, it’s shaping up to be another wild ride.
This announcement covers the quarterfinals, semifinals, and, of course, the National Championship Games. There’s a real focus on keeping things fair and fun for everyone, and the CFP keeps tweaking things to keep fans guessing (in a good way). If you’re craving the official details, dive into the full announcement here.
Contents
2026-27 College Football Playoff Schedule
The 2026-27 schedule starts with the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Then, on New Year’s Day, fans get a triple-header: the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Peach Bowl, and the Rose Bowl Game.
Semifinals are set for Jan. 14 and 15, with the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl taking center stage. The National Championship will cap it all off on Jan. 25 in Las Vegas.
Key Dates for the 2026-27 Season
- Quarterfinals: Dec. 30 – Fiesta Bowl
- Quarterfinals: Jan. 1 – Cotton Bowl Classic, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game
- Semifinals: Jan. 14 – Orange Bowl
- Semifinals: Jan. 15 – Sugar Bowl
- National Championship: Jan. 25 – Las Vegas
2027-28 College Football Playoff Schedule
The 2027-28 season flips things a bit. The Sugar Bowl opens as the first quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31.
Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Rose Bowl Game follow on Jan. 1. Semifinals will be the Orange Bowl on Jan. 13 and the Cotton Bowl Classic on Jan. 14.
New Orleans gets the National Championship Game on Jan. 24.
Key Dates for the 2027-28 Season
- Quarterfinals: Dec. 31 – Sugar Bowl
- Quarterfinals: Jan. 1 – Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game
- Semifinals: Jan. 13 – Orange Bowl
- Semifinals: Jan. 14 – Cotton Bowl Classic
- National Championship: Jan. 24 – New Orleans
Maintaining Competitive Balance and Fan Experience
According to CFP Executive Director Rich Clark, these dates aren’t just random picks. The idea is to keep things fair, make the experience better for fans, and give everyone a sense of what to expect.
The bowl partners and their communities have really stepped up over the first two years of the expanded playoff. Their effort’s made a real difference for the players and fans alike.
Future of the 12-Team Format
Back in January, the College Football Playoff Management Committee decided the 12-team format would stick around for at least the next season. They want more time to see how it works and figure out if anything needs to change.
We’ll have to wait a bit longer for game times and TV info—those details are coming later this year.
Broadcasting Rights and Partnerships
ESPN still has the main broadcast rights for the Playoff, but TNT Sports is in the middle of a five-year deal to air some CFP games too. Starting in 2026, TNT will pick up two quarterfinals on top of two first-round games.
As for the playoff dates from 2028 to 2031, those are still under wraps for now.
Conclusion
The College Football Playoff keeps changing, and honestly, that’s part of the fun. Fans can expect more wild games and those jaw-dropping moments that stick with you.
Now that we’ve got the dates for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 playoff seasons, there’s a new chapter just waiting to unfold. If you want all the details or the official word, you can check out the full announcement here.
