Expanded College Football Playoff Schedule Announced for 2026-27 Season
The 2026-27 College Football Playoff (CFP) schedule is out, and honestly, it looks like a wild ride. There will be 11 games, starting December 18, 2026, and wrapping up with the national championship on January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The CFP, along with ESPN and TNT Sports, dropped the news about how the games will be split across networks. Fans can catch the action on ESPN, TNT, truTV, and even HBO Max, so missing a game seems almost impossible now.
Contents
Expanded Broadcast Coverage
One thing that stands out this year is the bigger broadcast footprint. ESPN’s deal now hands five games over to TNT Sports and its family of networks, which is a pretty smart move if you ask me.
This should make life easier for fans, with more ways to tune in. If you’re on the go, every ESPN game will also stream on the ESPN App, so you can catch it wherever you are—no excuses.
Streaming Options
They’re not just sticking to cable, either. First-round games airing on TNT and truTV will also stream on HBO Max, which means you can watch on your phone, tablet, or wherever you want.
Honestly, it’s about time college football leaned into streaming like this. It feels like they’re finally catching up to how people actually watch sports these days.
First-Round Games
The action starts with first-round games at campus sites. We won’t know the exact locations until December 6, which adds a bit of suspense for everyone watching.
The first game is Friday, December 18, at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. Then, on Saturday, three more games roll out: noon on ABC/ESPN, 3:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV/HBO Max, and 7:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV/HBO Max.
Campus Sites
Having these early games at campus stadiums is such a cool touch. There’s just something different about the energy when you’re right in the middle of a college town, and you can feel it in the crowd.
Quarterfinals
Quarterfinals bring us four games, each hosted by a major bowl. The Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, gets things started on December 30 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, airing on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.
On January 1, the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Cotton Bowl in Arlington, and Rose Bowl in Pasadena will each host a quarterfinal.
New Year’s Day Tradition
New Year’s Day and college football just go together, don’t they? This year, quarterfinals are set for noon (TNT/truTV/HBO Max), 4 p.m. (ABC/ESPN), and 8 p.m. (ESPN), so it’s basically an all-day football marathon.
Semifinals
After a two-week breather, it’s time for the semifinals. The Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens hosts the first one on January 14 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, with coverage on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.
The next day, the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans takes the spotlight at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, airing on ABC and ESPN.
High-Stakes Matchups
These semifinal games are always intense. You never quite know what’ll happen, and the pressure is sky-high—every play feels like it could change everything.
National Championship
It all comes down to this: the national championship game on January 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern, and you can catch it on ABC and ESPN.
Whoever makes it there, you just know it’s going to be an epic finish to the season.
Allegiant Stadium
Hosting the national championship at Allegiant Stadium? That just adds a whole new buzz to the event.
This state-of-the-art facility in Las Vegas sets the stage for the season’s biggest game. It’s a place that really knows how to put on a show, making it a memorable spot for both players and fans.
For a deeper dive into the 2026-27 College Football Playoff schedule—including kickoff times and broadcast details—check out the official College Football Playoff announcement.
