New College Football Bowl Schedule Unveiled with Caribbean Addition

The 2026-27 college football bowl schedule is out, and honestly, it looks like fans are in for a wild ride. We’re talking 35 bowl games and 11 College Football Playoff (CFP) matchups—yeah, that’s a lot of football.

Things get rolling on December 12, 2026, and wrap up with the CFP National Championship on January 20, 2027, in Las Vegas. There’s even a new kid on the block: the Puerto Rico Bowl, plus a mix of classic and fresh venues.

So, what’s the lineup? Let’s break it down a bit and see what’s worth circling on your calendar.

Overview of the 2026-27 Bowl Schedule

December 12 kicks things off with the Cricket Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. ABC’s got the broadcast, so you won’t have to go hunting for a stream.

After that, the action just keeps coming. The first round of the CFP lands on December 18 and 19 at various campus sites, which should make for some rowdy crowds.

There are tripleheader days sprinkled throughout, and games are spread across different networks. If you’re a fan, you’ll have plenty of chances to catch your team—or just binge-watch all day.

Key Dates and Matchups

Honestly, December 26 might be the most jam-packed day, with five bowl games stacked up. That’s a lot of snacks and channel-flipping.

Don’t sleep on December 22 and 23 either. Both days deliver tripleheader matchups, so if you’re looking for back-to-back football marathons, those are your days.

College Football Playoff Schedule

The CFP quarterfinals get going December 30 with the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Then, January 1 brings three more quarterfinals, each on a different network—so, yeah, you might want to double-check your remote batteries.

Quarterfinal Matchups

• Wednesday, Dec. 30: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona), 6:30 p.m. on TNT
• Friday, Jan. 1: Quarterfinals Game 2, 11 a.m. on TNT
• Friday, Jan. 1: Quarterfinals Game 3, 3 p.m. on ABC
• Friday, Jan. 1: Quarterfinals Game 4, 7 p.m. on ESPN

Semifinals and National Championship

Mark your calendars for January 14 and 15. The CFP semifinals are set for the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

The grand finale? The CFP National Championship on January 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. ABC will be airing it, so you know where to tune in.

• Thursday, Jan. 14: Capital One Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida), 6:30 p.m. on TNT
• Friday, Jan. 15: Allstate Sugar Bowl, Caesars Superdome (New Orleans), 6:30 p.m. on ABC
• Friday, Jan. 25: 2027 CFP National Championship, Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas), 6:30 p.m. on ABC

New Additions to the Bowl Lineup

This year, the Puerto Rico Bowl makes its debut on December 22 at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon. An international bowl game? That’s pretty cool, honestly.

Other Notable Bowl Games

Some other bowl games you might want to keep an eye on:

• Saturday, Dec. 12: Cricket Celebration Bowl, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), 11 a.m. on ABC
• Tuesday, Dec. 15: IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama), 4:30 p.m. on ESPN
• Friday, Dec. 18: Boca Raton Bowl, Flagler Credit Union Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida), 10 a.m. on ESPN
• Monday, Dec. 21: Myrtle Beach Bowl, Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina), 10 a.m. on ESPN
• Thursday, Dec. 24: Isleta New Mexico Bowl, University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico), 1:30 p.m. on ESPN
• Saturday, Dec. 26: Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, Yankee Stadium (New York), 11 a.m. on ABC
• Sunday, Dec. 27: The Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona), 3:30 p.m. on The CW
• Tuesday, Dec. 29: JLab Birmingham Bowl, Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama), 1 p.m. on ESPN
• Wednesday, Dec. 30: TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida), 10:30 a.m. on ESPN
• Thursday, Dec. 31: ReliaQuest Bowl, Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida), 11 a.m. on ESPN
• Saturday, Jan. 2: Citrus Bowl, Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida), 11 a.m. on ABC

Excitement Builds for College Football Fans

The 2026-27 bowl schedule is finally out. College football fans have a lot to look forward to this season—tradition, surprises, and plenty of energy in the air.

This year, the Puerto Rico Bowl joins the lineup. With games happening in so many places and airing on different networks, there’s bound to be something that grabs your attention.

Doesn’t matter if you’re glued to every play or just tuning in for the highlights—this bowl season looks like it’ll bring some wild matchups and moments you won’t forget anytime soon.

For the latest updates and the full schedule, check out the official announcement.