College Football Playoff Schedule Revealed
The College Football Playoff (CFP) has announced the dates and bowl sites for the CFP quarterfinal and semifinal games through the 2031 season. The CFP has confirmed that all playoff games beyond the opening round will continue to be hosted by CFP bowls on a rotating basis.
According to the CFP’s latest announcement, the first quarterfinal game of the upcoming 2026 season will be played on December 30, rather than the traditional December 31 New Year’s Eve slot. This change is likely due to the fact that New Year’s Eve falls on a Thursday later this year, which means that the CFP would be competing with the NFL for viewers.
The Rose Bowl has expressed a desire to maintain its preferred January 1 timeslot, which suggests that it will not host a semifinal game over the next six seasons. Additionally, there will be two weeks between the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds in 2026-27 and 2027-28, instead of just one week.
Several high-profile coaches have weighed in on college football’s current January calendar as it relates to the playoff, but as of now, no significant changes or earlier season endings have been made.
Looking ahead to the next few seasons, the National Championship Game locations include Las Vegas (2027), New Orleans (2028), and Tampa (2029). Tampa last hosted the title contest in January 2017 during the four-team format when Clemson beat Alabama in the final moments.
The current 12-team format will remain in place at least through the 2026 season after the SEC and Big Ten failed to reach a resolution this offseason on whether to expand to a 16- or 24-team bracket.
College Football Playoff Schedule Through 2031
The CFP has announced the following schedule for the quarterfinal and semifinal games through 2031:
- 2026-27: Quarterfinals – Saturday, December 30, 2026, at the Capital One Orange Bowl; Semifinals – Thursday, January 11, 2027, at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Friday, January 12, 2027, at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
- 2027-28: Quarterfinals – Monday, January 1, 2028, at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic; Semifinals – Thursday, January 11, 2028, at the Allstate Sugar Bowl and Friday, January 12, 2028, at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential.
- 2028-29: Quarterfinals – Saturday, December 30, 2028, at the Capital One Orange Bowl; Semifinals – Thursday, January 11, 2029, at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Friday, January 12, 2029, at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
- 2029-30: Quarterfinals – Tuesday, January 1, 2030, at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, and the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential; Semifinals – Wednesday, January 2, 2030, at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Thursday, January 10, 2030, at the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
- 2030-31: Quarterfinals – Tuesday, December 31, 2030, at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl; Semifinals – Wednesday, January 1, 2031, at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, and the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential.
- 2031-32: Quarterfinals – Wednesday, December 31, 2031, at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic; Semifinals – Thursday, January 1, 2032, at the Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Key Takeaways
The CFP has announced the dates and bowl sites for the quarterfinal and semifinal games through the 2031 season. The CFP will continue to host playoff games beyond the opening round on a rotating basis, with the Rose Bowl seeking to maintain its preferred January 1 timeslot. The current 12-team format will remain in place at least through the 2026 season.
