College Football Playoffs
The 2026-27 College Football Playoff is a 12-team bracket: five automatic bids plus seven at-large teams, picked on Selection Day (Sunday, Dec 6). Games run from Dec 18 to the national championship on Monday, Jan 25, 2027 in Las Vegas.
How the 12-Team Bracket Works
First RoundDec 18-19 · campus
QuarterfinalsDec 30 – Jan 1 · bowls
SemifinalsJan 14-15
ChampionshipJan 25 · Las Vegas
Swipe for the next rounds. Fixed bracket, no reseeding. Full bracket with scores →
2026-27 College Football Playoff Schedule and TV
| Date | Round | Game and site | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Dec 6 | Selection Day | Final rankings, 12-team field and bracket | ESPN |
| Fri, Dec 18 | First Round | One game on campus, 8 PM ET | ESPN |
| Sat, Dec 19 | First Round | Three games on campus: noon, 3:30 and 7:30 PM ET | ABC/ESPN (noon), TNT/truTV/HBO Max (3:30, 7:30) |
| Wed, Dec 30 | Quarterfinal | Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz., 7:30 PM ET | TNT/truTV/HBO Max |
| Fri, Jan 1 | Quarterfinals | Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas), Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.), Peach Bowl (Atlanta); slots set on Selection Day | TNT/truTV/HBO Max, ABC/ESPN, ESPN |
| Thu, Jan 14 | Semifinal | Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla., 7:30 PM ET | TNT/truTV/HBO Max |
| Fri, Jan 15 | Semifinal | Sugar Bowl, Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, 7:30 PM ET | ABC/ESPN |
| Mon, Jan 25 | National Championship | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, 7:30 PM ET | ABC/ESPN |
ABC games are free over the air; ESPN games stream on the ESPN app and TNT games on HBO Max. Schedule with scores →
Who Gets In
- Automatic bids: the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions, plus the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt.
- At-large: the seven highest-ranked remaining teams. Notre Dame is in if it finishes in the top 12.
- Seeding: straight by the final CFP ranking; the top four get byes.
- Hosting: seeds 5 to 8 host the First Round; every later game is at a bowl site or Las Vegas.
Full format and tiebreak rules →
College Football Playoff Champions
| Season | Champion | Score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Indiana | 27-21 | Miami |
| 2024-25 | Ohio State | 34-23 | Notre Dame |
| 2023-24 | Michigan | 34-13 | Washington |
| 2022-23 | Georgia | 65-7 | TCU |
| 2021-22 | Georgia | 33-18 | Alabama |
| 2020-21 | Alabama | 52-24 | Ohio State |
| 2019-20 | LSU | 42-25 | Clemson |
| 2018-19 | Clemson | 44-16 | Alabama |
| 2017-18 | Alabama | 26-23 (OT) | Georgia |
| 2016-17 | Clemson | 35-31 | Alabama |
| 2015-16 | Alabama | 45-40 | Clemson |
| 2014-15 | Ohio State | 42-20 | Oregon |
Alabama has won three CFP titles; Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia two each.
Frequently asked questions
When do the CFP rankings come out?
Weekly on Tuesday nights from early November, then the final rankings on Selection Day, Sunday, Dec 6.
Who gets a first-round bye?
The four highest-ranked teams in the final CFP rankings, whether or not they won their conference (straight seeding, used since 2025).
Can a Group of Six team make the playoff?
Yes. The highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt gets an automatic bid, even if it is ranked outside the top 12.
Can Notre Dame make the playoff?
Yes. As an independent it cannot win a conference title, but it qualifies automatically if it finishes in the top 12 of the final rankings.
When and where is the 2027 national championship?
Monday, Jan 25, 2027 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, 7:30 PM ET on ABC and ESPN. It is the first title game played in Las Vegas.
Who won the last College Football Playoff?
Indiana, beating Miami 27-21 in the national championship on Jan 19, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium.