College Football Playoff 2026-27
If the season ended today, the top four seeds would be No. 1 Miami, No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Utah, No. 4 Indiana, based on the latest CFP rankings. The final 12-team field is announced on Selection Day, Sunday, Dec 6.
Projected College Football Playoff Field
Seeds from the latest CFP rankings under the 2026 rules: the five highest-ranked conference champions get automatic bids, seven at-large teams fill the rest, and the field is seeded 1 to 12 by ranking. Full table on the CFP rankings page.
Last four in
Lowest-ranked at-large teams in the field
- 8
UCLABig Ten · 8-0 - 9
BYUBig 12 · 7-1 - 10
Ole MissSEC · 6-2 - 11
Notre DameIndependents · 7-1
First four out
Highest-ranked teams missing the field
- 12
Ohio StateBig Ten · 6-2 - 13
TennesseeSEC · 6-2 - 14
LSUSEC · 6-2 - 15
Texas TechBig 12 · 7-1
Bids by conference
Teams in the projected field
- SEC5
- Big 122
- Big Ten2
- ACC1
- Independents1
- Pac-121
Why No. 12 Ohio State is out: five conference champions get automatic bids, so Boise State (No. 25), the highest-ranked Group of Six team, takes a place in the field ahead of Ohio State.
How the 12-Team Bracket Works
First RoundDec 18-19 · on campus
QuarterfinalsDec 30 – Jan 1 · bowls
SemifinalsJan 14-15
From Miami, UCLA, or BYU
From Indiana, Alabama, or Boise State
From Georgia, Texas, or Ole Miss
From Utah, Kentucky, or Notre DameChampionshipJan 25 · Las Vegas
Projected from the latest CFP rankings; gold seeds have first-round byes. Fixed bracket, no reseeding. Full bracket with scores →
2026-27 College Football Playoff Schedule and TV
| Date | Round | Game and site | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov 17 | CFP rankings | Committee top 25 revealed, 9 PM ET | ESPN |
| Tue, Nov 24 | CFP rankings | Committee top 25 revealed, 7:30 PM ET | ESPN |
| Tue, Dec 1 | CFP rankings | Committee top 25 revealed, 7 PM ET | ESPN |
| Sun, Dec 6 | Selection Day | Final rankings, 12-team field and bracket, noon-3 PM ET | 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 | Three games at noon, 4 PM and 8 PM ET: Peach Bowl (Atlanta), Cotton Bowl (Arlington, Texas) and Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.); which bowl takes which slot is set on Selection Day, Dec 6 | TNT/truTV/HBO Max (noon), ABC/ESPN (4 PM), ESPN (8 PM) |
| 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
Who is the No. 1 seed right now?
Miami Hurricanes, No. 1 in the CFP rankings.
When do the CFP rankings come out?
The next CFP rankings come out on Tuesday, November 17, at 9 PM ET on ESPN. After that: Nov 24 (7:30 PM ET), Dec 1 (7 PM ET). The final rankings, with the 12-team field and bracket, are revealed on Selection Day, Sunday, Dec 6, from noon ET.
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.