College Football Playoff Schedule 2026-27
Full 2026-27 College Football Playoff schedule with dates, kickoff times (Eastern), TV channels and scores: First Round Dec 18-19, quarterfinals Dec 30 and Jan 1, semifinals Jan 14-15 and the national championship on Monday, Jan 25, 2027 in Las Vegas.
College Football Playoff Schedule by Round
Games that shape the playoff race this week
| Date | Matchup | Kickoff (ET) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
 Illinois at  UCLA | UCLA: No. 8 seed | ||
 Northwestern at  Ohio State | Ohio State: in the hunt | ||
 Duke at  Miami | Miami: No. 1 seed | ||
 Alabama at  Vanderbilt | Alabama: No. 5 seed | ||
 Tennessee at  Texas A&M | Tennessee: in the hunt | ||
 Baylor at  BYU | BYU: No. 9 seed | ||
 Missouri at  Georgia | Georgia: No. 2 seed | ||
 Boston College at  Notre Dame | Notre Dame: No. 11 seed | ||
 USC at  Indiana | Indiana: No. 4 seed | ||
 Ole Miss at  Oklahoma | Ole Miss: No. 10 seed | ||
 Oregon State at  Boise State | Boise State: No. 12 seed | ||
 Florida at  Kentucky | Kentucky: No. 6 seed |
Projected First Round matchups
Ole Miss Rebelsat7
Texas LonghornsNotre Dame Fighting Irishat6Kentucky WildcatsBrigham Young Cougarsat8UCLA BruinsBoise State Broncosat5Alabama Crimson TideCollege Football Playoff Schedule: Key Dates and TV
| Round | Dates | Games | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Dec 18–19, 2026 | 4 | ESPN |
| Quarterfinals | Dec 30 – Jan 1, 2027 | 4 | Fiesta Bowl |
| Semifinals | Jan 14–15, 2027 | 2 | Orange Bowl on TNT/truTV/HBO Max |
| CFP National Championship | Jan 25, 2027 | 1 | ABC and ESPN |
This College Football playoff schedule fills in the moment the 2026 matchups are confirmed; the round dates are already fixed. Times are Eastern. The bracket shows the same games by round, and each team page lists its own path.
College Football playoff schedule FAQ
When does the College Football Playoff start?
Friday, Dec 18, 2026 with one First Round game at 8 PM ET on ESPN; the other three are Saturday, Dec 19 at noon (ABC/ESPN), 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM (TNT/truTV/HBO Max).
When are the quarterfinals?
The Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday, Dec 30 at 7:30 PM ET (TNT/truTV/HBO Max), then the Cotton, Rose and Peach Bowls on Friday, Jan 1; their kickoff slots are assigned on Selection Day.
When are the semifinals?
Orange Bowl on Thursday, Jan 14 (TNT/truTV/HBO Max) and Sugar Bowl on Friday, Jan 15 (ABC/ESPN), both 7:30 PM ET.
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.
What channels show the College Football Playoff?
ESPN and ABC and TNT Sports (TNT, truTV and HBO Max) share the games: the First Round on ESPN, ABC/ESPN and TNT/truTV/HBO Max, the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal and Orange Bowl semifinal on TNT/truTV/HBO Max, the Jan 1 quarterfinals at noon (TNT/truTV/HBO Max), 4 PM (ABC/ESPN) and 8 PM ET (ESPN), the Sugar Bowl semifinal and the title game on ABC/ESPN.