The 2026‑27 college football bowl season has been officially released, promising a slate of 46 postseason contests that will feature 80 teams – roughly 58 % of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
A jam‑packed postseason
Fans can expect a dense schedule spread across a handful of networks, with the ESPN family of channels slated to broadcast 38 of the games, while ABC and CBS will each carry marquee matchups.
The action kicks off on December 12, 2026, when the Cricket Celebration Bowl opens the postseason at noon Eastern on ABC, followed a few hours later by the historic Army‑Navy rivalry on CBS at 3 p.m. Eastern.
The College Football Playoff will begin its first round on December 18, and the quarterfinal round will be highlighted by the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on December 30, setting the stage for the semifinals in mid‑January.
The championship game is set for January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where the nation’s top two teams will meet for the title.