A Revised Postseason Landscape
The College Football Playoff (CFP) unveiled the complete schedule for the 2026‑2027 season, marking the second year of the expanded format that now includes twelve teams. The tournament kicks off on December 18, 2026, with a series of first‑round matchups that will stretch over two days.
Games will continue on December 19, 2026, before the quarterfinals arrive on December 30, 2026, and January 1, 2027. Those contests will determine the final four teams that advance to the semifinals.
The semifinals are set for January 14 and January 15, 2027, featuring the top four remaining programs. Both games will be televised across a consortium of networks, including TNT, truTV, HBO Max, ABC and ESPN.
The championship game will be played on January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The national title matchup will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN, giving fans a clear view of the culmination of the postseason.
Broadcast Reach and Viewer Access
All first‑round games will be available on a combination of ESPN, ABC, TNT, truTV and HBO Max, ensuring that viewers can follow the action across cable, over‑the‑air and streaming platforms. The quarterfinal slate expands the distribution to TNT, truTV, HBO Max, ABC and ESPN, while the semifinals retain the same multi‑network approach. The championship game returns to a dual‑network broadcast on ABC and ESPN, reflecting the CFP’s strategy to maximize audience reach.