The College Football Playoff has released its comprehensive broadcast schedule for the 2026‑27 season, outlining when and where each round of games will be shown.
The 2026‑27 playoff calendar
Opening‑round matchups are set for December 18 and 19, after which the quarterfinals will take place on December 30 and 31, followed by the semifinals on January 14 and 15.
The championship game will be played on January 25 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, bringing the season to a close in the Silver State.
Network assignments
First‑round games will be split among ESPN, ABC, TNT, truTV and HBO Max, giving viewers multiple entry points to the action.
Quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will be shared by TNT, truTV, HBO Max, ABC and ESPN, ensuring that each game reaches a wide audience across the conglomerate of networks.
The title game itself will be broadcast on both ABC and ESPN, allowing fans to choose their preferred platform for the final showdown.
Selection Day and bowl pairings
On Sunday, December 6, the CFP will announce which bowls — the Chick‑fil‑A Peach Bowl, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and the Rose Bowl Game — will host the quarterfinal windows, finalizing the matchups that lead to the later stages.
This expanded schedule not only stretches the playoff over a longer period but also diversifies the broadcast footprint, reflecting the CFP’s strategy to maximize exposure through a network of partners.