Overview

• The 2025-26 College Football Playoff will begin with first-round campus games on December 19, 2025, and conclude with the national championship on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
• Quarterfinals will be held at the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve and the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, with the Rose Bowl now starting at 4 p.m. ET instead of its traditional 5 p.m. ET slot.
• The semifinals are scheduled for January 8 and 9, 2026, at the Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl, both kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
• The Rose Bowl time adjustment was a collaborative decision by the CFP, ESPN, and bowl organizers to optimize viewing schedules while maintaining its mid-afternoon tradition.
• This marks the first time since 2021 that the national championship will return to Miami Gardens, with ESPN broadcasting all playoff games under its current rights agreement.