College Football Playoff Sets Quarterfinal and Semifinal Dates Through 2031 Season

The College Football Playoff announced dates and bowl sites for quarterfinal and semifinal games through the 2031 season. CBS Sports reported that all playoff games beyond the opening round will continue to be hosted by CFP bowls on a rotating basis. The first quarterfinal of the 2026 season is set for Dec.

30, 2026. CBS Sports reported that the shift from the traditional Dec. 31 slot stems from New Year's Eve falling on a Thursday, which would place the games in direct competition with the NFL for viewers.

The Rose Bowl will not host a semifinal over the next six seasons. CBS Sports reported that the venue prefers to keep its Jan. 1 timeslot. There will be two weeks between the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds in both the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons.

National Championship Game sites were also set. CBS Sports reported that Las Vegas will host in 2027, New Orleans in 2028 and Tampa in 2029. Tampa last hosted the title game in January 2017, when Clemson defeated Alabama.

The current 12-team format will remain in place at least through the 2026 season. CBS Sports reported that the SEC and Big Ten did not reach agreement this offseason on expanding to a 16- or 24-team bracket. Detailed schedules for later seasons include the following.

The 2028-29 quarterfinals are set for Dec. 30, 2028, at the Capital One Orange Bowl and Jan. 1, 2029, at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl, with semifinals on Jan.

11 and 12, 2029, at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The 2029-30 quarterfinals are set for Jan.