College Football Playoff schedule: full 2025–26 dates, kickoff windows, and what to know before Selection Day

The college football playoff schedule is locked in on the calendar even as the final bracket won’t be revealed until Selection Day on Sunday, Dec. 7. First-round games hit campus sites Dec. 19–20, quarterfinals play out Dec. 31–Jan. 1 at bowl venues, semifinals follow Jan. 8–9, and the national championship crowns a winner on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami. With seeding and matchups still to be announced, here’s the clean, fan-friendly slate with U.S. Eastern Time (ET) and UK time (GMT) for quick planning.

College Football Playoff schedule (2025–26)

First round — campus sites

• Fri, Dec. 19: 8:00 p.m. ET (Sat 01:00 GMT) — Game 1

• Sat, Dec. 20: 12:00 p.m. ET (17:00 GMT) — Game 2

• Sat, Dec. 20: 3:30 p.m. ET (20:30 GMT) — Game 3

• Sat, Dec. 20: 7:30 p.m. ET (Sun 00:30 GMT) — Game 4

Quarterfinals — bowl venues (Dec. 31–Jan. 1; exact bowls and kickoff times announced with the bracket)

• Wed, Dec. 31: Quarterfinal A — Time TBA (ET/GMT)

• Wed, Dec. 31: Quarterfinal B — Time TBA (ET/GMT)

• Thu, Jan. 1: Quarterfinal C — Time TBA (ET/GMT)

• Thu, Jan. 1: Quarterfinal D — Time TBA (ET/GMT)

Semifinals — bowl venues

• Thu, Jan. 8, 2026: Semifinal 1 — Time TBA (ET/GMT)

• Fri, Jan. 9, 2026: Semifinal 2 — Time TBA (ET/GMT)

National Championship

• Mon, Jan. 19, 2026: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida — Time TBA (ET/GMT)

Note: Selection Day is Sunday, Dec. 7. Matchups, specific host bowls for each quarterfinal/semifinal, and any precise kickoff times listed “TBA” will be confirmed with the bracket reveal.

How the 12-team bracket plugs into the schedule

The college football playoff schedule uses the second year of the 12-team format. The top four conference champions receive first-round byes to the quarterfinals; seeds 5–12 meet on campuses in the four first-round games above. Winners advance to neutral-site quarterfinals at major bowls on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, then to two neutral-site semifinals the following week, and finally to the title game in Miami on Jan. 19.

This structure matters for planning: if your team is seeded 5–8, you’re hosting a December game on campus; if it’s 9–12, you’re traveling to a higher seed’s stadium on short notice. Either way, the turn from first round to quarterfinals is tight, so travel and ticket decisions often come within hours of the Selection Day reveal.

Key planning tips for fans

• Block the windows now. The first-round doubleheader Saturday (noon/3:30/7:30 p.m. ET with Friday night opener) is a true binge day; New Year’s Eve/Day quarterfinals bring daytime-to-evening doubleheaders.

• Mind the time zones. December UK times are GMT. For quick math: add five hours to ET (e.g., 8:00 p.m. ET = 01:00 GMT next day).

• Campus-site logistics. Cold-weather venues can affect kickoff routines and travel; pack for winter, plan for tighter gate lines, and expect dynamic pricing on parking.

• Bowls and semifinals. Quarterfinal and semifinal bowls rotate; your team’s seed and regional draw will drive which city you’ll visit. Hotels near stadium districts sell out first—set alerts now.

What could still change on the college football playoff schedule

While the dates are set, some kickoff times remain “TBA” until the bracket is finalized on Dec. 7. Additionally, bowl assignments for specific quarterfinals and semifinals are confirmed in tandem with the bracket. If conference championship outcomes reshape seeding late, that can nudge which teams land in which New Year’s bowls; the dates do not change, but travel targets might.

Quick reference: all CFP dates at a glance

• Dec. 19–20: First round (campus sites)

• Dec. 31–Jan. 1: Quarterfinals (bowls)

• Jan. 8–9, 2026: Semifinals (bowls)

• Jan. 19, 2026: National Championship — Miami

Keep this college football playoff schedule handy through Selection Day; once the bracket drops, you can overlay seeds and opponents onto these fixed windows and lock in travel with confidence.