College Football Playoff Releases Start Times for 2025–2026 Quarterfinal Games
New Year's Day tripleheader will start an hour earlier
Posted On: April 22, 2025 By :The College Football Playoff quarterfinal will kickoff on New Year’s Eve on December 31 before a quarterfinal tripleheader on New Year’s Day as the organization has announced the dates and kickoff times for the final three rounds of the postseason.
Details including first round dates, times and networks will be announced later this year. The quarterfinals will begin December 31 with the Cotton Bowl Classic in Texas before a tripleheader on January with the Orange Bowl (noon ET), Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential (4 p.m.) and Allstate Sugar Bowl (8 p.m.) all starting earlier than their traditional windows.
“This New Year’s Day schedule adjustment is the result of a thoughtful collaboration between the CFP, ESPN, the Capital One Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl,” said Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff. “All three bowls shifting their start times allows us to place each game in an ideal window on New Year’s Day and provide the optimal viewing experience. New Year’s Day and college football are synonymous with each other, and these changes only strengthen that relationship.”
The semifinals will be January 8 at the Fiesta Bowl and January 9 at the Peach Bowl, both at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. The 2026 CFP National Championship takes place January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium, which returns to Miami for the first time since 2021. It will be the second consecutive season the national championship game will return to a city for a second time, after Atlanta hosted the title contests in 2018 and 2025.
Details including first round dates, times and networks will be announced later this year.
CFP Schedule
Quarterfinals (Times Eastern)
December 31: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, 7:30 p.m.
January 1: Capital One Orange Bowl, Noon
January 1: Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential, 4 p.m.
January 1: Allstate Sugar Bowl, 8 p.m.
Semifinals
January 8: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, 7:30 p.m.
January 9: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, 7:30 p.m.
Championship
January 19: At Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, 7:30 p.m.