College Football Playoff Drops Major Bombshell on Future Host Cities—Fans Left Stunned!

Alright, here’s the scoop that’s making waves across college football circles: The College Football Playoff just dropped the lineup for its quarterfinals and semifinals in 2026 and 2027, keeping that playoff carousel spinning through the iconic CFP bowls. What’s clutch here is the consistency they’re aiming for—quarterfinals and semifinals will once again grace those historic venues, letting teams and fans know exactly what to expect as the postseason heats up. Mark your calendars—games kick off at the Fiesta Bowl on December 30, 2026, with a flurry of action through early January, then flip over to the Sugar Bowl sealing things up in late December 2027. The minds behind this are clearly dialing in on competitive balance and fan experience, and honestly, that’s music to anyone who’s lived through the chaos of playoff scheduling before. Game times and TV spots? Those details are still under wraps but set to drop later this year. Buckle up, it’s gearing up to be quite the ride. LEARN MORE

College Football Playoff makes announcement on future sites originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The College Football Playoff announced Tuesday the dates and bowl assignments for its quarterfinal and semifinal rounds for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, continuing the expanded playoff’s rotation through the CFP bowl games.

Under the plan, all quarterfinals and semifinals in both seasons will again be hosted by the CFP bowls, providing consistency for teams and fans as the format enters its next phase.

For the 2026-27 season, the CFP quarterfinals will begin Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2026, at the Fiesta Bowl. Three additional quarterfinals are scheduled for Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, at the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the Rose Bowl. The semifinals will be played Jan. 14 at the Orange Bowl and Jan. 15 at the Sugar Bowl.

The 2027-28 postseason will open with a quarterfinal on Friday, Dec. 31, 2027, at the Sugar Bowl, followed by three quarterfinals on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2028, at the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl and Rose Bowl. Semifinals are set for Thursday, Jan. 13, 2028, at the Orange Bowl and Friday, Jan. 14, 2028, at the Cotton Bowl Classic.

“These dates allow us to maintain competitive balance, maximize the fan experience, and provide consistency for everyone involved in the Playoff,” said Rich Clark, the CFP’s executive director.

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Game times and television network assignments will be announced later this year. Dates and bowl sites for the 2028-31 CFP seasons are also expected to be released in the future.