The College Football Playoff won’t have a game on New Year’s Eve this season. This move was done with one goal in mind: To avoid the NFL and the Thursday night slate.
CFP executive director Rich Clark confirmed the details to ESPN on Tuesday following the announcement of the dates and bowl games for the quarterfinal and semifinal games for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
As of now, the CFP quarterfinals will be held Wednesday, Dec. 30 at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and a tripleheader on Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. The CFP semifinals will be held Jan. 14, 2027, at the Capital One Orange Bowl, and Jan. 15, 2027, at the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
This is a clear break from the previous years. A Playoff game has been played on New Year’s Eve in each of the two seasons under the 12-team format. This has been the case in a majority of the games in the CFP era. But there’s no winner going up against the NFL in an all out ratings grab.
More: Roger Goodell sends clear message to college football
For the 2027 season, the CFP quarterfinals will return to New Year’s Eve, with a Dec. 31 game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. On New Year’s Day, there will be another tripleheader with the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. The CFP semifinals will be Jan. 13, 2028, at the Capital One Orange Bowl, and Jan. 14, 2028, at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
“These dates allow us to maintain competitive balance, maximize the fan experience, and provide consistency for everyone involved in the Playoff,” Clark told ESPN. “I also want to thank our bowl partners and their local communities for the incredible work, collaboration, and commitment they’ve shown throughout the first two years of the expanded playoff.”
