CFB · 12-Team Playoff
College Football Playoff 2026
12 Teams · First Round Dec 20 · Championship Jan 19, 2027
The 2026-27 College Football Playoff features 12 teams for its third year under the expanded format. Seeds 1–4 (top conference champions) earn first-round byes. Seeds 5–8 host on-campus first-round games on December 20–21, 2026. Quarterfinals are at the New Year's Six bowl games (Jan 1–2), semifinals January 9–10, and the CFP National Championship is January 19, 2027. Coverage airs on ESPN and ABC. Ohio State won the inaugural 12-team playoff in 2024-25.
2026-27 CFP Schedule
First Round (On-Campus Games)
December 20–21, 2026
4 campus-site games: seeds 5v12, 6v11, 7v10, 8v9. Top 4 seeds receive byes.
Games
4
Quarterfinals (New Year's Six Bowls)
January 1–2, 2027
Hosted at the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl.
Games
4
Semifinals
January 9–10, 2027
Orange Bowl (CFP Semifinal) and Cotton Bowl (CFP Semifinal) alternate annually.
Games
2
CFP National Championship
Monday, January 19, 2027
CFP National Championship Game. Location: TBD (bid city competition).
Games
1
12-Team CFP Format
Teams
12 teams
Seeds 1–4
Conference champions with best records — receive first-round byes
Seeds 5–8
Next 4 conference champions
Seeds 9–12
4 at-large teams selected by the CFP committee
First Round
On-campus games (higher seed hosts)
QF/SF venues
Neutral site bowl games
TV
ESPN / ABC / TNT
Selection date
December 7, 2026 (conference championship weekend)
Recent CFP National Champions
| Season | Champion | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2024-25 | Ohio State Buckeyes | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Atlanta, GA |
| 2023-24 | Michigan Wolverines | Washington Huskies | Houston, TX |
| 2022-23 | Georgia Bulldogs | TCU Horned Frogs | Inglewood, CA |
| 2021-22 | Georgia Bulldogs | Alabama Crimson Tide | Indianapolis, IN |
| 2020-21 | Alabama Crimson Tide | Ohio State Buckeyes | Miami, FL |
| 2019-20 | LSU Tigers | Clemson Tigers | New Orleans, LA |
CFP 2026 FAQ
When is the College Football Playoff 2026?
The 2026-27 College Football Playoff (CFP) first round begins December 20–21, 2026. Quarterfinals are at the New Year's Six bowls on January 1–2, 2027. Semifinals are January 9–10. The CFP National Championship is January 19, 2027.
How many teams are in the CFP?
The College Football Playoff features 12 teams starting with the 2024-25 season. Seeds 1–4 (top conference champions by record) receive first-round byes. Seeds 5–8 (next 4 conference champions) host on-campus games against seeds 9–12 (4 at-large teams).
Who selects the CFP teams?
The CFP Selection Committee (13 members including former coaches, ADs, and athletics officials) ranks all FBS teams and selects the 12-team field. Automatic bids go to the highest-ranked champions from each of the 11 FBS conferences, with at-large spots for additional deserving teams.
How does home field work in the CFP?
In the first round, the higher seed (seeds 5–8) hosts the game at their campus stadium. Starting in the quarterfinals, games rotate among the New Year's Six bowl sites (Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, Fiesta Bowl) at neutral sites.
What is the CFP National Championship?
The CFP National Championship is the final game of the College Football Playoff, determining the FBS national champion. The 2027 championship is January 19, 2027. The host city is selected through a bid process and rotates among major college football markets.
What channel is the CFP on?
The College Football Playoff airs on ESPN and ABC in the United States, with some semifinal and first-round games potentially on TNT/TBS under newer broadcast deals. The National Championship typically airs on ESPN or ABC.
When is the CFP Selection Sunday 2026?
The CFP committee releases its final 12-team bracket on approximately December 7, 2026 — the weekend of conference championship games. The bracket seedings determine matchups and home sites for first-round games.
Which conference gets the most CFP automatic bids?
Each of the 11 FBS conferences receives one automatic bid for its highest-ranked champion. The SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, and Pac-12 (now reorganized) are the Power conferences. The remaining 4 spots are at-large picks chosen by the selection committee.