The College Football Playoff (CFP) has officially unveiled its broadcast schedule for the 2026-27 season, bringing fans more access than ever before through an expanded partnership between ESPN and TNT Sports. For the first time in CFP history, select games will be simulcast across both ABC and ESPN, while TNT Sports will air five postseason matchups, including a CFP Semifinal.
The playoff action begins on Friday, December 18, with a primetime First Round matchup airing on ESPN. The following day will feature a tripleheader, with games airing on ABC, ESPN, TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. As in recent years, all four First Round games will take place on college campuses, with locations determined on Selection Day on December 6.
The quarterfinal round will be split between ESPN and TNT Sports, showcasing games from some of college football’s most iconic bowl destinations, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, and the Rose Bowl Game. TNT Sports will also make history by broadcasting its first-ever CFP Semifinal from the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 14, while ESPN and ABC will carry the Allstate Sugar Bowl semifinal the following night.
The road to a national championship will conclude on January 25, 2027, when the CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T takes place at Allegiant Stadium. The title game will air across ESPN platforms and ABC.
The CFP’s expanded 12-team format continues to deliver strong viewership numbers. According to playoff officials, the 2025-26 postseason averaged 16.3 million viewers across its 11 games, a four percent increase from the previous year. The national championship matchup between the Miami Hurricanes and the Indiana Hoosiers drew 30.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched college football game since 2015 and one of the most-viewed championship games in CFP history.
With more games available on broadcast television and additional streaming options through HBO Max and the ESPN App, college football fans can expect unprecedented access to the sport’s premier postseason event. CFP officials indicated that additional MegaCast and viewing experience details will be announced later this year.
Key Dates for the 2026-27 College Football Playoff
- Dec. 18-19, 2026: CFP First Round
- Dec. 30, 2026 & Jan. 1, 2027: CFP Quarterfinals
- Jan. 14-15, 2027: CFP Semifinals
- Jan. 25, 2027: National Championship in Las Vegas
As the College Football Playoff enters another season of its expanded era, fans can look forward to more games, more networks, and more opportunities to witness college football’s biggest moments.
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