2026-27 Bowl Season

College Football Bowl Games 2026-27

Every 2026-27 bowl and playoff game, with dates, TV, stadiums and practical tips for fans making the trip.

Kickoff: Celebration Bowl · Sat, Dec. 12 · Atlanta
47Postseason games
12Playoff teams
Dec. 12to Jan. 25, 2027
Dec. 6Selection Day

College football’s postseason runs Dec. 12–Jan. 25: 36 non-playoff games and 11 College Football Playoff games. The Celebration Bowl opens the season in Atlanta, and the national championship closes it in Las Vegas. The playoff field and most other matchups are announced Dec. 6.

College Football Playoff national championship
The road ends Jan. 25, 2027, when the College Football Playoff national championship comes to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Complete list of college bowl games

2026-27 NCAA Bowl Game Schedule: Dates, Stadiums & TV

All 47 games in date order. Times are Eastern; conference affiliations are possible selections, not set matchups.

Stadium → our GameDay GuideOfficial bowl site ↗ the bowl’s website
DateGameStadiumConference affiliationsTV
Sat, Dec. 12Noon ET Celebration Bowl Mercedes-Benz StadiumGameDay GuideAtlanta, GA MEAC vs. SWAC (FCS) ABC
Tue, Dec. 155:30 p.m. ET Salute to Veterans Bowl Cramton BowlOfficial bowl site ↗Montgomery, AL CUSA / MAC / Sun Belt ESPN
Tue, Dec. 159 p.m. ET Frisco Football Classic Ford Center at The StarOfficial bowl site ↗Frisco, TX CUSA vs. Sun Belt ESPN
Fri, Dec. 1811 a.m. ET Boca Raton Bowl Flagler Credit Union StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Boca Raton, FL American / CUSA / MAC / MW / Sun Belt ESPN
Fri, Dec. 182:30 p.m. ET Gasparilla Bowl Raymond James StadiumGameDay GuideTampa, FL SEC vs. American ESPN
Fri, Dec. 188 p.m. ET CFP First RoundCampus site Higher seed's home stadiumSet Dec. 6 Seeds 5–12 ESPN
Sat, Dec. 19Noon ET CFP First RoundCampus site Higher seed's home stadiumSet Dec. 6 Seeds 5–12 ABC / ESPN
Sat, Dec. 193:30 p.m. ET CFP First RoundCampus site Higher seed's home stadiumSet Dec. 6 Seeds 5–12 TNT / truTV / HBO Max
Sat, Dec. 197:30 p.m. ET CFP First RoundCampus site Higher seed's home stadiumSet Dec. 6 Seeds 5–12 TNT / truTV / HBO Max
Mon, Dec. 2111 a.m. ET Myrtle Beach Bowl Brooks StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Conway, SC CUSA / MAC / Sun Belt ESPN
Mon, Dec. 212:30 p.m. ET Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Albertsons StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Boise, ID MAC / MW / Pac-12 / Sun Belt ESPN
Tue, Dec. 221:30 p.m. ET Puerto Rico Bowl Juan Ramón Loubriel StadiumBayamón, PR MAC vs. American / CUSA / MW / Sun Belt ESPN
Tue, Dec. 225 p.m. ET Cure Bowl Acrisure Bounce HouseGameDay GuideOrlando, FL American / CUSA / MAC / Sun Belt ESPN
Tue, Dec. 228:30 p.m. ET Independence Bowl Independence StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Shreveport, LA Big 12 vs. CUSA ESPN
Wed, Dec. 232 p.m. ET New Orleans Bowl Caesars SuperdomeGameDay GuideNew Orleans, LA CUSA vs. Sun Belt ESPN
Wed, Dec. 235:30 p.m. ET Armed Forces Bowl Amon G. Carter StadiumGameDay GuideFort Worth, TX Big 12 vs. American / MW / Sun Belt ESPN
Wed, Dec. 237:30 p.m. ET Poinsettia Bowl Snapdragon StadiumSan Diego, CA Pac-12 vs. ACC / Big Ten / Big 12 The CW
Wed, Dec. 239 p.m. ET Frisco Bowl Ford Center at The StarOfficial bowl site ↗Frisco, TX American / CUSA / MAC / MW / Sun Belt ESPN
Thu, Dec. 242:30 p.m. ET New Mexico Bowl University StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Albuquerque, NM MW vs. American / CUSA / MAC / Sun Belt ESPN
Thu, Dec. 247 p.m. ET Hawai'i Bowl Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics ComplexOfficial bowl site ↗Honolulu, HI American vs. MW ESPN
Sat, Dec. 26Noon ET Pinstripe Bowl Yankee StadiumGameDay GuideBronx, NY ACC / Notre Dame vs. Big Ten ABC
Sat, Dec. 262 p.m. ET Fenway Bowl Fenway ParkGameDay GuideBoston, MA ACC / Notre Dame vs. American ESPN
Sat, Dec. 263:30 p.m. ET Duke's Mayo Bowl Bank of America StadiumGameDay GuideCharlotte, NC ACC / Notre Dame vs. SEC ABC
Sat, Dec. 265:30 p.m. ET 68 Ventures Bowl Hancock Whitney StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Mobile, AL CUSA / MAC / Sun Belt ESPN
Sat, Dec. 267:30 p.m. ET Cactus Bowl Mountain America StadiumGameDay GuideTempe, AZ Big 12 vs. Big Ten ABC
Mon, Dec. 282 p.m. ET Military Bowl Navy-Marine Corps Memorial StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Annapolis, MD ACC / Notre Dame vs. American ESPN
Mon, Dec. 285 p.m. ET Holiday Bowl Snapdragon StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗San Diego, CA ACC vs. Pac-12 The CW
Tue, Dec. 292 p.m. ET Birmingham Bowl Protective StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Birmingham, AL SEC vs. American ESPN
Tue, Dec. 295:30 p.m. ET Pop-Tarts Bowl Camping World StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Orlando, FL ACC / Notre Dame vs. Big 12 ESPN
Tue, Dec. 299 p.m. ET Alamo Bowl AlamodomeOfficial bowl site ↗San Antonio, TX Big 12 vs. Pac-12 ESPN
Wed, Dec. 3011:30 a.m. ET Gator Bowl EverBank StadiumGameDay GuideJacksonville, FL SEC vs. ACC / Notre Dame ESPN
Wed, Dec. 303 p.m. ET Music City Bowl Nissan StadiumGameDay GuideNashville, TN SEC vs. Big Ten ESPN
Wed, Dec. 307:30 p.m. ET Fiesta BowlCFP Quarterfinal State Farm StadiumGameDay GuideGlendale, AZ Playoff teams TNT / truTV / HBO Max
Thu, Dec. 31Noon ET ReliaQuest Bowl Raymond James StadiumGameDay GuideTampa, FL SEC vs. Big Ten ESPN
Thu, Dec. 312 p.m. ET Sun Bowl Sun Bowl StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗El Paso, TX ACC / Notre Dame vs. Pac-12 CBS
Thu, Dec. 313:45 p.m. ET Las Vegas Bowl Allegiant StadiumGameDay GuideLas Vegas, NV SEC vs. ACC / Big Ten / Big 12 ESPN
Thu, Dec. 317:30 p.m. ET Texas Bowl Reliant StadiumGameDay GuideHouston, TX Big 12 vs. SEC ESPN
Fri, Jan. 1Noon, 4 or 8 p.m. ET Cotton BowlCFP Quarterfinal AT&T StadiumGameDay GuideArlington, TX Playoff teams Set Dec. 6
Fri, Jan. 1Noon, 4 or 8 p.m. ET Peach BowlCFP Quarterfinal Mercedes-Benz StadiumGameDay GuideAtlanta, GA Playoff teams Set Dec. 6
Fri, Jan. 1Noon, 4 or 8 p.m. ET Rose BowlCFP Quarterfinal Rose Bowl StadiumGameDay GuidePasadena, CA Playoff teams Set Dec. 6
Sat, Jan. 2Noon ET Citrus Bowl Camping World StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Orlando, FL SEC vs. Big Ten ABC
Sat, Jan. 23:30 p.m. ET First Responder Bowl Gerald J. Ford StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Dallas, TX American / ACC / Big 12 ABC
Sat, Jan. 24:30 p.m. ET Arizona Bowl Casino Del Sol StadiumGameDay GuideTucson, AZ MAC vs. MW The CW
Sat, Jan. 27:30 p.m. ET Liberty Bowl Simmons Bank Liberty StadiumOfficial bowl site ↗Memphis, TN Big 12 vs. SEC ABC
Thu, Jan. 147:30 p.m. ET Orange BowlCFP Semifinal Hard Rock StadiumGameDay GuideMiami Gardens, FL Playoff teams TNT / truTV / HBO Max
Fri, Jan. 157:30 p.m. ET Sugar BowlCFP Semifinal Caesars SuperdomeGameDay GuideNew Orleans, LA Playoff teams ABC / ESPN
Mon, Jan. 257:30 p.m. ET CFP National ChampionshipCFP Championship Allegiant StadiumGameDay GuideLas Vegas, NV Semifinal winners ABC / ESPN
Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans
The Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome hosts a College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 15, 2027.
The 12-team bracket

How the College Football Playoff Works in 2026-27

Twelve teams, four rounds, 11 games. The selection committee ranks the field, the top four seeds skip the first round, and the bracket stays fixed all the way to Las Vegas with no reseeding.

Step 1

Selection Day

Sun, Dec. 6

Five automatic bids: the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions, plus the highest-ranked team from the American, CUSA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12 and Sun Belt. Notre Dame gets in if it’s ranked in the top 12. The rest of the field is at-large.

Step 2

First Round

Dec. 18 & 19
  • No. 12 at No. 5
  • No. 11 at No. 6
  • No. 10 at No. 7
  • No. 9 at No. 8Played at the higher seed’s home stadium. Hosts are named Dec. 6, which leaves fans about 12 days to plan. Find your team’s stadium guide
Step 3

Quarterfinals

Dec. 30 & Jan. 1
Step 4

Semifinals

Jan. 14 & 15
Step 5

National Championship

Mon, Jan. 25, 2027

Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas. 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN.

Quarterfinal pairings: No. 1 vs. 8/9 winner No. 4 vs. 5/12 winner No. 2 vs. 7/10 winner No. 3 vs. 6/11 winner How bowls are assigned: the No. 1 seed picks its quarterfinal bowl first, then No. 2 and No. 3. No. 4 gets the bowl that’s left.
Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California
Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, home of the oldest bowl game, hosts a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on Jan. 1.
Where the big ones are played

The New Year’s Six Bowls and Where They’re Played

The Rose, Sugar, Orange, Cotton, Fiesta and Peach bowls host this season’s CFP quarterfinals and semifinals. Here’s where each is played and what visiting fans should know.

Where Is the Rose Bowl Played?

Rose Bowl Stadium · Pasadena, Calif.
CFP Quarterfinal · Fri, Jan. 1

First played in 1902, the Rose Bowl has left Pasadena only twice: for Durham in 1942 after Pearl Harbor and Arlington in 2021 during the pandemic.

Plan it: The Rose Parade draws crowds to Old Pasadena. Stadium parking is largely on golf-course grass, and the walk to your gate can be long.

View Rose Bowl Stadium Guide →

Where Is the Sugar Bowl Played?

Caesars Superdome · New Orleans
CFP Semifinal · Fri, Jan. 15

The Sugar Bowl has played at the Superdome since 1975, except in 2006 when Hurricane Katrina forced a move to Atlanta. The New Orleans Bowl also plays here on Dec. 23.

Plan it: The Superdome is walkable from the CBD and much of the French Quarter. Skip the car if you can.

View Caesars Superdome Guide →

Where Is the Orange Bowl Played?

Hard Rock Stadium · Miami Gardens, Fla.
CFP Semifinal · Thu, Jan. 14

The Orange Bowl moved here in 1996, briefly returned to its old home in 1999, then settled at Hard Rock Stadium. The original site is now home to the Marlins’ loanDepot park.

Plan it: Miami Gardens is between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Popular hotel bases include both downtowns and Miami Beach; plan your ride to the stadium.

View Hard Rock Stadium Guide →

Where Is the Cotton Bowl Played?

AT&T Stadium · Arlington, Texas
CFP Quarterfinal · Fri, Jan. 1

The Cotton Bowl Classic moved to the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington in 2010. It’s a different venue from Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas’ Fair Park.

Plan it: Arlington has no commuter rail. Stay near Texas Live! for proximity or plan to drive from Dallas or Fort Worth.

View AT&T Stadium Guide →

Where Is the Peach Bowl Played?

Mercedes-Benz Stadium · Atlanta
CFP Quarterfinal · Fri, Jan. 1

The Peach Bowl began in Atlanta in 1968 and moved into Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017. The venue also hosts the Dec. 12 Celebration Bowl.

Plan it: Downtown hotels near Centennial Olympic Park are walkable. MARTA’s Vine City and SEC District stations serve the stadium.

View Mercedes-Benz Stadium Guide →

Where Is the Fiesta Bowl Played?

State Farm Stadium · Glendale, Ariz.
CFP Quarterfinal · Wed, Dec. 30

The Fiesta Bowl moved from Tempe to State Farm Stadium in 2007. Its former home, now Mountain America Stadium, hosts the Cactus Bowl on Dec. 26.

Plan it: Westgate is next to the stadium. Choose Old Town Scottsdale for more nightlife, but account for the cross-Valley drive.

View State Farm Stadium Guide →
The final stop

Where Is the 2027 College Football National Championship?

Allegiant Stadium · Las Vegas
Mon, Jan. 25, 2027 · 7:30 p.m. ET · ABC / ESPN

Las Vegas hosts the national championship for the first time. Allegiant Stadium also has the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31.

Plan it: Allegiant Stadium is west of the Strip. Walk over the Hacienda Avenue bridge from the Mandalay Bay end.

View Allegiant Stadium Guide →

Future CFP National Championship Sites

2028Mon, Jan. 24 · New OrleansCaesars Superdome
2029Mon, Jan. 22 · TampaRaymond James Stadium
2030Mon, Jan. 21 · Miami Gardens (reported)Hard Rock Stadium
Cotton Bowl college football game
The Cotton Bowl hosts a College Football Playoff quarterfinal on Jan. 1, one of five postseason games in Dallas–Fort Worth this season.
Plan the trip

Best Cities for College Football Bowl Games in 2026-27

Texas and Florida host eight games each. These destinations offer multiple bowls, useful stadium connections or a memorable trip.

5 games

Dallas–Fort Worth

Five games across four cities. Check the stadium address before choosing where to stay.

3 games

Orlando

The Cure Bowl is at UCF; the Pop-Tarts and Citrus bowls share Camping World Stadium. Add a theme-park day if you have time.

2 games

Las Vegas

Both games are at Allegiant Stadium, nearly four weeks apart. Treat these as two separate trips.

2 games

New Orleans

Both games are downtown, with the Superdome walkable from many French Quarter hotels.

3 bowl games

Los Angeles & San Diego

San Diego hosts two bowls, followed by the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. SoFi Stadium hosts the Super Bowl in February.

Dec. 26

Football at the Ballpark

Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park host football on the same afternoon. The games overlap, so pick one.

Quick answers

Bowl Games FAQ

How many bowl games are there in 2026-27?

The 2026-27 college football postseason has 47 games: 36 non-playoff bowl games, including the FCS Celebration Bowl, and the 11-game College Football Playoff. Six of the playoff games are themselves bowls. There are 82 postseason spots for FBS teams.

When do the 2026-27 bowl games start?

Bowl season starts Saturday, Dec. 12, with the Celebration Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The first FBS bowls are the Salute to Veterans Bowl and Frisco Football Classic on Dec. 15, and the season ends with the national championship on Jan. 25, 2027.

What are the four main bowl games?

The Rose, Sugar, Orange and Cotton bowls are the traditional big four, the oldest of the major bowls. Add the Fiesta and Peach bowls and you have the New Year's Six, which host the College Football Playoff quarterfinals and semifinals.

What are the bowl game payouts?

Playoff money goes to conferences, not directly to schools. For 2025-26, the CFP paid a team's conference $4 million for making the field, another $4 million for reaching the quarterfinals and $6 million each for reaching the semifinals and the title game, plus an expense payment for every round played. That expense payment rises to $3.18 million per round in 2026-27. Payouts for the other bowls vary widely and generally go to the conference, which shares them among its members.

Is the College Football Playoff expanding to 24 teams?

Not this season. The 2026-27 playoff stays at 12 teams. A 24-team format for the 2027 season is under discussion, and the CFP has said the talks are not a decision or commitment to expand. The deadline to settle the 2027 format is Dec. 1, 2026. If no deal is reached, the playoff stays at 12.

Are conference championship games going away?

Not in 2026. Every major conference still plays its title game the weekend before Selection Day, and the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC champions get automatic playoff bids. The Big Ten's proposal for a 24-team playoff would drop automatic bids and conference title games, but nothing has been approved.

When is Selection Day for bowl games?

Selection Day is Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026. The 12-team College Football Playoff bracket and the four first-round host stadiums are announced that day, along with most of the other bowl matchups.

Where are College Football Playoff games played?

First-round games are played at the higher seed's home stadium on Dec. 18 and 19. The quarterfinals are at the Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30) and the Cotton, Peach and Rose bowls (Jan. 1). The semifinals are at the Orange Bowl (Jan. 14) and Sugar Bowl (Jan. 15), and the national championship is at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Jan. 25, 2027.

Where is the Cotton Bowl played?

The Cotton Bowl Classic is played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and has been since 2010. Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas' Fair Park is a different venue: it opened in 1930, hosted the game through 2009 and still hosts Texas-Oklahoma each October. If your ticket says Cotton Bowl Classic, go to Arlington, about 20 miles west of Fair Park.

Do the top seeds pick their quarterfinal bowl?

Yes. The No. 1 seed chooses its quarterfinal bowl, then the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds pick in order, and the No. 4 seed gets the bowl that's left. Seeds 1 through 4 get first-round byes.

How do teams qualify for a bowl game?

Teams generally need a .500 or better record, usually six wins, to be bowl eligible. Each bowl has conference agreements that decide which leagues send teams, while the CFP selection committee picks and seeds the 12 playoff teams.

What are the ACC bowl games?

ACC affiliations for 2026-27 are the Pinstripe, Fenway, Duke's Mayo, Military, Holiday, Pop-Tarts, Gator and Sun bowls, with Notre Dame sharing several of those slots. The ACC is also in the selection pool for the First Responder, Las Vegas and Poinsettia bowls, and its champion gets an automatic playoff bid.

What are the Big Ten bowl games?

Big Ten affiliations for 2026-27 are the Pinstripe, Cactus, Music City, ReliaQuest and Citrus bowls, and the Big Ten is in the selection pool for the Las Vegas and Poinsettia bowls. The Big Ten champion gets an automatic playoff bid.

What are the Big 12 bowls?

Bowls with Big 12 affiliations for 2026-27 include the Alamo, Texas, Liberty, Pop-Tarts, Cactus, Armed Forces and Independence bowls, and the Big 12 is in the selection pool for the Las Vegas, Poinsettia and First Responder bowls. The Big 12 champion also gets an automatic playoff bid.

What are the SEC bowl games?

SEC affiliations for 2026-27 are the Gasparilla, Duke's Mayo, Birmingham, Gator, Music City, ReliaQuest, Las Vegas, Texas, Citrus and Liberty bowls. The SEC champion gets an automatic playoff bid.

Where is the 2027 college football national championship?

The 2027 CFP National Championship is at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Monday, Jan. 25, 2027, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN.

Keep Planning

College Football StadiumsCampus guides for first-round hosts NFL StadiumsMost big bowls are played here Sporting Events CalendarEverything through 2027 Sporting EventsSuper Bowl, Final Four and more

Updated October 2026. The playoff field, first-round host stadiums, Jan. 1 kickoff times and most bowl matchups are announced on Selection Day, Dec. 6.

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