College football schedule for expanded 2024, 2025 playoff announced

Mark your calendars: we're about to see a lot more postseason college football when the updated playoff schedule kicks in after next season

College football will expand its playoff system from four to 12 teams starting in the 2024 season and now the CFP has confirmed the dates and bowl assignments for the first two postseasons of the new expanded playoff. 

Semifinal games will take place at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl, with the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Sugar Bowl serving as quarterfinal sites over a two-day period on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, all after the first-round games that will take place on the campuses of higher-seeded teams.

"We are pleased to be able to announce these game dates today," College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said in a statement.

"We appreciate the efforts of all the parties involved in finalizing this schedule. This is the next significant step in bringing clarity to the launch of the 12-team playoff format in 2024. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but this is an important milestone along the way."

2024-25 College Football Playoff schedule

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First-Round (On Campus)

Friday, Dec. 20, 2024: One game set for the evening, primetime slot

Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024: Three games (early afternoon, late afternoon, and evening)

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024: Fiesta Bowl

Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025: Peach Bowl (early afternoon), Rose Bowl (late afternoon), and Sugar Bowl (evening)

Semifinals

Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025: Orange Bowl (evening)

Friday, Jan. 10, 2025: Cotton Bowl (evening)

National Championship

Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 (Atlanta)

2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule

USA Today Images

First-Round (On Campus)

Friday, Dec. 19, 2025: One game (evening)

Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025: Three games (early afternoon, later afternoon, evening)

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025: Cotton Bowl (evening)

Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026: Orange Bowl (early afternoon), Rose Bowl (late afternoon), Sugar Bowl (evening)

Semifinals

Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026: Fiesta Bowl (evening)

Friday, Jan. 9, 2026: Peach Bowl

National Championship

Monday, Jan. 16, 2016 (Miami)

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