The 2026–27 College Football Playoff Enters Its Third Year With A New Selection Format

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The 2026–27 college football season culminates in a massive postseason structure, marking the thirteenth year of the College Football Playoff. With twelve teams competing for the national title, the selection process has evolved to include specific provisions for Notre Dame and a revised approach to conference champion inclusion.

The postseason landscape for Division I FBS football is defined by the twelve-team College Football Playoff, which determines the national champion. This season introduces a notable shift in selection criteria compared to the previous year. While the field still includes the four power conference champions and the top-ranked team from the Group of Six conferences, the remaining seven spots are filled by the highest-ranked teams. A significant update to the rules now guarantees Notre Dame a place in the bracket, provided the team maintains a top-12 ranking.

The tournament structure begins with opening-round games hosted at campus locations on December 18 and 19, 2026. The four highest-ranked teams earn a first-round bye, skipping these initial contests. Following the opening round, the competition moves to the New Year's Six bowl games for the quarterfinals and semifinals. The quarterfinal matchups are scheduled for December 30, 2026, and January 1, 2027, across the Fiesta, Peach, Rose, and Cotton Bowls. Semifinal action follows on January 14 and 15, 2027, at the Orange and Sugar Bowls.

The season concludes at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the national championship game takes place on January 25, 2027. Beyond the playoff, the broader bowl season sees adjustments to the lineup of games. The LA Bowl and GameAbove Sports Bowl have been removed from the schedule, while the Poinsettia Bowl returns after a decade-long hiatus and the inaugural Puerto Rico Bowl joins the roster. Other changes include the rebranding of the Xbox Bowl to the Frisco Football Classic and the Rate Bowl to the Cactus Bowl, the latter moving to Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.

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