The Celebration Bowl kicks it off in Atlanta on December 12, and six weeks later the sport crowns a champion in Las Vegas.
The 2026 College Football Bowl Schedule runs 45 games deep, wrapping the 12-team College Football Playoff around a bowl season that still leans on tradition-rich matchups like the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl — except now three of those historic games double as Playoff Quarterfinals and Semifinals.
Here is the complete 2026 College Football Bowl Schedule with every date, location, time and network.
Saturday, December 12, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Tuesday, December 15, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Friday, December 18, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Saturday, December 19, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Monday, December 21, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Tuesday, December 22, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Wednesday, December 23, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Thursday, December 24, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Saturday, December 26, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Monday, December 28, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Tuesday, December 29, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Wednesday, December 30, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Thursday, December 31, 2026 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Friday, January 1, 2027 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Saturday, January 2, 2027 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Thursday, January 14, 2027 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Friday, January 15, 2027 – College Football Bowl Schedule
Monday, January 25, 2027 – College Football Bowl Schedule
TBA Games
College Football Playoff Schedule 2026 Spans Six Weeks and Three Rounds
Four First-Round games play out December 18-19 at campus sites still to be determined by seeding. The Quarterfinal round folds directly into four of the sport’s most historic bowls — the Fiesta (Dec. 30), Cotton, Peach and Rose (all Jan. 1) — before the Semifinals move to the Orange Bowl (Jan. 14) and Sugar Bowl (Jan. 15). The CFP National Championship 2027 closes the entire season on Monday, January 25, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — a full 44 days after the Celebration Bowl opened the bowl calendar.
Bowl Games December 2026 Front-Load the Calendar
Twenty-nine of the season’s 45 games are played in December alone, with a genuine crunch between December 18 and 31 — 26 bowls in a two-week window, including five games on December 26 and four more on December 29. If you’re building a bowl-season viewing schedule, the back half of December is where nearly two-thirds of the entire slate lives.
The Rose Bowl’s New Identity
The Rose Bowl Game, arguably the sport’s most tradition-bound matchup, now runs as a CFP Quarterfinal with a still-TBA kickoff time rather than its historic fixed afternoon slot. That is the clearest sign of how thoroughly the 12-team Playoff has reshaped the 2026 College Football Bowl Schedule — even the “Granddaddy of Them All” now bends to seeding logistics instead of tradition.
The full 2026 College Football Bowl Schedule is locked in. From the Celebration Bowl on December 12 through the CFP National Championship 2027 in Las Vegas, every game, date and network is listed above.
FAQ
When does the 2026 College Football Bowl Schedule start?
The schedule opens Saturday, December 12, with the Cricket Celebration Bowl (MEAC vs SWAC) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
What is the CFP National Championship 2027 date?
The CFP National Championship is scheduled for Monday, January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on ABC/ESPN.
Which bowls are College Football Playoff Quarterfinals?
The College Football Playoff schedule 2026 quarterfinals include the Fiesta Bowl (Dec. 30), Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl and Rose Bowl (all Jan. 1).
How many bowl games are on the 2026 schedule?
The full slate totals 45 games, including traditional bowls plus the CFP First Round, Semifinals and National Championship.
When is the Rose Bowl CFP Quarterfinal?
The Rose Bowl serves as a CFP Quarterfinal on Friday, January 1, 2027, with kickoff time still TBA.
