Dates for expanded College Football Playoff in 2024 and 2025 revealed
The format for the expanded playoff in college football became more crystalized on Tuesday as the College Football Playoff committee announced the schedule and bowl assignments for the first two years of the new system that will begin in the 2024 season.
This season will be the final one with four teams participating after the postseason changes were introduced in 2014. Starting next year, there will be 12 playoff teams with four first-round games conducted on campus sites and quarterfinal and semifinal games hosted at traditional New Year’s Six bowl locations.
In 2024, the Orange and Cotton Bowls will host the semifinal games on Thursday Jan. 9 and Friday Jan. 10, with the Fiesta, Peach, Rose and Sugar Bowls hosting the quarterfinal games on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. The championship game will be in Atlanta on Jan. 20, 2025.
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In 2025, the rotation will shift to the Fiesta and Peach Bowls being the two semifinal hosts following the quarterfinals which will be played at the Rose, Orange, Cotton and Sugar. The championship game set for Miami Gardens, Florida on Jan. 19, 2026.
A complete rundown of the schedule:
2024
First-round games (On-campus)
Friday, December 20 - One evening game
Saturday, December 21 - Three games held in three separate windows starting early afternoon
Quarterfinals
Fiesta Bowl - Tuesday, December 31
Peach Bowl followed by Rose Bowl and then Sugar Bowl - Wednesday, January 1
Semifinals
Thursday, January 9 - Orange Bowl
Friday, January 10 - Cotton Bowl
College Football Playoff championship game
Monday, January 20 - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
2025
First-round games (On-campus)
Friday, December 19 - One evening game
Saturday, December 20 - Three games held in three separate windows starting early afternoon
Quarterfinals
Wednesday, December 31 - Cotton Bowl
Thursday, January 1 - Orange Bowl followed by Rose Bowl and then Sugar Bowl
Semifinals
Thursday, January 8 - Fiesta Bowl
Friday, January 9 - Peach Bowl
College Football Playoff championship game
Monday, January 19 - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Kickoff times will be announced at later date.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College Football Playoff dates, bowl games in 2024 and 2025 revealed
