Future College Football Playoff sites and dates for 12-team expansion
We are truly in a paradigm-shifting era of college football. From name, image and likeness activities, to an almost free-agency model with the utilization of the transfer portal, to continued legislative efforts to put some guardrails around it all, the game looks far different than five years ago.
You can add expansion of the College Football Playoff model to that list of changes as well. In early December, officials announced a 12-team playoff would begin in the 2024 season. Most of the college football world rejoiced — well, aside from those that still carry flip phones and use dial-up internet. I mean, progress, right?
With the news of an expanded playoff, it changes the structure of how the bowl system will work. Instead of having two semifinal sites that feed into the national championship game, the new-look playoffs will start at the higher seeds’ college campuses or otherwise determined venue. Four bowl games will host quarterfinals. Two will host semifinals. Finally, the national championship venues will still be bid out and selected ahead of time.
With all of the changes afoot, we thought it would be good to revisit what all the fun will look like with known dates and venues through 2026. There’s still a lot to be announced with specific times and dates, but here’s how it all looks so far.
2023-2024 New Year's Six and College Football Playoff venues (last before expansion)
New Year’s Six Games
Friday, Dec. 29
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl – Mercedez-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)
Saturday, Dec. 30
Fiesta Bowl – State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
Orange Bowl – Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Jan. 2, 2012; Pasadena, California; Roses stamped with Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers logos prior to the game in the 2012 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
College Football Playoff Games
Monday, Jan. 1
Rose Bowl Game Playoff semifinal- Rose Bowl Stadium (Pasadena, California)
Cotton Bowl Classic Playoff semifinal – AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Monday, January, 8
CFP national championship – NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas)
2024-2025 College Football Playoff (first 12-team expansion year)
Jan. 11, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana; A detailed view of College Football Playoff National Championship logo helmet at 2022 Indianapolis Host Committee press conference at the JW Marriott. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
First-Round Games at Home Field or Other Higher Seed-Determined venues
Week Ending Dec. 21, 2024
No. 12 at No. 5
No. 11 at No. 6
No. 10 at No. 7
No. 9 at No. 8
Quarterfinals (Date and Times TBD)
Fiesta Bowl
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Rose Bowl Game
Sugar Bowl
Semifinals (Date and Times TBD
Cotton Bowl Classic
Orange Bowl
National Championship
Monday, Jan. 20, 2025
Mercedez-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)
2025-2026 College Football Playoff
Painted end zone for Clemson with the College Football Playoff logo before of the national championship game in New Orleans on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020. USA TODAY Sports
First-Round Games at Home Field or Other Higher Seed-Determined venues
Week Ending Dec. 20, 2025 (projection)
No. 12 at No. 5
No. 11 at No. 6
No. 10 at No. 7
No. 9 at No. 8
Quarterfinals (Date and Times TBD)
Cotton Bowl Classic
Rose Bowl Game
Orange Bowl
Sugar Bowl
Semifinals (Date and Times TBD
Fiesta Bowl
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
National Championship
Monday, Jan. 19, 2026
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on Twitter.
