College Football Playoff Announces Bowl Locations, Schedule for 2026, 2027 Brackets

The College Football Playoff has announced the quarterfinal and semifinal dates and locations for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

In response to the schedule, LSU head coach Lane Kiffin let his thoughts be known on social media:

The College Football Playoff starts on Friday, Dec. 18 next season with the first round, meaning that the entire 12-team tournament will last 39 days.

The most notable part of the schedule is the 13-day break between the CFP quarterfinals and semifinals.

Obviously, Kiffin isn't thrilled with the time gaps, and fans may not be either.

Rich Clark, the CFP executive director, commented on the dates.

"These dates allow us to maintain competitive balance, maximize the fan experience, and provide consistency for everyone involved in the Playoff," Clark said, per the CFP website. "I also want to thank our bowl partners and their local communities for the incredible work, collaboration, and commitment they've shown throughout the first two years of the expanded playoff. The bowl games and the people behind them embraced change, delivered at the highest level, and helped ensure the expanded format was a success for student-athletes, fans, and the sport."

The dates are what they are at this point, but the big one to watch for fans in 2026 is Saturday, Aug. 29, when four games kick off the Division I-FBS slate, including UNC vs. TCU in Ireland and NC State vs. Virginia in Brazil.