The College Football Playoff has locked in the dates and host bowls for its Quarterfinal and Semifinal games for the 2028-29 through 2031-32 seasons. As with the current setup, every game rotates among the six CFP bowls, and the Playoff stays a 12-team bracket with first-round games on campus. Here is the full 2028-31 schedule, the dates already set for 2026-27 and 2027-28, how the 12-team format works, and where the expansion debate stands, plus a free printable multi-year dates sheet.
Download the Printable CFP Dates & Bowl Sites (2026-2032) PDF
College Football Playoff 2028-31: Quick Facts
Last updated: July 13, 2026
- Announced: Quarterfinal and Semifinal dates and bowl sites for 2028-29 to 2031-32
- Format: 12-team bracket (unchanged)
- Host bowls (rotating): Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, Sugar
- First round: played on campus
- New for 2026: no more conference bowl tie-ins; the top three seeds pick their bowl path
2028-29 College Football Playoff
| Round | Date | Bowl(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Sat, Dec 30, 2028 | Capital One Orange Bowl |
| Quarterfinals | Mon, Jan 1, 2029 | Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl |
| Semifinal | Thu, Jan 11, 2029 | Vrbo Fiesta Bowl |
| Semifinal | Fri, Jan 12, 2029 | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl |
2029-30 College Football Playoff
| Round | Date | Bowl(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinals | Tue, Jan 1, 2030 | Peach Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl |
| Quarterfinal | Wed, Jan 2, 2030 | Vrbo Fiesta Bowl |
| Semifinal | Thu, Jan 10, 2030 | Allstate Sugar Bowl |
| Semifinal | Fri, Jan 11, 2030 | Goodyear Cotton Bowl |
2030-31 College Football Playoff
| Round | Date | Bowl(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Tue, Dec 31, 2030 | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl |
| Quarterfinals | Wed, Jan 1, 2031 | Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl |
| Semifinal | Thu, Jan 9, 2031 | Capital One Orange Bowl |
| Semifinal | Fri, Jan 10, 2031 | Allstate Sugar Bowl |
2031-32 College Football Playoff
| Round | Date | Bowl(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Wed, Dec 31, 2031 | Goodyear Cotton Bowl |
| Quarterfinals | Thu, Jan 1, 2032 | Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl |
| Semifinal | Thu, Jan 8, 2032 | Vrbo Fiesta Bowl |
| Semifinal | Fri, Jan 9, 2032 | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl |
Dates Already Set: 2026-27 and 2027-28
The nearer seasons were announced earlier. For 2026-27, the Quarterfinals are Wednesday, December 30, 2026 (Fiesta Bowl) and Friday, January 1, 2027 (Cotton, Peach, and Rose Bowls), with the Semifinals on January 14, 2027 (Orange Bowl) and January 15, 2027 (Sugar Bowl). The National Championship is Monday, January 25, 2027 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. For 2027-28, the Quarterfinals are December 31, 2027 (Sugar Bowl) and January 1, 2028 (Fiesta, Peach, and Rose Bowls), with Semifinals on January 13, 2028 (Orange Bowl) and January 14, 2028 (Cotton Bowl). See our 2026-27 College Football Playoff bracket and schedule and the 2026-27 college football bowl schedule for the full picture.
How the 12-Team Playoff Works
The 12-team field is made up of the four highest-ranked conference champions from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC, the highest-ranked champion from the Group of Six (American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, and Sun Belt), and the next seven highest-ranked teams. Notre Dame is included if it finishes in the top 12. The top four seeds get a first-round bye; the other eight play four first-round games on campus, and the winners advance to the Quarterfinals and Semifinals hosted by the six bowls. Starting in 2026, the old conference bowl tie-ins are gone, and the top three seeds select their bowl path in rank order.
What If the Playoff Expands? The 14, 16, and 24-Team Debate
These dates assume the 12-team format, which is set to continue, but the bigger question hanging over college football is whether the Playoff grows again. For now the field stays at 12, yet conference leaders are openly split on where it goes next. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has pushed for a 16-team model, while Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has floated a 24-team bracket. ESPN, which holds the television rights, has signaled it prefers the field stay in the 12 to 14 range and no larger than 16. Reports indicate the CFP faces a December 1 deadline each year to tell ESPN about any format change, so a jump to 14 or 16 teams could arrive for a future season even though the bowl dates above are already on the calendar.
If the Playoff does expand, the framework announced here still matters: the six bowls would remain the backbone of the Quarterfinals and Semifinals, and the on-campus first round has been the most popular part of the new format with fans. A 14-team field would likely add two more at-large teams and a pair of extra first-round games; a 16-team field would give every seed a first-round game and end the top-four byes. Any of those changes would reshuffle the bracket math, but the dates and host sites the CFP just locked in give schools, bowls, and fans a firm calendar to plan around in the meantime.
College Football Playoff 2028-31: FAQ
What did the College Football Playoff announce for 2028-31?
The CFP set the dates and host bowls for the Quarterfinal and Semifinal games for the 2028-29 through 2031-32 seasons. The games rotate each year among the six CFP bowls: the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar Bowls.
Is the College Football Playoff still 12 teams?
Yes. The CFP will remain a 12-team field, and these announced dates are built on the 12-team bracket. Any move to a larger field is a separate, future decision.
Which bowls host the CFP Quarterfinals and Semifinals?
Six bowls rotate the Quarterfinal and Semifinal games: the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game, and Allstate Sugar Bowl. First-round games are played on campus.
When are the 2026-27 CFP Quarterfinals and Semifinals?
The 2026-27 Quarterfinals are Dec 30, 2026 (Fiesta) and Jan 1, 2027 (Cotton, Peach, Rose); the Semifinals are Jan 14, 2027 (Orange) and Jan 15, 2027 (Sugar), with the National Championship on Jan 25, 2027 in Las Vegas.
Will the College Football Playoff expand past 12 teams?
It is possible but not decided. The 12-team format stays in place for now, while conferences debate 16-team and even 24-team models for future years.
More 2026 College Football Coverage
- 2026-27 College Football Playoff: Bracket and Schedule
- 2026-27 College Football Bowl Schedule
- 2026 College Football Schedule: Printable PDF, TV, and Key Matchups
