Here are the 2026 college football conference championship games: dates, sites, and how to watch. Championship weekend runs Friday, December 4 through Saturday, December 5, 2026, and with the 12-team Playoff, the title games double as Playoff play-in games for the automatic bids.
2026 Power Four Championship Games
| Conference | Date | Site | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEC | Sat, Dec 5 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA | ABC |
| Big Ten | Sat, Dec 5 | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN | TBA |
| Big 12 | Fri, Dec 4 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | ABC |
| ACC | Sat, Dec 5 | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC | ABC |
The Big 12 title game is confirmed for Friday, December 4 at AT&T Stadium on ABC. The SEC (Atlanta), Big Ten (Indianapolis), and ACC (Charlotte) games are set for Saturday, December 5 at their locked-in host stadiums, with exact kickoff times and networks confirmed closer to the games across ABC and CBS.
Group of Five Title Games
The Group of Five championship games are also played that weekend. The MAC title game is at Ford Field in Detroit, while the American, Sun Belt, Conference USA, and Mountain West crown their champions at campus sites hosted by the higher seed. All air across the ESPN family, with one Group of Five champion earning the final automatic Playoff bid.
What Is at Stake
In the 12-team Playoff, the five highest-ranked conference champions receive automatic bids under the College Football Playoff format, and the top four seeds (with first-round byes) go to the four highest-ranked champions. That makes championship weekend a Playoff play-in round: win your league and you are almost certainly in, with seeding on the line. For the odds, see our conference championship odds and Playoff futures.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 conference championship games?
Championship weekend is December 4 to 5, 2026. The Big 12 title game is Friday, December 4, with the SEC, Big Ten, and ACC games on Saturday, December 5.
Where is the 2026 SEC Championship Game?
At Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday, December 5, 2026.
Where is the 2026 Big 12 Championship Game?
At AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, December 4, 2026, on ABC.
Do conference champions get College Football Playoff bids?
Yes. The highest-ranked conference champions earn automatic bids and seeding in the 12-team College Football Playoff, so title games carry Playoff stakes.
More 2026 College Football
- 2026 College Football Odds (conference + national title)
- 2026 College Football Playoff Odds
- 2026 College Football Schedule Hub
