College Football Playoff format: Bowl game times, dates and how to watch the CFP
The final College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed in just a few days, following the results of conference championship games. This is a significant moment as it will determine the CFP bracket and the matchups for the teams competing for the national title as the 2024 season comes to a close.
The first round of the new 12-team CFP format, is set to kick off in less than two weeks on Dec. 20, with a primetime Friday night game. The first round continues with three crucial elimination games on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Teams that emerge victorious from their first-round battles will progress to the CFP quarterfinals. Here, they will face one of the top four seeded teams, each of which received a bye for the opening round of the playoffs. The quarterfinal matchups are scheduled to take place on New Year's weekend in one of four prestigious bowl games: the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl.
The teams that win their quarterfinal games will advance to the CFP semifinals scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 9. These matchups results will determine who competes for the national championship on Monday, Jan. 20.
Here is the information about the bowl games that make up the newly formatted College Football Playoff and when the action will start:
What bowl games are in College Football Playoff?
The College Football Playoff quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games:
- Cotton Bowl
- Orange Bowl
- Fiesta Bowl
- Peach Bowl
- Rose Bowl
- Sugar Bowl
The College Football Playoff national championship game will take place on Monday, Jan. 20, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
When do College Football Playoff games start?
The first round of the College Football Playoff begins on Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21. Two games will air on ABC and ESPN, and two will be broadcast on TNT. Fans can also stream the action with a Fubo subscription.
When is College Football Playoff first round?
All times Eastern
- Game 1: Friday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN
- Game 2: Saturday, Dec. 21 at noon on TNT
- Game 3: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. on TNT
- Game 4: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. on ABC/ESPN
When are College Football Playoff quarterfinals?
Quarterfinal games are Tuesday, Dec. 31 and Wednesday, Jan. 1. All four games will be broadcast on ESPN.
All times Eastern
- Fiesta Bowl: Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
- Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl: Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m.
- Rose Bowl: Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 5 p.m.
- Sugar Bowl: Wednesday, Jan. 1 at 8:45 p.m.
When are College Football Playoff semifinals?
Semifinal games are Thursday, Jan. 9 and Friday, Jan. 10. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN.
All times Eastern.
- Orange Bowl: Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
- Cotton Bowl: Friday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
When is College Football Playoff National championship?
- Monday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
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