I simply love college football. Okay, I love any kind of football, but especially college. Now, things are changing in the league, and the College Football Playoffs have announced a change going forward. Regardless of the changes, it’s always exciting when the College Football Playoff schedule gets set.

The College Football Playoff schedule is out for the 2024 season, and the playoff is expanding to 12 teams starting in the 2024 season.

Here’s how it will shake out. The Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl will host the semifinal games. Also, the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl and Sugar Bowl will be the quarterfinal sites over two days on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day as the 12-team playoff change starts following the 2024 season. Finally, first-round games will be schedule on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams.

“We are pleased to be able to announce these game dates today,” College Football Playoff executive director Bill Hancock said in a statement.

He added, “We appreciate the efforts of all the parties involved in finalizing this schedule. This is the next significant step in bringing clarity to the launch of the 12-team playoff format in 2024. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but this is an important milestone along the way.”

Meanwhile, the NFL is expected to announce their 2023 season schedule on May 11.

2025 College Football Playoffs – Full Schedule (via Sports Illustrated):

First round (On-campus sites)
Friday, December 20, 2024: One game (evening)
Saturday, December 21, 2024: Three games (early afternoon, late afternoon and evening)

Quarterfinals
Tuesday, December 31, 2024: Fiesta Bowl (evening)
Wednesday, January 1, 2025: Peach Bowl (early afternoon), Rose Bowl, (late afternoon) and Sugar Bowl (evening)

Semifinals
Thursday, January 9, 2025: Orange Bowl (evening)
Friday, January 10, 2025: Cotton Bowl (evening)

CFP National Championship
Monday, January 20, 2025: Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta
2026 College Football Playoff dates, locations

First round (On-campus sites)
Friday, December 19, 2025: One Game (evening)
Saturday, December 20, 2025: Three Games (early afternoon, late afternoon and evening)

Quarterfinals
Wednesday, December 31, 2025: Cotton Bowl (evening)
Thursday, January 1, 2026: Orange Bowl (early afternoon), Rose Bowl (late afternoon) and Sugar Bowl (evening)

Semifinals
Thursday, January 8, 2026: Fiesta Bowl (evening)
Friday, January 9, 2026: Peach Bowl (evening)

CFP National Championship
Monday, January 19, 2026: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida