The College Football Playoff is taking new measures to avoid even more competition with the NFL.
For the first time in the 12-team CFP era, the four quarterfinal games in the upcoming postseason will not be played on consecutive days.
The CFP, ESPN, and TNT Sports released the kickoff times and broadcast information for the 2026-27 playoff this week.
TNT Sports will air the first quarterfinal matchup in the Fiesta Bowl, which will be played Dec. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The remaining three quarterfinals—the Cotton, Peach, and Rose bowls—will be played two days later on New Year’s Day across TNT Sports and ESPN.
In previous years, one quarterfinal was scheduled for New Year’s Eve and the other three for New Year’s Day. (In 2025, the Sugar Bowl was delayed from New Year’s Day to Jan. 2.)
