The 2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule has been announced, complete with kickoff times.

This season’s playoff quarterfinals take place Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, with one game on New Year’s Eve and three on New Year’s Day. First up is the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, Texas, set for 6:30 p.m. Central on Dec. 31.

A Jan. 1 tripleheader begins with the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla., which kicks off at 11 a.m. Then comes the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., at 3 p.m., followed by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans at 7 p.m.

The kickoff times of the three New Year’s Day games will be earlier than in the past. The Rose Bowl in particular has kicked off at 2 p.m. Pacific time for decades.

“This New Year’s Day schedule adjustment is the result of a thoughtful collaboration between the CFP, ESPN, the Capital One Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl,” said Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff. “All three bowls shifting their start times allows us to place each game in an ideal window on New Year’s Day and provide the optimal viewing experience.

“New Year’s Day and college football are synonymous with each other, and these changes only strengthen that relationship.”

Semifinals are set for Jan. 8-9, a Thursday-Friday. The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 8, with the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta taking place at 6:30 p.m. the following day.

The CFP National Championship Game is once again set for a Monday, Jan. 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

All College Football Playoff games from the quarterfinals through the championship game will be broadcast by ESPN.

Once again, the opening-round games in the 12-team will take place at campus sites. This year, those games will take place on the weekend of Dec. 19-20, with kickoff times and television information announced once pairings have been set.

2025-26 College Football Playoff schedule

All times Central

First round (campus sites)

Friday, Dec. 19-Saturday, Dec. 20

Sites & kickoff times TBD

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, Dec. 31

Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Thursday, Jan. 1

Capital One Orange Bowl, 11 a.m., ESPN

Rose Bowl, 3 p.m., ESPN

Allstate Sugar Bowl, 7 p.m., ESPN

Semifinals

Thursday, Jan. 8

Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Jan. 9

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, 6:30 p.m., ESPN

Championship game

Monday, Jan. 19

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla., 6:30 p.m., ESPN