For football fans, the future roadmap to the national championships has just become clear.The College Football Playoff announced the game dates and assignments for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons on Tuesday.

By getting into these schedules, the playoffs try to provide a true rhythm for student-athletes and travel fans.In late January, Playoff officials announced that the college football tournament will remain after the 12th season for the 2026 season.

"These dates allow us to maintain competitive balance, maximize the fan experience and provide consistency for everyone involved in the playoffs," said Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff.helped that the expanded format was a success for students, fans and the game.

The road to the 2027 championship begins with the first round matches on campus in December.The quarter-finals will begin at the Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday, December 30, 2026.While there won't be a game on New Year's Eve to avoid a conflict with the NFL, fans can look forward to a massive New Year's trifecta featuring the Cotton Bowl Classic, Peach Bowl, and the historic Rose Bowl on Friday, January 1, 2027.

The numbers will increase between January and the semifinals. The Orange Bowl will host the first semifinal on Thursday, January 14, 2027, followed by Friday, January 15, 2027. This will lead to the national championship game, which was already set for January 25, 2027 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The 2027 season sees a slight change in the rotation.The quarter-finals begin in the Sugar Bowl on Friday, December 31, 2027, New Year's Eve.The other three quarterfinal games will be played on Saturday, January 1, 2028 at the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl and Rose Bowl.

The semifinals for the 2027 season will be moved to the Orange on Thursday, January 13, 2028, and the Cotton Bowl on Friday, January 14, 2028. That season will conclude with the national championship game on January 24, 2028, at the Superdome in New Orleans.

Ohio State made the 12-team playoffs in each of its first two years of existence.The Buckeyes were poised for a national title in 2024 before losing in the Cotton Bowl quarterfinals to Miami last year.

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This announcement reaffirms the Playoff's commitment to its "New Year's Six" bowl partners.While there will still be first-round games on campus, the Playoff will continue to allow games to set the schedule.

Although the date and location are set, it is expected that the prime time and television program will be released later this year.For those looking ahead, the CFP plans to make announcements for the 2028-2031 period in the coming months.