IRVING, Texas – Bill Hancock, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff (CFP), today announced a shift in scheduling to the semifinal games in years 5, 6, 11 and 12 of the rotation.
With this adjustment, all semifinals games will be played on Saturdays or holidays.
“We had healthy discussions with a lot of people who love college football and we concluded that making these changes would be the right thing to do for our fans.” said Hancock.
“We tried to do something special with New Year’s Eve, even when it fell on a weekday. But after studying this to see if it worked, we think we can do better. These adjustments will allow more people to experience the games they enjoy so much. For these four years, our previous call is reversed.”
Hancock pointed out that the semifinals do remain on one weekday New Year’s Eve—Friday, December 31, 2021—which will be the federally observed New Year’s holiday.
Here are the dates of the future semifinals (asterisks indicate years when the schedule has been changed):
2016-17
Saturday, December 31
Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl
2017-18
Monday, January 1
Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl
*2018-19
Saturday, December 29
Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl
*2019-20
Saturday, December 28
Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl
2020-21
Friday, January 1
Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl
2021-22
Friday, December 31
Orange Bowl and Bowl TBD
2022-23
Saturday, December 31
Bowls TBD
2023-24
Monday, January 1
Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl
*2024-25
Saturday, December 28
Orange Bowl and Bowl TBD
*2025-26
Saturday, December 27
Bowls TBD
With this adjustment, all semifinals games will be played on Saturdays or holidays.
“We had healthy discussions with a lot of people who love college football and we concluded that making these changes would be the right thing to do for our fans.” said Hancock.
“We tried to do something special with New Year’s Eve, even when it fell on a weekday. But after studying this to see if it worked, we think we can do better. These adjustments will allow more people to experience the games they enjoy so much. For these four years, our previous call is reversed.”
Hancock pointed out that the semifinals do remain on one weekday New Year’s Eve—Friday, December 31, 2021—which will be the federally observed New Year’s holiday.
Here are the dates of the future semifinals (asterisks indicate years when the schedule has been changed):
2016-17
Saturday, December 31
Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl
2017-18
Monday, January 1
Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl
*2018-19
Saturday, December 29
Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl
*2019-20
Saturday, December 28
Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl
2020-21
Friday, January 1
Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl
2021-22
Friday, December 31
Orange Bowl and Bowl TBD
2022-23
Saturday, December 31
Bowls TBD
2023-24
Monday, January 1
Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl
*2024-25
Saturday, December 28
Orange Bowl and Bowl TBD
*2025-26
Saturday, December 27
Bowls TBD
