College Football Playoff announces 2026-27 schedule, kickoff times

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The College Football Playoff, ESPN and TNT have officially announced dates and times for each round of this season's playoff.

According to the release, the first game of the first round will be held on Dec. 18, followed by the remaining first-round contests on Dec. 19. The quarterfinals are set for Dec. 30 (Vrbo Fiesta Bowl) and New Year's Day, with the semifinals slated for Jan. 14 (Capital One Orange Bowl) and Jan. 15 (Allstate Sugar Bowl). The 2027 CFP National Championship at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, will take place on Monday, Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC and ESPN.

This year's CFP will feature 12 teams all vying for an opportunity to compete in Vegas for the national title. The participating teams will be the champions from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and the highest-ranked team from American, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West, Pac-12, and Sun Belt, along with the next seven highest-ranked teams in college football. Beginning in 2026-27, Notre Dame will earn an automatic bid to the playoff if it finishes the season ranked within the top 12.

Led by head coach Mike Elko, Texas A&M appeared in its first playoff game last season, suffering a 10-3 defeat to Miami at Kyle Field. In just his second year at the helm in Bryan-College Station, Elko conjured an 11-0 start for the first time since 1992. While the Aggies lost much production from last year's historic squad, they hauled in the No. 4 transfer class and No. 7 recruiting class in the country during the offseason.

To compete among the best teams in the country during the postseason, Elko and company will face the No. 8 toughest schedule, according to CBS Sports. That slate features a non-conference contest against Arizona State, while also facing the new nine-game SEC schedule. The Aggies face Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas in the final six weeks of the 2026-27 season.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: CFP announces 2026-27 schedule as Texas A&M eyes second appearance

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