College Football Playoff announces first-round times, TV

The College Football Playoff has announced the schedule for its first-round games, which will take place at campus sites on December 19th and 20th. According to Birmingham News, there will be one game on Friday, December 19th, starting at 7 p.m.

Central time, broadcast on either ABC or ESPN. Three additional games are set for Saturday, December 20th, with the first at 11 a.m. on ABC or ESPN, followed by a 2:30 p.m. matchup airing on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.

The last first-round game that Saturday will kick off at 6:30 p.m., also on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. This format marks a critical moment for teams looking to secure their playoff positions and for fans eager to catch the action.

Following these first-round games, the playoff structure will continue with the quarterfinals held on December 31st and January 1st. The Cotton Bowl will host the first quarterfinal game on December 31st at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.

The Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl will follow on January 1st, starting at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m. respectively, all on ESPN. The semifinals are scheduled for January 8th at the Fiesta Bowl and January 9th at the Peach Bowl, both airing at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.

The national championship game will take place on January 19th in Miami, also at 6:30 p.m., and will be broadcast on ESPN. Additionally, the first College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings will be released on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Central on ESPN, with the final playoff rankings and selections to be announced on Sunday, December 7th, following the completion of conference championship games. This schedule not only sets the stage for the playoff but also highlights the importance of each game as teams strive to earn their spot in the coveted playoff bracket.