The 2026–27 postseason already has dates to circle. Sunday, December 6 will provide another layer of essential information: the selected teams, the first-round campus sites, and the television assignments for the January 1 CFP quarterfinals.
The first-round windows are set
The Playoff begins Friday, December 18 at 8 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. Saturday brings three more games: noon on ABC and ESPN, then 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max. Specific pairings and hosts will follow selection.
Three bowls, three January 1 slots
Cotton, Peach, and Rose are the New Year’s Day quarterfinal sites. The published windows are noon on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max; 4 p.m. on ABC and ESPN; and 8 p.m. on ESPN. Their bowl-to-window assignments are due on December 6.
When prediction research begins
Official selections make matchup-specific research possible. Depth charts, verified availability, preparation time, and venue conditions can then be evaluated for the teams actually taking the field. Forecasts will be labeled with their own evidence cutoff and publication time.
Sources & further reading
Research checked November 5, 2026. This guide separates confirmed announcements from details still pending.