We are truly in a paradigm-shifting era of college football. From name, image and likeness activities, to an almost free-agency model with the utilization of the transfer portal, to continued legislative efforts to put some guardrails around it all, the game looks far different than five years ago.
You can add expansion of the College Football Playoff model to that list of changes as well. In early December, officials announced a 12-team playoff would begin in the 2024 season. Most of the college football world rejoiced — well, aside from those that still carry flip phones and use dial-up internet. I mean, progress, right?
With the news of an expanded playoff, it changes the structure of how the bowl system will work. Instead of having two semifinal sites that feed into the national championship game, the new-look playoffs will start at the higher seeds’ college campuses or otherwise determined venue. Four bowl games will host quarterfinals. Two will host semifinals. Finally, the national championship venues will still be bid out and selected ahead of time.
With all of the changes afoot, we thought it would be good to revisit what all the fun will look like with known dates and venues through 2026. There’s still a lot to be announced with specific times and dates, but here’s how it all looks so far.