College football fans love tradition, and there’s nothing more sacred than ringing in the New Year with a day full of bowl games. However, this season the College Football Playoff has introduced a CFB Title game day that’s left many excited…and many others groaning.
The CFP schedule for 2025-26 is official, and the unexpected New Year’s Day tripleheader is a present in itself. Fans are looking forward to the College Football Playoff National Championship date, which will be played on Monday, Jan. 19.
2025 CFB Playoff Schedule Brings New Year’s Day Tripleheader and a January 19 CFB Title Game Igniting Fans
The schedule kicks off on Dec. 31 with the Cotton Bowl at 7:30 p.m. ET. The big headline is what happens the next day, as for the first time ever, three quarterfinal games will unfold on Jan. 1: the Orange Bowl at noon, the Rose Bowl at 4 p.m., and the Sugar Bowl at 8 p.m.
The semifinal action follows a week later, with the Fiesta Bowl scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 8, and the Peach Bowl on Friday, Jan. 9. Both will be under the lights at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Then comes the best day and the twist: the College Football Playoff National Championship, set to be hosted on Monday, Jan. 19. The extended gap between the semifinals and the title game is already drawing ire from fans who fear the momentum and excitement could be lost on a Monday.
NEWS: The College Football Playoff and ESPN have announced dates, kick times and broadcast information for the Playoff Quarterfinals, Playoff Semifinals and the national championship game for the 2025-26 edition of the CFP.
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— College Football Playoff (@CFBPlayoff) April 22, 2025
A Monday night in mid-January, just as most are shaking off the holiday haze and bracing for the coldest stretch of winter. It’s a hard sell, even for diehards.
“Zero Saturday games. What is my sport coming to?” complained one fan in the comments.
Another one wrote, “STOP PUTTING THE NATTY ON A MONDAY.”
A rather hurt fan went all out, writing, “Not a single human being on the face of the planet wants the national title game on a Monday. Incompetence.”
Another fan complained that there was “Absolutely no reason a sport known for Saturday games doesn’t have its biggest games of the year on Saturdays.”
“The Monday championship is ridiculous,” complained another fan.
KEEP READING: 2026 College Football National Championship Odds: Ohio State Repeat Favorites?
A fan sounded upset, as he questioned, “WHY IS THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME NOT ON SATURDAY?!?!?’
It marks the first time since 2021 that Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will host the championship game. While the 2025-26 College Football Playoff promises some of the most thrilling postseason action yet, with a triple dose of drama on New Year’s Day and high-stakes semifinals the week after, it is already rubbing many the wrong way.
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