The Fiesta Sports Foundation will host the College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. MST. This event, in its second year of the 12-team playoff format, will be broadcast live on ESPN across its TV and digital platforms.
The winner of the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will advance to the CFP National Championship Game in Miami on January 19, 2026. This marks the fourth time the bowl will serve as a CFP Semifinal.
Recent years have brought thrilling games to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. In 2022, TCU pulled off an unforgettable win over Michigan, 51-45, with a remarkable 44 points scored in the third quarter alone. The game ended with a Vrbo Fiesta Bowl record of 96 combined points. In 2019, Clemson overcame a 16-point deficit to beat Ohio State, 29-23, in a dramatic game that saw them withstand a fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
The teams competing in the CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will earn their spot by winning the CFP Quarterfinal round. The quarterfinals will take place on December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026. The 12-team CFP field will be announced on Sunday, December 7, and the CFP First Round will be held on December 19-20.
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