The College Football Playoff Semifinal times have been set for the 2016 season, Executive Director Bill Hancock announced today.
The Fiesta Bowl and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will both be played on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. Kickoff times are 3pm and 7pm ET and will be designated after the matchups are set on Dec. 4.
Last year, the Playoff Semifinal games kicked off at 4pm and 8pm ET. The committee decided to move both games up one hour this season in hopes of capturing more viewers.
“As we committed earlier this year, we have looked at the landscape for the upcoming season and are confident that this change will make it easier for more fans to watch the games on television and also will benefit fans who will attend the games in person,” Hancock said. “The semifinals will be played on Saturday for the first time. The Capital One Orange Bowl will be in an evening time slot, which is its tradition.”
The College Football Playoff also announced today that the Capital One Orange Bowl has been moved to primetime on Friday, Dec. 30. The game was originally slated for New Year’s Eve.
Since New Year’s Day 2017 falls on a Sunday, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual, and Allstate Sugar Bowl will all be played on Monday, Jan. 2.
New Year’s Six Schedule
- 12/30 – Orange Bowl
- 12/31 – Peach Bowl (semifinal)
- 12/31 – Fiesta Bowl (semifinal)
- 01/02 – Cotton BowlR
- 01/02 – Rose Bowl
- 01/02 – Sugar Bowl