When Does College Football End? Final Game Dates Explained

By Sarah Miller · October 2, 2027

College football typically ends in early January, with the College Football Playoff National Championship game marking the official conclusion of the season. For the 2024–2025 season, the championship game is scheduled for January 20, 2025.

When Does the College Football Season End?

The college football season concludes in early January each year, culminating in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. This final game determines the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) national champion and traditionally takes place on a Monday night approximately two weeks after New Year's Day.

Key End-of-Season Dates

Regular season ends: Late November to early December
Conference championships: Early December
Bowl games: Mid-December to early January
College Football Playoff semifinals: Late December or early January
National Championship game: Third or fourth Monday in January

Structure of the College Football Season

The NCAA college football season follows a structured timeline that spans over several months, beginning in late summer and concluding in January. Understanding this timeline helps fans, players, and analysts track progress toward the national title.

Regular Season

The regular season usually starts in late August or early September and runs through the end of November. Teams play 12 regular-season games, though some may play 13 if they participate in conference-mandated rivalry games or are part of specific scheduling agreements.

Conference Championship Games

Held in early December, these games determine which team earns their conference's automatic bid to a bowl game, often including access to the College Football Playoff for Power Five conference winners. The matchups are based on regular-season performance within each conference.

Bowl Season

Bowl games begin in mid-December and continue into early January. There are over 40 bowl games each season, ranging from smaller regional matchups to major events like the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and Orange Bowl. Six of these serve as hosts for the CFP semifinals on a rotating basis.

College Football Playoff Format (2024 Update)

Starting in the 2024 season, the College Football Playoff expands from four to twelve teams. The top 12 teams in the final CFP rankings will qualify, with the top four seeds receiving first-round byes. The playoff bracket includes:

First Round: Seeds 5 vs 12, 6 vs 11, 7 vs 10, 8 vs 9
Quarterfinals: Hosted by major bowl games (e.g., Rose, Sugar)
Semifinals: Two additional New Year's Six bowls
Championship Game: Neutral site, predetermined location

Season	Championship Date	Champion	Runner-up	Location	Arena
2020–2021	January 11, 2021	Alabama	Ohio State	Miami Gardens, FL	Hard Rock Stadium
2021–2022	January 10, 2022	Georgia	Alabama	Indianapolis, IN	Lucas Oil Stadium
2022–2023	January 9, 2023	Georgia	Tennessee	Inglewood, CA	SoFi Stadium
2023–2024	January 8, 2024	Michigan	Washington	Houston, TX	NRG Stadium
2024–2025 (Projected)	January 20, 2025	TBD	TBD	Atlanta, GA	Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows a consistent pattern: the national championship game occurs in mid-to-late January, hosted at neutral sites across the U.S. Atlanta has emerged as a frequent host city due to its modern facilities and central location. With the 2024 expansion to 12 teams, the playoff duration extends slightly, pushing the final game to January 20.

Frequently Asked Questions About When College Football Ends

When does the college football regular season end?

The regular season typically ends in late November or early December, with most teams completing their 12-game schedules by the first weekend of December.

When are the College Football Playoff games played?

Under the new 12-team format starting in 2024, the first round is scheduled for December 20–21, 2024. Quarterfinals occur around December 31–January 1, semifinals around January 6–7, and the championship game on January 20, 2025.

Does every college football team play until January?

No. Only teams selected for bowl games or the College Football Playoff extend into January. Most teams' seasons end after the regular season or conference championship, depending on eligibility and invitations.

How many games do college football teams play in a season?

Teams play 12 regular-season games. With a conference championship appearance, that increases to 13. Bowl-eligible teams play 14 games, and those advancing to the College Football Playoff can play up to 15 games in a single season.

Why does college football end in January while the NFL regular season is still ongoing?

College football’s schedule is built around academic calendars, starting in late summer and using January for postseason play. In contrast, the NFL follows a professional calendar, starting later (September) and crowning its champion in February after a shorter regular season but more extensive playoff structure.