Next month's conference title games in college football will be the last ones. On Monday, Nov. 9, the College Football Playoff approved growing to 24 teams from the 2027-28 season, and the same morning the SEC, the Big 12 and the ACC each said their 2026 football championship game would be the final one. The Big Ten did too.
This December's games are the last chance to see them in person. The ACC says tickets for its game are already on sale.
The last title games, and when they kick off
| Conference | Game | Date and time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big 12 | 25th and final championship | Friday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m. Central, on ABC | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas |
| SEC | 35th and final championship | Saturday, Dec. 5 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
The SEC's is the oldest of the four. Its title game began on Dec. 5, 1992, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala. Atlanta took over in 1994, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium has hosted it since 2017. The conference says its champions have gone on to win 14 national titles.
The Big 12 plans tributes at its final game in Arlington, including recognition of former commissioners and videos honoring past champions. The ACC said in a separate announcement that its 2026 game will be its last annual one.
What replaces them
Without a title game, the Big 12 will give its automatic playoff spot to its regular-season champion. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said in a statement that conference games will now decide "qualification, seeding, byes and home-field opportunities." His statement mentions byes and home games, but the playoff has not yet published how the 24-team bracket will work.
ESPN will carry the expanded playoff, after the CFP named it the exclusive rights holder for the new games through the 2031-32 season. Neither side has released financial terms.
"The 24-team format will also provide meaningful postseason experiences for universities, teams, student-athletes and fans," Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said.
