Rose Bowl Game to Be Held on Jan. 1, Will Start Earlier

The 2026 Rose Bowl Game will be held on New Year’s Day, the College Football Playoffs announced on Tuesday.

However, the game will start an hour earlier at 1 p.m.

David Eads, Chief Executive Officer of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, emphasized that the one-hour shift in the traditional Rose Bowl Game start time will not diminish the event’s experience.

Since signing with the CFP, Tournament of Roses officials have been working to keep the game on Jan. 1.

“A mid-afternoon game has always been important to the tradition of ‘The Granddaddy of Them All,'” Eads said. “This small adjustment helps improve the overall timing for all playoff games and ensures we are good partners with ESPN and the College Football Playoff.”

The Rose Bowl Game will be part of a triple-header televised on ESPN that concludes with the Sugar Bowl.

“This New Year’s Day schedule adjustment is the result of a thoughtful collaboration between the CFP, ESPN, the Capital One Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl,” said Rich Clark, executive director of the CFP. “These changes allow us to place each game in an ideal window and provide the optimal viewing experience. New Year’s Day and college football are synonymous with each other, and these changes only strengthen that relationship.”

The CFP and ESPN announced the dates, kickoff times, and broadcast details for the 2025-26 postseason, including the Playoff Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the National Championship Game.

Pre-game festivities at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena will begin at noon PT/3 p.m. ET.

The day’s action will start with the Capital One Orange Bowl at 9 a.m. PT/noon ET, followed by the Rose Bowl Game.

The CFP Semifinals are scheduled for Jan. 8 and 9, both with 4:30 p.m. PT kickoffs. The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will host the first semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 8, followed by the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Friday, Jan. 9.

The College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T will be played Monday, Jan. 19, at 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.