College Football Playoff National Championship To Return To Tampa

TAMPA, FL — The College Football Playoff national championship game will return to Tampa in 2029, CFP said in a news release.

This will make Tampa the fourth city to host the CFP title game for a second time since the competition’s launch in 2015.

Raymond James Stadium will host the game on Jan. 22, 2029, the news release said. The stadium previously hosted the championship in 2017.

“[Tampa] has established itself as an exceptional host for world-class sporting events, and its vibrant downtown, beautiful waterfront, and proven commitment to excellence make it an ideal setting for college football’s greatest night,” Rich Clark, executive director of the CFP, said. “We look forward to partnering with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and local leaders to deliver a national championship experience worthy of college football’s biggest stage.”

The CFP returning to Tampa “is a huge testament to Team Tampa Bay’s collaborative spirit as well as all of our community partners working really hard to make this happen,” Rob Higgins, CEO of the University of South Florida Athletics and former executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission said. “The social and economic impact of this event is phenomenal, and guests who haven’t been here since 2017 are going to be shocked with how our area has totally transformed since we last hosted.”

Bringing the 2029 championship to the Tampa Bay area “is more than a milestone — it’s a moment for our community to shine,” Ben Milsom, the commission’s board chair, said. “It reflects what makes Tampa Bay special: teamwork, hospitality, and a shared commitment to excellence.”

The CFP crowns the national champion in college football each year.

At the end of each regular season, the CFP selection committee ranks the top 25 teams. The five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams are put into a bracket-based 12-team competition, according to the news release.

The four highest-ranked teams have a bye in the first round while the remaining teams go head-to-head with higher-ranking teams hosting lower-ranking teams.

After this, the CFP quarterfinals and semifinals rotate each year among six bowl games - the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

The upcoming championship game takes place Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.