The biggest game in college sports will be played in Tampa in 2029. The College Football Playoff announced that it is expanding from 12 teams to 24 teams, and Tampa will host the second-ever National Championship for the expanded playoff.
The College Football Playoff Championship Game for the 2028 season will be played at Raymond James Stadium on January 22, 2029, helping to launch the new era of college football. And with two years to go, we have plenty of time to dream about our own teams building up a roster to make a run to the title game.
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Tampa hosting the 2029 National Championship isn’t a new announcement, of course. The College Football Playoff shared that news in October of 2025. The good news for Tampa here is that doubling the playoff (and increasing the number of games and host cities) didn’t affect the city’s status as host. In fact, it didn’t even affect the date, with January 22 still holding steady as the big moment.
In fact, it’s the second time that scheduling fate was on Tampa’s side for this game. Dallas was originally slotted to host the 2029 Championship Game but had scheduling conflicts. Tampa was selected as the new host site, bringing the spectacle of sport to Ray Jay.
The college football title game joins the long list of major sporting events Tampa has been host to in recent years, including a Super Bowl and the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four. Tampa last hosted the National Championship in 2017.
The College Football Playoff was launched with four teams in 2014, and has since expanded to a 12-team field. It will double to 24 teams, somewhat controversially, beginning with the 2027 season and the 2028 title game in New Orleans. The championship round is the most-watched college football event of the year.
The economic impact of the event is expected to be in the nine-figure range. Festivities, events and media coverage will take place all week, with Tampa serving as the epicenter of college football throughout. Major media networks will be on hand, while tens of thousands of fans will travel to the region, filling up hotels, restaurants and area attractions.
It will be yet another opportunity for Tampa and the entire Tampa Bay region to shine on a national stage.
