The upcoming College Football Playoff National Championship is scheduled to start on Monday, January 19, 2026, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Quick Scoop

  • Date: Monday, January 19, 2026.
  • Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET (early evening prime-time kickoff).
  • Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida.
  • Matchup: Indiana Hoosiers vs. Miami Hurricanes for the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Why it’s a big deal right now

  • The game is part of the 2025–26 college football season and caps off the expanded College Football Playoff era, so interest is especially high this year.
  • Miami is effectively playing a title game at home, adding extra buzz around local fan turnout, ticket demand, and media coverage.

If you’re planning a watch party or heading out to a bar, being set up by about 7:00 p.m. ET will keep you from missing any of the pregame buildup.

TL;DR: The national championship starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on January 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.