Editors:
Below are some of AP’s coverage plans tied to the 2026-27 college football postseason, including playoff/bowl selection day on Dec. 6 and the major awards. Please contact Dave Zelio (dzelio@ap.org) with any questions.
An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page. All times below Eastern.
FBC--CFP-COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF -- The College Football Playoff announces its third and possibly final 12-team bracket. The winners will play for the national championship Jan. 25 in Las Vegas. By Eddie Pells. Text, photos by 4 p.m. Developing from noon ET announcement Dec. 6.
With:
-- FBC--CFP-FIESTA BOWL -- Profile of the CFP first-round campus matchup and path to the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal. By John Marshall. Text, photos by 5 p.m. Dec. 6.
-- FBC--CFP-ROSE BOWL -- Profile of the CFP first-round campus matchup and path to the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. By Greg Beacham. Text, photos by 5 p.m. Dec. 6.
-- FBC--CFP-PEACH BOWL -- Profile of the CFP first-round campus matchup and path to the Peach Bowl quarterfinal. By Mark Long. Text, photos by 5 p.m. Dec. 6.
-- FBC--CFP-COTTON BOWL -- Profile of the CFP first-round campus matchup and path to the Cotton Bowl quarterfinal. By Stephen Hawkins. Text, photos by 5 p.m. Dec. 6.
-- FBC--CFP-LEFT OUT -- There will be no shortage of controversy going into the College Football Playoff as teams are left out despite mostly sterling records. By Tim Reynolds. Text, photos by 5 p.m. Dec. 6.
-- FBC--T25-COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL -- The final regular-season AP Top 25 poll is released, setting the table for the postseason. By Eric Olson. Text, photos by 11 a.m. Dec. 6.
AP will provide game stories and boxes for every bowl and photo coverage of major games. Preview content will focus on CFP matchups and select other games.
The final AP Top 25 poll of the season will be sent by noon on Jan. 26, the day after the College Football Playoff championship game.
— Dec. 7: AP All-ACC team. By Aaron Beard. Text, photos by 2 p.m.
— Dec. 8: AP All-Big Ten team. By Eric Olson. Text, photos by 2 p.m.
— Dec. 9: AP All-SEC team. By Mark Long. Text, photos by 2 p.m.
— Dec. 10: AP Player Of The Year announcement, noon. By Eric Olson. Text, photos by noon.
— Dec. 11: AP All-Big 12 team. By Stephen Hawkins. Text, photos by 2 p.m.
— Dec. 11: Coverage of major college football awards. Text, photos. Event begins at 7 p.m.
— Dec. 12: Heisman Trophy announcement, approximately 7 p.m. Text, photos.
— Dec. 14: AP All-America team. By Eric Olson. Text, photos by noon.
— Dec. 15: AP Coach of the Year. Text, photos by noon.
— Dec. 15: AP FCS All-America team.. By Eric Olson. Text, photos by 2 p.m.
— Dec. 16: AP Division II All-America team. By Eric Olson. Text, photos by 2 p.m.
— Dec. 17: AP Division III All-America team.. By Eric Olson. Text, photos by 2 p.m.
— Dec. 18: AP NAIA All-America team. By Eric Olson. Text, photos by 2 p.m.
A paginated preview of the college football bowl season will be available in AP Newsroom by 5 p.m. Dec. 8 by searching for “Sports Extra” under the Graphics tab. Three page sizes are available – full broadsheet, half broadsheet and tabloid – with space for local advertising or content. The pages list all the bowls and look at the matchups in the College Football Playoff. Please contact Barry Bedlan at bbedlan@ap.org with any questions.
