“We are excited to bring the College Football Playoff National Championship back to Tampa Bay in 2029,” said Rich Clark, Executive Director of the College Football Playoff. “The city 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. 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 2029 contest will be the 15th national championship game in the College Football Playoff format, which began following the 2014 college football season. Below are the communities where the first 14 national championship games of the playoff era have been played or are scheduled to be played:

  • 2015 – North Texas (AT&T Stadium, Arlington)
  • 2016 – Arizona (University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale)
  • 2017 – Tampa Bay (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa)
  • 2018 – Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
  • 2019 – Bay Area (Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara)
  • 2020 – New Orleans (Mercedes-Benz Superdome)
  • 2021 – South Florida (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens)
  • 2022 – Indianapolis (Lucas Oil Stadium)
  • 2023 – Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium, Inglewood)
  • 2024 – Houston (NRG Stadium)
  • 2025 – Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
  • 2026 – South Florida (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens)
  • 2027 – Las Vegas (Allegiant Stadium)
  • 2028 – New Orleans (Caesars Superdome)

Tampa Bay, which was awarded its inaugural College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship hosting opportunity in August of 2013, witnessed one of the more memorable contests in the Playoff’s history as Clemson upended Alabama in the final moments. The 2017 CFP still holds the record for the largest attendance in Raymond James Stadium history at 74,512 fans.

The College Football Playoff National Championship is more than just the crowning of the best college football team, however. It is also a community-wide celebration of the event’s impact. On the ancillary event front, over 37,000 fans experienced Playoff Fan Central at the Tampa Convention Center, while 55,000+ went through the turnstiles at AT&T Playoff Playlist Live.

Over 950 volunteers compiled over 11,000 volunteer hours across 2,300+ shifts. The 2017 College Football Playoff also introduced Tampa Bay to the first rendition of Yacht Village, a special corridor of yachts along the Tampa Convention Center served as a prime festival location and the media hit backdrop for multiple national broadcasts throughout the week.