Thursday, April 16, 2026

Coming Soon to A Theater Near You: The College Football Playoff

  • ESPN to Screen CFP Semifinals, National Championship in Theaters.
  • 75 Cinemark Theaters Will Show National Championship.
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers celebrates after scoring touchdown in 2022 National Championship game against Alabama
News Joshua L Jones

Football fans can catch the College Football Playoff on the big screen.

For the second year in a row, ESPN is teaming with theater company Cinemark Holdings to screen the CFP semifinals and National Championship in select theaters nationwide. 

The second year of the partnership will feature an expanded number of theaters. 

Approximately 50 theaters nationwide will screen the CFP Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and CFP Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 31. No. 2 Michigan will play No. 3 TCU at the Fiesta Bowl (4 p.m. ET). No. 1 Georgia will play No. 4 Ohio State in the Peach Bowl (8 p.m. ET).  

  • Then ESPN will screen the CFP National Championship in 75 Cinemark theaters on Monday, Jan. 9 (7:30 p.m. ET). All the CFP screenings will include ESPN’s live pre-game studio coverage.
  • College football fans who purchase $10 concession packages can reserve their seats in advance. Some Cinemark locations will offer $5 draft beers for the New Year’s Eve game.

“Cinemark is thrilled to once again offer college football fans an opportunity to watch this year’s most anticipated games in our immersive, shared environment, especially given the enthusiasm we saw in our theaters last year,” said Wanda Gierhart Fearing, Cinemark’s chief marketing and content officer in a statement.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

2026 WNBA Draft Was Second-Most Watched in Event History

Viewership trends mirror those of the NCAA women’s basketball title game.
The Miz Stephen A. Smith WWE

ESPN Going All Out for WWE WrestleMania in Las Vegas

There has been plenty of crossover between ESPN and WWE this week.
Mar 28, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

NBA Viewership Up 16% in Year 1 of New Media Deal

The league faced heavy scrutiny last year for its declining ratings.
ESPN's Jay Bilas speaks during ESPN's 'College GameDay' broadcast ahead of No. 4 Tennessee's basketball game against No. 10 Texas at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023.
exclusive

Bilas to Fill Malone’s Role on ESPN NBA Playoff Coverage

Bilas will call playoff games alongside Ryan Ruocco.

Featured Today

blake griffin

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
Matthew Schaefer/Front Office Sports
April 10, 2026

Matthew Schaefer Has the Hockey World in His Thrall

The teenage Islanders defenseman cannon-balled into the NHL.
April 9, 2026

College Athletes Are Ignoring NCAA Gambling Bans

“We were going to bet regardless,” says one former D-I athlete.
April 8, 2026

Why Did FIFA Do a Deal With an Obscure Prediction Market?

The product is scheduled to launch on Thursday.
LIV Golf livestream

LIV Golf Livestreams Crash Minutes After Mexico Event Tees Off

The league’s broadcast feeds were down for more than an hour.
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) runs against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) in the second half during a NFL game at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jean Carniel/Reuters via Imagn Images
exclusive
April 16, 2026

NFL, YouTube in Advanced Talks for 5-Game Package

The deal has yet to be finalized.
Apr 25, 2024; Avondale, Louisiana, USA; Kevin Kisner reacts to his shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
April 16, 2026

NBC’s Kevin Kisner Apologizes for Torching CBS Masters Coverage

Kisner admitted he “crossed the line” with his now-viral rant.
Sponsored

From Gold Medalist to Business Founder

Allyson Felix on investing in women’s sports and what comes next for track & LA28.
Feb 7, 2022; Westlake Village, CA, USA; ESPN reporter Dianna Russini at Los Angeles Rams Super Bowl LVI Opening Night at Oaks Christian High School. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
April 15, 2026

What’s Next for Dianna Russini? Sports Media Insiders Debate Her Future

Russini has made it clear she plans to continue her career.
LaChina Robinson Sarah Kustok
exclusive
April 15, 2026

LaChina Robinson, Sarah Kustok Expected to Join WNBA on NBC

NBC’s WNBA coverage continues to take shape.
April 14, 2026

Amazon Broadcast Crashes in Final Minute of Its Biggest NBA Game Yet

Viewers missed 22 critical seconds of the Hornets-Heat game.
April 14, 2026

Rory Triumph Delivers 14M Masters Viewers for CBS, Most Since 2015

CBS peaked with more than 20 million viewers Sunday.