CFP Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Tickets at AT&T Stadium, Arlington

CFP Quarterfinal · 91st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium

Friday 1 January 2027 · Kickoff time to be announced · AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Cotton Bowl Classic tickets are due to go on sale at a later date for the 2027 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Friday 1 January 2027. It is the 91st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and the second year in a row it hosts a playoff quarterfinal, with the winner moving on to the semifinals.

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The CFP Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is played at AT&T Stadium, 1 AT&T Way, Arlington, on Friday 1 January 2027. The kickoff time, TV network and the two teams are still to be announced, so confirm everything on the official pages before you book non-refundable travel.
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Buy Tickets & Game Info

AT&T Stadium’s official event page says tickets will go on sale at a later date through SeatGeek, the stadium’s official ticket marketplace. Hello Tickets lists tickets from other sellers, and resale prices can be above or below face value, so compare the final price including fees before you buy. Tickets are usually sold before the two teams are known, so your ticket will be valid for whichever teams reach the game.

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DetailInfo
Event2027 CFP Quarterfinal at the 91st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
DateFriday 1 January 2027
Kickoff & TVTo be announced
VenueAT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
TeamsTwo College Football Playoff teams, set by the playoff bracket
At stakeA place in the College Football Playoff semifinals
Official infoAT&T Stadium event page
Other sellersHello Tickets

About the Cotton Bowl Classic

The Cotton Bowl Classic is one of college football’s longest-running bowl games, and the 2027 edition is the 91st. For the 2026-27 season it is one of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, so the two teams on the field will be playing for a place in the semifinals rather than a bowl trophy alone. It is the second season in a row that the game has hosted a quarterfinal, following Miami’s win over Ohio State on New Year’s Eve 2025, a game that drew 71,323 fans to AT&T Stadium.

The Classic has become a regular stop in the playoff. AT&T Stadium hosted CFP semifinals in 2015, 2018 and 2021, and the stadium also staged the 2021 Rose Bowl. Next season it hosts a semifinal on Friday 14 January 2028, which will be the latest date the Cotton Bowl Classic has ever been played.

The kickoff time is still to be announced. Recent Cotton Bowl playoff games at AT&T Stadium kicked off at around 6:30 PM CT, but that is only a guide, so wait for the official announcement before you book flights or hotels.

Planning tip: The two teams are only known after the playoff bracket is set, so travel plans can change late. Look for refundable hotel rates, and remember that the Dallas Cowboys host the Giants two days later on 3 January, which can make the whole New Year weekend busy around the stadium.

Where to Sit

For football, sideline seats in the 200 and 300 levels give the best balance of view and price: high enough to see plays develop, low enough to feel the crowd. The 100 level is the closest seated ring, the 400 level and the standing-room areas are the budget way in, and thanks to the stadium’s two huge arches there are no interior columns blocking the view.

Which sections are on sale is set for the event, so use the seat map on the ticket page before you buy. For section-by-section detail, see our complete AT&T Stadium guide.

Playoff-game tip: Fans of the two teams tend to sit in different parts of the stadium, so check the section map and the listing notes if you want to sit with a particular team’s supporters.

Getting to AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium is in Arlington’s Entertainment District, roughly midway between downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth and about 10 miles south of DFW Airport. Arlington has no rail service to the stadium, so nearly everyone arrives by car or rideshare. You can buy parking in advance through the stadium’s official parking page, which also lists rideshare and drop-off zones. Tailgating is allowed for Cowboys and college football games in designated spaces, so check the stadium’s rules before you go. For directions, rideshare zones and accessibility, see our complete AT&T Stadium guide.

Infographic showing how to get to AT&T Stadium Arlington by car, rideshare and parking lots
On New Year’s Day: Leave plenty of time, because tens of thousands of fans arrive together and traffic around the Entertainment District builds early. After the game, consider waiting nearby or walking away from the stadium before you call a rideshare.

Where to Stay

The Arlington Entertainment District is the simplest base: the stadium, Globe Life Field and Texas Live! are all within walking distance of each other, so you can walk to the game and skip the parking and rideshare queues. Loews Arlington Hotel sits inside Texas Live! and is the closest full-service option, and options such as the Drury Plaza Hotel Dallas Arlington trade a short drive for lower prices. For more nightlife and dining, downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas (where the Omni Dallas Hotel is a popular base) are each roughly 20-30 minutes away by car. Because this is a New Year’s Day game, book early and stay overnight close to the stadium to avoid a late drive home.

Use the interactive map below to compare hotels and apartments around the stadium for your dates:

Things to Do Around the Game

Make a weekend of it. The Entertainment District has Globe Life Field, Texas Live! and Six Flags Over Texas within a short drive, and downtown Dallas and Fort Worth’s Stockyards are about 20 minutes away. On a non-event day you can also tour the stadium itself, though field access depends on the event calendar (see the stadium’s availability page).

Optional: Tours & Tickets Around the Stadium

Book a stadium tour with transportation from Dallas, a city sightseeing day that ends at the stadium, or Six Flags admission. Check live availability below.

Also available on Hello Tickets: the Dallas Cowboys Stadium Tour with round-trip transport from downtown Dallas.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Cotton Bowl Classic in 2027?
The 2027 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the 91st Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is on Friday 1 January 2027 at AT&T Stadium, 1 AT&T Way, Arlington, TX 76011. The kickoff time and TV network are still to be announced, so check the College Football Playoff and Cotton Bowl Classic websites before you book travel.
Who plays in the Cotton Bowl Classic?
The two teams are set by the College Football Playoff bracket after the regular season and conference championship games, so they are not known yet. The winner advances to the CFP semifinals.
When do Cotton Bowl Classic tickets go on sale?
AT&T Stadium says tickets will go on sale at a later date through SeatGeek, the stadium’s official ticket marketplace. Hello Tickets lists tickets from other sellers, and resale prices can be above or below face value, so compare the final price including fees before you buy.
Is the Cotton Bowl Classic a College Football Playoff game?
Yes. For the 2026-27 season the Cotton Bowl Classic hosts a College Football Playoff quarterfinal for the second year in a row. For the 2027-28 season it will host a CFP semifinal on Friday 14 January 2028.
What can I bring into AT&T Stadium?
Bags are heavily restricted. Approved options are a clear tote no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a one-gallon clear resealable plastic bag, or a small clutch no larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches. Backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, camera bags and luggage are not allowed.
What’s the best way to get to AT&T Stadium?
Arlington has no rail service to the stadium, so most fans drive or take a rideshare. Buy parking in advance through the stadium’s parking page, and allow extra time after the game, because rideshare demand is high. The rideshare zone is in Lot 15 and taxis stage at the far west end of Miller LiteHouse.

More at AT&T Stadium

Planning more than one game? Here is what else is on at AT&T Stadium around the Cotton Bowl Classic, or see the full AT&T Stadium events hub. For more American football trips, browse our NFL tickets hub.


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Hello Tickets, GetYourGuide, Stay22 and other travel partners. The link to AT&T Stadium’s event page is not an affiliate link. Route & Stay is an independent travel guide. We recommend only experiences we would genuinely suggest to friends, and if you book through our links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Event details were checked in September 2026 and can change.

By Ben Farr

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