College Football

College Football Playoff moves semis to earlier kickoffs

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:56 p.m. ET

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IRVING, Texas (AP) The College Football Playoff has moved the times for the New Year's Eve semifinals back one hour each and said the Orange Bowl will be played in prime time on Friday night, Dec. 30.

CFP executive director Bill Hancock said the Fiesta Bowl and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 31, will begin at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern, though the decision on which game kicks off first won't be made until Dec. 4.

Last year's semifinal games began at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Dec. 31, and ratings were down dramatically.

Hancock says the move should ''make it easier for more fans to watch the games on television.''