Published on: December 10, 2025, 11:20 AM.
Updated on: December 10, 2025, 11:38 AM.
- Las Vegas will feature the College Football Playoff National Championship in January 2027
- A dedicated host committee of 12 local figures has been assembled
In contrast to the controversial 2025 College Football Playoff bracket that saw Notre Dame’s exclusion in favor of two Group of Five teams, the recent announcement regarding the 2027 Las Vegas CFP Host Committee brought no such surprises.
The College Football Playoff National Championship will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on January 25, 2027. On Tuesday, the details of the CFP Las Vegas Host Committee—with familiar names from the Southern Nevada region—were disclosed.
Co-chairing the committee is Sandra Douglas Morgan, the president of the Las Vegas Raiders and former chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB). Morgan was instrumental in Caesars Entertainment when the Raiders’ owner, Mark Davis, appointed her in July 2022.
Joining her as co-chair is Jim Gibson, the Clark County Commissioner and a Las Vegas native, who has previously held the position of mayor of Henderson. Michael Naft, another county commissioner, is also a committee member.
Casino Involvement
The Las Vegas Strip is expected to play a pivotal role in showcasing the college football championship. Local casinos will create a series of events in conjunction with the championship game, solidifying their involvement in the host committee.
MGM Resorts, the foremost resort company on S. Las Vegas Blvd., will be represented by Gary Fritz, its Chief Commercial Officer and President of MGM Digital. Caesars Entertainment will also have a position on the committee with their Chief Commercial Officer, Sean McBurney. Furthermore, host committee member Carlos Castro, President and CFO of Resorts World, will stretch CFP events throughout the Strip.
Additionally, Virginia Valentine, President of the Nevada Resort Association, Raiders Senior Vice President and General Counsel Justin Carley, and Allegiant Stadium General Manager Andy Gorchov will contribute to the planning efforts.
The remaining committee members are influential local leaders who frequently participate in organizing special events.
Steve Hill, who chairs the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, is part of the committee, along with Jeremy Aguero (Principal Analyst) and Rob Dondero (Executive Vice President) from the firms Applied Analysis and R&R Partners, respectively, both of which are often engaged by the LVCVA for research and marketing.
Responsibilities of the Committee
The 2027 CFP National Championship Host Committee is tasked with orchestrating preparations for Las Vegas’s significant college football event. Their duties encompass managing local planning, logistics, hospitality, legacy programs, and engaging the community in activities related to the championship.
The 2025 CFP Championship will take place next month on January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
As for the ongoing playoff, FanDuel currently favors Ohio State as the top pick at +220, followed by Indiana at +290, Georgia at +550, Oregon at +750, Texas Tech at +900, Texas A&M and Miami both at +2200, Ole Miss also at +2200, Oklahoma at +4000, and Tulane at +7500. Notably, James Madison, the 12th seed, does not appear on either FanDuel or DraftKings betting lines.