American Idol Star Jamal Roberts to headline College Football Playoff National Championship
The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship will feature a stirring rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by American Idol winner Jamal Roberts, the College Football playoff (CFP) announced today. The championship game, scheduled for Monday, January 19, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, will also include a robust pregame ceremony honoring service members, educators, and local communities.
Roberts, a Mississippi native, captivated audiences on Season 23 of American Idol, securing victory with a record-breaking 26 million votes. He has quickly established himself as a rising force in soul music,with his debut single,”Heal,” reaching No. 1 on both Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs and gospel Digital Song charts. The track has also garnered attention on Apple Music’s “New Music Daily” and Spotify’s “Fresh Gospel” playlists.”With his authentic storytelling, soulful vocals, and a message of resilience, Jamal Roberts is not just an artist to watch, he’s a voice that defines a generation,” a CFP release stated.
prior to Roberts’ performance, the pregame will showcase a flyover by 3 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army, and in the Middle East with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, U.S. Air Force. A flyover by U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Miami in Opa-locka, Florida, will further honor the occasion, and drummers from the participating team bands will add to the presentation.
The pregame festivities will also feature a performance of “America the Lovely” by the Florida Memorial University Ambassador Chorale, directed by Dr. Argarita Johnson.Florida Memorial University, the only historically Black university in south Florida, is celebrated for its dedication to leadership, scholarship, and the preservation of Black history and culture. Adding to the inclusivity of the event, 17-year-old Brianna Therve, a junior at Barbara Goleman High School, will perform “America the Beautiful” in American Sign Language (ASL), while 18-year-old Maria Pernalete, a senior at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” in ASL. Both students are supported by the Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Department of Extraordinary Student Education.
Recognizing the vital role of educators, the CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) initiative will honor the 2025 Teacher of the Year from each U.S. state and territory on the field. The marching bands of both participating teams will perform during pregame and halftime, continuing a long-standing college football tradition.
the championship game will also provide a platform to honor remarkable heroism.Master Sergeant (Retired) Earl D. plumlee, a Medal of honor recipient, will be recognized for his valor during combat operations in Afghanistan on August 28, 2013, where he repeatedly risked his life to protect his teammates.
Adding to the atmosphere, ESPN sideline reporter Stormy Buonantony will return as the in-stadium emcee for the fourth consecutive year, joined by renowned DJ Mal-Ski. This year, DJ Mal-Ski will collaborate with eight Latin percussionists from Hussein & The Fire Drummers, promising a dynamic and energetic performance.
Pregame festivities are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, with kickoff set for 7:50 p.m. ET. The game will pit the No. 1 seed Indiana against the No. 10 seed Miami. Michael T. Fiur Productions will produce the pregame, halftime, and postgame event presentations. Fans can find more data at CollegeFootballPlayoff.com and join the conversation using the hashtag #CFBPlayoff.
The College Football playoff, established to determine the national champion in college football, utilizes a selection committee to rank the top 25 teams. The expanded 12-team playoff bracket, implemented for the 2026 season, will seed the five highest-ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams, with the top four receiving a first-round bye. The Playoff Quarterfinals and Semifinals will rotate annually among the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
