So, you’re looking for the channel to catch Dak and the boys, but here is the cold, hard truth: the Dallas Cowboys are not playing today, January 17, 2026.
If you check the schedule, the NFL is deep into the Divisional Round of the playoffs right now. But the Cowboys? They aren't in the bracket. Honestly, it’s a bit of a gut punch for the fan base, especially after the roller coaster of the 2025-2026 regular season. While the Buffalo Bills are battling the Denver Broncos on CBS right now, and the 49ers are prepping to take on the Seahawks tonight on FOX, the lights at AT&T Stadium are dimmed.
Basically, the Cowboys finished their season back on January 4th with a disappointing 34-17 loss to the New York Giants. That loss capped off a year where they went 7-9-1. That "1" in the tie column came from a bizarre 40-40 overtime deadlock against Green Bay back in September, a game that set the tone for a year of "almosts."
Is the Cowboys game on tv today? Why the schedule is empty
If you were hoping to see America’s Team today, you’ve likely seen the Divisional Round promos and assumed Dallas was in the mix. They aren't. To understand why is the cowboys game on tv today is a "no," you have to look at the NFC East standings.
The Philadelphia Eagles took the division. The Cowboys struggled with consistency all winter. They had some bright spots—like that 31-28 thriller over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving—but they couldn't string together the wins needed to secure a Wild Card spot. By the time mid-December hit, the losses to the Vikings and Chargers pretty much sealed their fate.
It’s weird seeing January football without the star on the helmet, especially with the way the offense looked in spurts. CeeDee Lamb still put up massive numbers, but the defense, led by Micah Parsons, seemed to run out of gas toward the end of the 17-game grind.
Who is playing today instead?
Since Dallas is out, the NFL TV schedule for Saturday, January 17, 2026, looks like this:
- Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos: This kicked off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. It’s a battle of the heavyweights, and quite frankly, the kind of high-stakes game Dallas fans were hoping for.
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks: This is the night cap at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX. It’s an NFC West rivalry game with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line.
If you specifically saw a "Cowboys" listing on your TV guide for today, you might be looking at college sports. The Oklahoma State Cowboys are playing the Kansas State Wildcats in a Big 12 basketball showdown. That game is on CBS Sports Network at 9:00 p.m. ET. It's a common mix-up, but definitely not the NFL action you were likely looking for.
What happened to the 2025-2026 Dallas Cowboys?
The season was... let's call it "eventful."
They started 0-1 after a tight loss to Philly and then went on a weird run where they couldn't seem to win two in a row. The most frustrating part for fans was the inconsistency at home. Usually, AT&T Stadium is a fortress, but this year they dropped crucial games to teams like Arizona and Minnesota.
There was a lot of talk about the coaching staff's future during the Week 10 bye. When they came back and beat the Raiders 33-16, it felt like maybe, just maybe, they’d turned a corner. They even beat the Eagles in the rematch in late November. But that final stretch in December was brutal. Three losses in their last four games is why we’re sitting here on a Saturday in January talking about next year instead of a kickoff.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season
So, if you can't watch them today, when can you?
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The 2026 NFL schedule won't be officially released with dates and times until May, but we already know who they'll be playing. Because they finished second in the NFC East, they have a specific slate of opponents lined up.
They’ll have the usual home-and-home series with the Eagles, Giants, and Commanders. Outside of the division, they are set to face the AFC South and the NFC West. That means trips to places like Seattle and Los Angeles (Rams) are on the horizon. They’ll also host the Houston Texans in what is always a heated "Battle of Texas."
The front office is already looking at the 2026 NFL Draft. With a 7-9-1 record, they’ll have a middle-of-the-pack pick, which is a bit of a "no man's land" in the draft order. They need to address the run defense and potentially look for more depth on the offensive line if they want to ensure that next January, the answer to "is the Cowboys game on tv today" is a resounding yes.
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Real ways to follow the team right now
Even though there's no game, the "Cowboys machine" never stops. You can still find plenty of content if you're suffering from withdrawal.
- The Draft Scout: Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl and Combine reports. Dallas usually targets high-ceiling athletes, and they'll be scouting heavily for defensive interior help.
- Injury Reports: Check the status of Dak Prescott’s late-season thumb tweak. The early word from the star is that he won't need surgery, but it's something to watch as the offseason programs start.
- Cap Space Maneuvers: The Cowboys are in a bit of a tight spot with the salary cap. Expect to see some veteran contracts restructured in the coming weeks to make room for free agency.
It’s a long wait until the preseason kicks off in August. For now, you’re stuck watching the Bills or the 49ers and wondering what could have been.
If you’re desperate for Cowboys football, the best you can do today is pull up the NFL+ app and watch some of the season replays. That Thanksgiving win over Kansas City is probably the highlight of the year if you want to remember the good times. Otherwise, sit back, enjoy the playoffs as a neutral observer, and start counting down the days until the 2026 kickoff.
To stay updated on the off-season moves, you should follow the official team transactions page or tune into local Dallas sports radio like 1310 The Ticket, where the post-season post-mortems are currently in full swing. Keep an eye on the NFL Scouting Combine in late February; that's the next big milestone where we'll see which direction the roster is headed for the 2026 campaign.