You’re probably waking up, coffee in hand, wondering what time do the football game come on today, only to realize the schedule looks a little... empty. It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026. If you were looking for a high-stakes NFL playoff matchup or a massive college bowl game to get you through the afternoon, I’ve got some news that might be a bit of a bummer.
There actually isn't a pro or college football game scheduled for today.
Seriously. We are currently sitting in that weird "dead zone" of the postseason. Wild Card Weekend just wrapped up on Monday, and the Divisional Round doesn't kick off until Saturday. It’s that awkward silence between the chaos of the opening rounds and the heavy hitting of the elite eight.
Why there’s a gap in the schedule
Most people expect Thursday Night Football to be a thing because, well, it has been a thing for the last four months. But the NFL typically pulls the plug on the Thursday broadcasts once the regular season ends. They want to maximize the "event" feel of the playoffs, which means packing everything into a massive Saturday-Sunday-Monday window.
If you're looking for the college side of things, it's even quieter. The semifinals—where we saw Indiana absolutely dismantle Oregon and Miami edge out Ole Miss—are in the rearview mirror. We are basically just counting down the hours until the National Championship game on Monday night.
When is the next actual football game?
Since you're asking what time do the football game come on today, you’re likely planning your weekend early. You’ll have to wait until Saturday, January 17, to see a snap.
The NFL Divisional Round is set, and honestly, the matchups are better than anything we saw in the Wild Card round. Denver is hosting Buffalo at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. That’s the "early" window. Then, at 8:00 p.m. ET, the San Francisco 49ers travel to Seattle for a massive NFC West showdown on FOX.
Sunday follows a similar pattern. You’ve got the Houston Texans heading to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN), followed by the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC. It’s a literal gauntlet of games, just not today.
What to watch instead
If you’re a sports degenerate and just need something on the TV tonight, you aren't totally out of luck. The NBA and NHL are filling the void left by the gridiron.
The Atlanta Hawks are playing the Portland Trail Blazers at 10 p.m. ET. If you’re into hockey, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are renewing their rivalry at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. It’s not a 40-yard bomb, but it's live sports.
Kinda sucks, I know. We get so used to football being the background noise of our lives from September through January that a dark Thursday feels wrong. But look at it this way: it’s a chance to actually talk to your family or finally finish that show you’ve been ignoring before the Divisional Round takes over your entire life this weekend.
Actionable Next Steps
Since there’s no game today, here is how you should prep for the Saturday return:
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- Check your subscriptions: Saturday’s games are on CBS/Paramount+ and FOX. Make sure your logins haven't expired.
- Place your early bets: If you’re into the lines, Denver is currently a slight favorite over Buffalo, which feels like a trap given how Josh Allen has been playing lately.
- Save Monday night: Remember that the College Football Playoff National Championship between Miami and Indiana is Monday, Jan 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Clear your schedule for Saturday. Today is for rest.