You’re probably looking at your calendar, seeing it's Monday, and wondering why the NFL theme music isn't blaring from your TV right now. Honestly, it's a bit of a trick question this week. If you're asking what two teams playing Monday night football are taking the field tonight, January 19, 2026, the answer might surprise you: nobody. At least, not in the NFL.
We just wrapped up the Divisional Round of the playoffs this past weekend. Usually, Monday Night Football is the crown jewel of the week, but once the postseason hits its stride, the league shifts everything to Saturday and Sunday to maximize those massive weekend ratings. Last Monday, January 12, we saw the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 to close out the Wild Card round. That was the official end of the "Monday Night" branding for the 2025-2026 NFL season.
But wait. If you flip over to ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET tonight, you will see a massive football game. It just happens to be the biggest game in the college world.
The Real Monday Night Showdown: Indiana vs. Miami
While the pros are resting up for the Conference Championships next Sunday, the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship is taking over the Monday night slot. We’ve got the No. 1 ranked Indiana Hoosiers facing off against the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes.
It's a weird one, right? Indiana being the top seed in a national title game feels like something out of a video game simulation. But Curt Cignetti has turned that program into an absolute juggernaut. They’re sitting at 15-0. They haven't just been winning; they’ve been erasing people. They crushed Alabama and Oregon in the earlier playoff rounds by a combined score of 94-25. That’s not a typo.
Miami is the scrappy "home" team for this one, since the game is being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. They’ve had a wild road to get here as the 10-seed, basically playing the role of the ultimate bracket buster.
Why isn't there an NFL game tonight?
The NFL schedule is a rigid beast. Once the regular season ends, the "Monday Night Football" contract—which specifically covers a weekly game throughout the season—concludes with that final Wild Card game.
The league prefers to have the Divisional and Championship rounds played on short rest parity. If two teams played tonight, and their potential opponents played on Saturday, that’s a two-day rest deficit. In the playoffs, that’s an eternity. Coaches would lose their minds. So, the NFL clears the stage for the college kids to have their big night.
What happened to the Monday Night Football regulars?
If you were hoping to see Aaron Rodgers or CJ Stroud again tonight, here is the quick recap of where they stand:
- The Steelers: Their season ended last Monday on that very same MNF stage. Rodgers struggled against a relentless Houston pass rush, and the Steelers' playoff losing streak unfortunately hit seven games.
- The Texans: They didn't play tonight, but they did play yesterday! They faced the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round.
- The Rest of the Field: Yesterday we also saw the Rams and Bears battle it out. Saturday gave us the Bills vs. Broncos and the 49ers vs. Seahawks.
Basically, the "Final Four" for the NFL is already set for next Sunday, January 25.
Breaking Down the Indiana-Miami Matchup
If you’re a football fan and you’re bummed about the lack of an NFL game, you should still tune in. This Indiana team is legitimately fun to watch.
Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza has been surgical. He’s got this elite release that makes life miserable for defensive coordinators. On the other side, Miami has been living on the edge all season. They weren't even supposed to make the 12-team field according to most pundits, yet here they are, three wins later, playing for a trophy in their own backyard.
The betting lines have Indiana as a pretty significant favorite—around 8.5 points at most books. The over/under is sitting near 47.5. It’s expected to be a bit of a defensive struggle early on, mainly because Miami’s pass rush, led by guys like Rueben Bain Jr., is actually capable of making Mendoza sweat.
Looking Ahead to Next Weekend
Since there is no NFL tonight, your next fix of pro football comes on Sunday, January 25. That is Championship Sunday.
- AFC Championship Game: 3:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
- NFC Championship Game: 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
These two games will decide who goes to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on February 8.
Actionable Next Steps for Football Fans
If you're staring at a blank TV screen wondering what to do with your Monday night, here is the play-by-play:
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- Check the CFP National Championship: Switch over to ESPN or the ESPN app at 7:30 p.m. ET. Even if you aren't a college fan, the atmosphere at Hard Rock Stadium is going to be electric.
- Set Your Sunday Alarms: Since the NFL is off until Sunday, don't go looking for a Thursday or Friday game. They don't exist this week.
- Monitor the Injury Reports: Keep an eye on the "Divisional Round" fallout. Several key players from the Texans and 49ers took big hits this weekend, and their status for the Championship games will be the biggest story of the week.
- Plan for Super Bowl LX: We are officially less than three weeks away from the big game at Levi's Stadium. If you're planning a party, now is the time to start looking at those "prop bet" sheets and catering menus.
The lack of a pro game tonight is just the calm before the storm. Enjoy the college title game, grab some wings, and get ready for a massive Championship Sunday.