You wake up, grab your coffee, and settle in for some football. It’s mid-January. Usually, this is the sweet spot for college football’s biggest moments. But if you’re looking for college football bowls today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, you might notice something weird. The TV guide is packed, but the "bowl" label is missing from the marquee.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a transition day. We are currently sitting in that quiet, high-tension gap between the massive New Year's Six semifinals and the ultimate trophy presentation. Basically, the traditional "bowl" season—the one with the weird sponsor names and the giant buckets of popcorn—has officially wrapped its primary schedule.
What Are the Bowl Games for Today?
If we're being literal: there are no FBS college football bowl games today.
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Zero.
The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (our 2026 semifinals) already happened back on January 8 and 9. Those games were absolute gauntlets. Miami outlasted Ole Miss 31-27 in Glendale, and Indiana absolutely dismantled Oregon 56-22 in Atlanta. Because those semifinals were played over a week ago, the "bowl" portion of the College Football Playoff is technically in the rearview mirror.
Today is actually all about the NFL Divisional Playoffs. If you flip on ESPN or ABC at 3:00 PM ET, you’re going to see the Houston Texans taking on the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. It’s a massive game, but it’s pro ball. The college kids are currently in Miami, hydrating and watching film for the biggest night of their lives.
The Calm Before the National Championship Storm
The reason you aren't seeing a "Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl" or a "Gasparilla Bowl" today is that we are exactly 24 hours away from the College Football Playoff National Championship.
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Monday, January 19, 2026. That’s the date you need to circle.
The matchup is set: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami. It’s happening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET on ESPN. This is the first time in the 12-team playoff era that we’ve seen a No. 10 seed make it all the way to the finish line. It’s sort of a "Cinderella" story, if you can call a powerhouse like Miami a Cinderella.
Why the Sunday Gap Happens
The NCAA and the CFP committee generally avoid playing games on NFL Sundays. They know better than to compete with the Divisional Round.
Historically, the Sunday before the National Championship is a media day. It’s when coaches like Curt Cignetti (Indiana) and Mario Cristobal (Miami) give their final "coach-speak" press conferences. You’ll see snippets of these on the ACC Network and Big Ten Network throughout the day today.
- 9:00 AM ET: Head Coaches News Conference on ACC Network.
- 8:00 PM ET: ACC Huddle: Championship Preview.
- 8:30 PM ET: Path to the College Football Playoff on ESPN.
If you’re desperate for a college fix today, those are your best bets. They aren't live games, but they're the closest thing you’ll get until tomorrow night's kickoff.
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What About All-Star Games?
Sometimes people confuse the post-season All-Star games with the traditional bowl schedule. While there isn't one today, they are coming up fast.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is scheduled for January 27, and the Senior Bowl—the one every NFL scout obsesses over—is happening on January 31. These are technically "bowls," but they function more like a week-long job interview for draft-eligible seniors.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Since there aren't any live college bowls to watch this afternoon, here is how you should prep for the 24 hours leading up to the title game:
- Check the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on Miami’s secondary. They took some hits in the Fiesta Bowl against Ole Miss, and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is the kind of quarterback who will pick apart a depleted backfield.
- Set Your DVR: If you aren't going to be home by 7:30 PM ET tomorrow, set the recording for ESPN now. This is a 12-team playoff finale, and the pageantry is going to be over the top.
- Scout the NFL Draft Board: Since the Texans and Patriots are playing today, look at which former college stars are making an impact. It’s a great way to see how the guys you watched in bowl games last year have transitioned to the league.
- Verify Your Streaming Access: If you use YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Fubo, make sure your login is active. Nothing ruins a National Championship like a "too many devices" error message five minutes before kickoff.
The wait is almost over. Enjoy the NFL action today, because tomorrow night, college football takes over the world one last time for the season.