If you’re refreshing your sportsbook or flipping through ESPN looking for college football games on tonight, January 15, 2026, I have some news that might be a bit of a bummer.
There aren't any.
Honestly, it feels weird. We’ve spent the last month gorging on a 12-team playoff format that has basically rewired how we spend our Decembers and Januaries. But right now? We are in that strange, quiet pocket of time where the dust from the semifinals has settled, and the hype for the National Championship hasn’t quite reached its fever pitch yet.
Basically, we’re in the "calm before the storm" phase. But just because there isn't a kickoff tonight doesn't mean the college football world is sleeping. Far from it.
Why is there a gap in the schedule right now?
The scheduling for the 2025-26 postseason was a bit of a marathon. We just came off a wild week. On January 8, we saw No. 10 Miami edge out Ole Miss 31-27 in a Fiesta Bowl that probably took five years off Mario Cristobal's life. Then, on January 9, No. 1 Indiana absolutely dismantled Oregon 55-26 in the Peach Bowl.
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Since then? Total silence on the field.
The organizers give these teams a ten-day window to recover, travel, and—most importantly—prep for the biggest game of their lives. If you were looking for college football games on tonight, you're caught in that tactical transition. The players are currently landing in South Florida, the media is starting to swarm the podiums, and coaches are locked in film rooms trying to figure out how to stop Indiana's Fernando Mendoza.
The Next Big Date: January 19, 2026
Mark your calendar for Monday. That is when the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship goes down. It’s No. 1 Indiana versus No. 10 Miami.
Think about that for a second. Indiana. In a national title game.
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If you told a Hoosiers fan three years ago that they’d be the top seed in the country, heading into Hard Rock Stadium to play for all the marbles, they would have asked what you were drinking. Yet, here we are. Curt Cignetti has pulled off what might be the greatest coaching turnaround in the history of the sport.
The Miami Homecoming
On the other side, you’ve got Miami. This is basically a home game for the Hurricanes since it's being played at Hard Rock Stadium. It's a massive deal for the city. In fact, Christopher Columbus High School in Miami—which counts both Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza and Miami coach Mario Cristobal as alums—has already canceled classes for next Tuesday. They know they’re getting a champion either way.
What should you do tonight instead?
Since there are no college football games on tonight, you've actually got a chance to catch your breath. Here is how I’d spend this "off-night" if you're a die-hard fan:
- Scout the Mendoza Factor: Go back and watch the Peach Bowl highlights. Fernando Mendoza isn't just a "good for Indiana" quarterback; he’s playing like a future NFL starter. The way he manipulated Oregon's secondary was clinical.
- The Miami Defensive Riddle: Miami’s defense has been bend-but-don't-break all playoff long. They held Texas A&M to 3 points and outlasted a high-powered Ole Miss offense. Can they actually pressure Mendoza?
- Check the Betting Lines: The spread opened with Indiana as a slight favorite, but with the game being in Miami’s backyard, that "home-field" money is starting to move the needle.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Gap
People think the "bowl season" is over once the semifinals end. It’s not. It’s just transformed.
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The 12-team playoff has changed the rhythm. We used to have a bunch of random "leftover" bowls filling these mid-January slots, but now the focus is so hyper-fixated on the bracket that those smaller games have mostly migrated to December.
So, while the search for college football games on tonight might come up empty for live action, the "game" is happening in the recruiting offices and the transfer portal. Right now is actually the peak of the winter portal window. While you're waiting for Monday night, keep an eye on your favorite team’s social media—rosters for the 2026 season are being built as we speak.
The long and short of it? No live ball tonight. But in four days, we get a matchup that feels like a fever dream: the cream and crimson vs. the orange and green for the ultimate trophy.
To prepare for the big game on Monday, make sure your streaming subscriptions are active for ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET, and if you're looking for local South Florida festivities, the Playoff Fan Central at the Miami Convention Center opens its doors tomorrow morning.