If you’re waking up this Saturday, January 17, 2026, and reaching for the remote to find college football games on tv today, you might notice something weird. The screen is full of basketball. You’ve got Top 25 hoops matchups like No. 21 Georgia hosting No. 17 Arkansas on ESPN2, but the pads and helmets are missing.
It’s the annual "Championship Eve" lull.
We are officially in the eye of the storm. After the chaos of the expanded 12-team playoff, we’ve reached the final gap before the big one. There are actually zero live FBS college football games scheduled for today.
Honestly, it feels a bit empty. We’ve spent months gorging on triple-headers and midweek MACtion, and now that we’re at the doorstep of the National Championship, the schedule takes a breather. But don't click away just yet. While there aren't any live games to watch, today is actually one of the biggest days for "shoulder programming" and behind-the-scenes access you'll get all year.
Where is the football?
Basically, the NCAA and the major networks (mostly ESPN) clear the deck the Saturday before the title game. They want all the oxygen for the College Football Playoff National Championship between No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami. That game doesn't kick off until Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
But if you still need a football fix, there’s stuff on. It’s just not live action.
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ESPN is running a marathon of studio coverage and "Media Day" specials. If you tune in to the ACC Network or ESPN throughout the morning, you’ll see live coverage from Miami. Specifically, the CFP Media Day is happening right now at the Miami Beach Convention Center. It started at 9:00 a.m. ET. You get to see players like Indiana's Carson Beck and Miami's Fernando Mendoza (if he's cleared) fielding questions from the press.
It’s kinda fascinating to see these guys in a non-game environment. You see the nerves. You see the focus. It's the best way to gauge the "vibe" before Monday's clash at Hard Rock Stadium.
Why the National Championship isn't on a Saturday
A lot of fans get annoyed by this. You’ve got your wings ready, your Saturday is cleared, and yet the biggest game of the year is on a Monday night. Why?
It's all about the NFL.
Today, the NFL is in the middle of its Divisional Round playoffs. The league is a juggernaut that college football simply doesn't want to compete with for ratings. If the CFP put the Indiana-Miami game on tonight, they’d be going head-to-head with a high-stakes NFL matchup. Nobody wins that fight except the NFL.
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So, college football moves to Monday. It gives the sport its own dedicated "Super Bowl" night.
What most people get wrong about today's schedule
People often think there’s some small-school bowl game or an All-Star game tucked away on a Saturday in mid-January. Usually, you’d be right. The Hula Bowl or the East-West Shrine Bowl often hover around this window.
However, for 2026, the calendar has pushed those events around. If you’re looking for the college football games on tv today, you’re going to find "Inside the College Football Playoff" episodes on ESPN+ rather than a live kickoff.
- 9:00 a.m. ET: ACC Huddle: Miami Media Day (ACC Network)
- 10:00 a.m. ET: SportsCenter specials from Miami (ESPN)
- 2:00 p.m. ET: Extra Yard for Teachers Summit (Digital/ESPN3)
- 6:00 p.m. ET: AT&T Playoff Playlist Live coverage (Social/Digital)
The Indiana vs. Miami Hype
Let's talk about the actual matchup everyone is waiting for.
Indiana is the No. 1 seed for a reason. Curt Cignetti has turned that program into a "meat grinder," as some analysts have started calling it. They absolutely dismantled Oregon 56-22 in the semifinals. Their average scoring margin this year is a ridiculous +28.6 points.
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On the other side, you have the "Cardiac Canes." No. 10 Miami is the lowest seed to ever make the final. They shouldn't even be here, technically. They beat Texas A&M by a field goal, upset Ohio State, and then survived a 31-27 nail-biter against Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl.
Miami is playing with house money. Indiana is playing for history.
How to watch the pre-game festivities
Since there are no college football games on tv today, the "game" has moved to the lifestyle space. If you’re in Miami or watching the digital feeds, John Summit and Calvin Harris are performing at Lummus Park tonight as part of the Playoff Playlist Live.
If you’re a cord-cutter, you can catch most of this on the ESPN app or Fubo. If you have the base ESPN subscription, you’ll likely see a lot of basketball—don't be surprised if you see the "Bottom Line" ticker scrolling through Indiana and Miami injury updates every five minutes.
Moving forward to Monday
Since today is a wash for live football, here is how you should actually prepare for the National Championship on Monday:
- Check the injury report tonight. Keep an eye on Miami's offensive line; they took some hits in the Ole Miss game.
- Clear your Monday evening. The "MegaCast" starts early. You’ll have the main broadcast on ESPN with Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, but the "Film Room" on ESPNU is where the real junkies go to hear coaches break down plays in real-time.
- Set your DVR for the "Inside the College Football Playoff" finale. It usually drops on ESPN+ right before the game and gives you the best locker room footage from the semifinals.
While the lack of college football games on tv today might be a letdown for your Saturday traditions, use the time to catch up on the stats. Indiana is the favorite, but Miami has been the giant-killer all season. Monday night is going to be electric.