If you’re waking up this Sunday, January 18, 2026, and hitting that remote looking for a kickoff, you're going to notice something weird. The screen isn't filled with amateur athletes in colorful jerseys. Honestly, it’s a bit of a ghost town for the college game today.
The short answer? There are exactly zero college football games on today.
It’s a bit of a letdown if you’ve been riding the high of the expanded playoff season, but there's a very specific reason for the empty schedule. We are currently in that strange, quiet pocket right before the biggest game of the year.
How many college football games are on today? (The Sunday Reality Check)
Because today is Sunday, the NFL has basically planted its flag and claimed the territory. We’ve got a massive doubleheader of NFL Divisional Playoff games taking up all the oxygen. Today is about the pros—the Texans taking on the Patriots and the Rams facing the Bears. If college ball tried to compete with that, the ratings would probably look pretty sad.
But don't toss your foam finger just yet. The "how many college football games are on today" question is really just a precursor to the main event. We are less than 24 hours away from the College Football Playoff National Championship.
📖 Related: Jake Paul Mike Tyson Tattoo: What Most People Get Wrong
Monday night is the real deal. Tomorrow, January 19, is when the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes square off at Hard Rock Stadium.
What happened to the bowl season?
Usually, by mid-January, the bowl fever has broken. This year was especially wild because of the new 12-team playoff format. We’ve been spoiled with games since mid-December. We saw first-round matchups on campus sites—which was honestly electric—and then the traditional New Year's Day quarterfinals.
The semifinals just wrapped up recently.
- The Fiesta Bowl: Miami took down Ole Miss in a 31-27 thriller.
- The Peach Bowl: Indiana absolutely dismantled Oregon 56-22.
So, while there aren't any games on today, the reason is that we’ve finally narrowed the field from 134 FBS teams down to the final two. The "Sunday Silence" is just the calm before the storm in Miami Gardens.
👉 See also: What Place Is The Phillies In: The Real Story Behind the NL East Standings
Why Indiana vs. Miami is a weirdly perfect finale
If you told someone three years ago that Indiana would be playing for a national title in 2026, they would have probably asked if you were talking about basketball. Curt Cignetti has done something in Bloomington that feels sort of impossible. They are 15-0. They’ve got a quarterback in Kurtis Rourke who has been surgical all year.
Then you’ve got Miami. This is basically a home game for the Canes, even though they’re technically the "visiting" team on the scoreboard. Mario Cristobal has finally got the U looking like the U again.
It’s "Cornfed vs. Convicts" (as the internet has lovingly dubbed it), and it’s the first time we’ve had a true underdog story like Indiana against a resurgent blue-blood like Miami in the finale for a long time.
What to do since there are no games today
Since you can't watch a live game today, you've actually got a few options if you’re still craving that college atmosphere.
✨ Don't miss: Huskers vs Michigan State: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big Ten Rivalry
First off, if you happen to be in South Florida, the Playoff Fan Central is happening at the Miami Beach Convention Center. It’s free. It’s got pep rallies and autograph sessions, and it’s basically where all the energy is shifted since the actual field is empty today.
Also, the Taste of the Championship event is tonight at Club M2 in Miami Beach. It’s pricey, but if you want to eat gourmet food while talking about line spreads and defensive schemes, that’s your move.
Where to watch the title game tomorrow
When the clock finally hits Monday night, here is the info you actually need:
- Matchup: #1 Indiana vs. #10 Miami
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN (with all the Megacast variations on other Disney-owned channels)
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
The takeaway for your Sunday
It’s okay to feel a little bummed that the Saturday-to-Sunday college football pipeline is dry today. Just remember that the wait is intentional. The sport is giving you one last day to prep your snacks and argue with your friends about whether Indiana’s defense can actually stop Miami’s speed.
Basically, use today to catch up on the NFL, but keep your Monday night clear.
Next steps for your game day prep: Check the latest injury reports for Indiana’s secondary this afternoon, as there’s been some chatter about a few late-week tweaks. If you're betting, the line has been hovering around Indiana by 8.5, but expect that to move as the public money pours in tonight.