If you had told a Hoosiers fan a couple of years ago that they’d be looking up the Indiana Hoosiers football tv schedule for a National Championship game in late January, they probably would have laughed you out of Bloomington. But here we are. It is January 18, 2026, and the Indiana Hoosiers are currently the talk of the college football world.
Coach Curt Cignetti has done the impossible. Honestly, the run this team has been on feels like a fever dream, but the TV networks are making sure every single person in the country can witness it. Whether you are a lifelong fan who remembers the dark years or a bandwagon jumper (welcome aboard, by the way), knowing exactly where and when to tune in is basically survival at this point.
The Big One: National Championship Details
Right now, the only date that matters on the Indiana Hoosiers football tv schedule is Monday, January 19, 2026. This is the College Football Playoff National Championship. The Hoosiers are set to take on the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
ESPN is going all out with this one. You’ve probably heard of the "MegaCast" by now. Basically, they aren't just showing the game on one channel. You can catch the main broadcast on ESPN, but if you want something different, there are 14 other ways to watch.
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- ESPN2: Usually features a "Field Pass" or something like the Pat McAfee Show—which, given McAfee's energy, will be chaotic for an IU game.
- ESPNU and ESPNEWS: Often carry specialized feeds like the "Command Center" or "SkyCast."
- ABC: While the main game is on ESPN, check local listings as ABC sometimes carries pre-game festivities.
- Streaming: You can use the ESPN App, but you'll need a cable login or a subscription to a service like Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, or YouTube TV.
The cool thing for IU fans is that the legendary radio voice Don Fischer will have his call synced up with some of the ESPN presentations. Hearing "Fisch" call a national title game is a bucket-list item for anyone who bleeds cream and crimson.
Looking Back: How the TV Schedule Shaped the Season
It’s wild to think about how this season started. Back in August, the Indiana Hoosiers football tv schedule looked like a lot of FS1 and Big Ten Network games. Nobody really expected the networks to be fighting over IU by November.
The win against Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship was on FOX, and that's when things really shifted. Then the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day against Alabama—which IU won 38-3—was a primetime ESPN slot. The Peach Bowl semifinal against Oregon? Also ESPN.
The consistency of the TV slots has actually helped the team’s recruiting, as Cignetti often points out. When you’re on NBC or CBS every other week, people notice. Speaking of NBC, the "Big Ten Saturday Night" slot became a bit of a home for the Hoosiers this year, especially during that blowout win against Illinois.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Regular Season
Once the confetti is swept up in Miami, we start looking toward the fall. The Indiana Hoosiers football tv schedule for 2026 is already starting to take shape, though specific times and channels for the Big Ten games won't be announced until we get closer to the season (usually that 12-day or 6-day window).
We do know the non-conference dates, though.
- September 5 vs. North Texas: This will be at Memorial Stadium. Expect this to land on Big Ten Network (BTN) or potentially FS1.
- September 12 vs. Howard: Almost certainly a BTN or Peacock exclusive.
- September 19 vs. Western Kentucky: Likely a midday kick on FS1 or BTN.
The Big Ten slate for 2026 is a gauntlet. IU has home games against Ohio State, USC, Purdue (the Bucket game!), Minnesota, and Northwestern. On the road, they’ve got to go to Michigan, Nebraska, Rutgers, and all the way out to Washington.
Because Indiana is now a "prestige" program, expect many of these to land in the high-profile windows. That means the 12:00 p.m. "Big Noon" slot on FOX, the 3:30 p.m. window on CBS, or the 7:30 p.m. primetime slot on NBC.
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Why the TV Schedule is Different Now
The Big Ten's current media rights deal is a beast. It’s why you’ve had to hunt for games across three different major networks and a streaming service. If you're a fan, you basically need a "starter pack" to ensure you never miss a snap.
Peacock is the one that trips most people up. The Big Ten deal requires a certain number of games to be exclusive to the streaming service. This year, the Iowa and Michigan State games were Peacock exclusives. If you don't have a subscription, you’re literally staring at a black screen while the rest of the world watches.
Then you have FS1 and BTN. These are the workhorses. They carry the early-season games and the matchups that maybe don't have national title implications. But as we saw this year, every IU game eventually became "must-see," which pushed them toward the "Big Three" (NBC, CBS, FOX).
Actionable Steps for Hoosier Fans
If you want to make sure you are ready for the National Championship and the upcoming 2026 season, here is what you need to do:
- Download the IU Athletics App: It’s the fastest way to see late-breaking time changes. Sometimes a game moves from 12:00 to 3:30 with only a week's notice.
- Check your Peacock Subscription: Don't wait until five minutes before kickoff against a Big Ten rival to realize your login expired.
- Sync your DVR: If you’re using YouTube TV or Hulu, "Favorite" the Indiana Hoosiers. It will automatically record every game regardless of what channel it's on.
- Get a Digital Antenna: For games on FOX, NBC, or CBS, a cheap over-the-air antenna can actually give you a higher-quality picture (and less lag) than some streaming services.
The Hoosiers have proved they belong on the big stage. The TV networks have noticed, the sponsors have noticed, and clearly, the fans have noticed. It's a new era in Bloomington, so keep that remote close.