If you're staring at your TV guide right now asking, is there any college football tonight, the short answer is a bit of a bummer. No. There are no live FBS college football games scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
I know, it feels weird. We’re in that strange, quiet pocket of January where the frantic energy of the bowl season has cooled off, but the biggest game of the year is still hovering on the horizon. If you’ve spent the last few months spending every Saturday (and several Tuesdays and Wednesdays) on the couch, this dead air is kinda jarring.
But there’s a massive reason for this gap. The 12-team playoff expansion has completely rewired how the season ends. We aren't just waiting for a random bowl game anymore; we are waiting for the grand finale.
The National Championship Countdown: Miami vs. Indiana
The next time you’ll see meaningful college football on your screen is Monday, January 19, 2026. That’s the big one. We have a matchup that almost nobody predicted back in August: the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes taking on the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers for the National Championship.
Think about that for a second. Indiana is 15-0. They’re looking to become the first team since Yale in 1894 to finish 16-0. Meanwhile, Miami has been the ultimate "bracket buster," knocking off Ohio State and Ole Miss to get here.
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The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. If you're looking for football tonight, you're basically six days too early for the finale.
Why is Tuesday Night Empty?
Honestly, the "Tuesday night football" itch usually gets scratched by Mid-American Conference (MAC) games or early December bowls. By mid-January, the NCAA and its broadcast partners (mostly Disney/ESPN) clear the deck. They want all the hype concentrated on the Monday night title game.
They also have to compete with a crowded sports landscape. Tonight, the schedule is dominated by college basketball. For example, if you need a fix of high-level collegiate athletics, you’ve got:
- Tulane at Temple (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+)
- Wichita State at Florida Atlantic (7 p.m. ET on ESPN+)
- Maryland at USC (10:30 p.m. ET on FS1)
It's not the same as a 40-yard bomb or a goal-line stand, but it’s what we’ve got.
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The Post-Season "Hangover" and the NFL Factor
Another reason you aren't finding college football tonight is that the NFL has taken over the midweek conversation. We just finished a wild NFL Wildcard Weekend. Former college stars like Matthew Stafford and Kamari Lassiter are the ones making headlines today, not current college rosters.
The NFL’s expansion of its playoff schedule into Monday nights has also pushed the College Football Playoff (CFP) to be very careful about its scheduling. They don't want to go head-to-head with a playoff game between the Cowboys and the Eagles.
What About All-Star Games?
Usually, this is when we’d start talking about the Senior Bowl or the Shrine Bowl. But those are still a couple of weeks away. The 2026 Senior Bowl is set for Saturday, January 31. It's a great chance to see guys like Boston College’s Taylor showcase their skills for NFL scouts, but again—nothing tonight.
The "Calendar Problem" in Modern Football
There is a lot of talk right now among experts like Nicole Auerbach and various athletic directors about how the college football calendar is broken. Players are hitting the transfer portal while trying to play in playoff games. Coaches are recruiting for 2027 while trying to gameplan for Miami’s defense.
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This gap between the semifinals (which happened on January 8th and 9th) and the final on the 19th is meant to give the players a break, but for fans, it creates this "dead zone" where we’re constantly checking if there’s a game on.
What to Watch Instead
If you’re desperate for a pigskin fix tonight, you’re basically looking at reruns or analysis shows.
- Big Ten Network: They often re-air the semifinals. You might catch a replay of Indiana's dominant 55-26 win over Oregon from last Friday.
- ESPN News/ESPNU: These channels usually run "College Football Live" or highlight reels from the season.
- YouTube: Honestly, watching "extended highlights" of the Miami vs. Ole Miss semifinal is probably the best way to spend your Tuesday evening if you can't stand basketball.
Basically, tonight is a night for catching up on sleep or finally talking to your family members who haven't seen you since the SEC Championship.
Actionable Steps for the Title Game
Since there is no game tonight, the best thing you can do is prepare for the National Championship on Monday.
- Check your local listings: If you’re a cord-cutter, make sure your Fubo, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV subscription is active. The game is on ESPN, not ABC.
- Watch the "MegaCast": ESPN usually runs multiple feeds. If you like the "coaches film room" or the Pat McAfee feed, those will be on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
- Study the matchup: Indiana’s offense is putting up historic numbers, but Miami is playing like a team of destiny. Look into the injury reports for the Hoosiers' secondary before you place any bets.
The wait is annoying, but the payoff on Monday night should be one of the most unique championship games in the history of the sport.