If you’re staring at your TV remote right now wondering is there college football tonight, I have some news that might be a little bit of a letdown. Or maybe it’s a relief, depending on how much sleep you’ve been getting lately.
Today is Sunday, January 18, 2026.
And no, there isn't a college football game on the schedule for tonight.
Honestly, it feels weird. We’ve spent months with "Saturdays in the South" and "B1G After Dark," and now the stadium lights are dark. If you flip on the TV, you're going to find the NFL divisional round taking over the airwaves instead. The Houston Texans are playing the New England Patriots, and the Rams are taking on the Bears. That’s your football fix for today.
But don't toss the jersey in the laundry just yet. We are exactly 24 hours away from the biggest game of the year.
The 2026 National Championship: Indiana vs. Miami
The reason there’s no game tonight is simple: the NCAA is clearing the deck for the College Football Playoff National Championship.
It’s happening tomorrow, Monday, January 19, 2026.
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This year’s matchup is kind of wild. We have the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers taking on the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes. If you told an Indiana fan three years ago they’d be the undefeated top seed in a national title game, they would have probably asked what you were drinking. But here we are. Curt Cignetti has turned Bloomington into a football powerhouse.
The game is at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Yeah, it’s basically a home game for the Canes, even though they’re technically the "visiting" team on the scoreboard.
- Kickoff Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- The Spread: Indiana is currently an 8.5-point favorite.
Why isn't college football played on Sundays?
You've probably noticed that college football almost never happens on Sundays. It’s not just a coincidence or a respect for "church and family" (though that’s part of the tradition).
Basically, it’s a turf war.
The NFL has owned Sundays since the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. While that act specifically protects high school and college games on Fridays and Saturdays during the regular season, the bowl season and playoffs usually stick to the script. College football doesn't want to compete with the NFL playoffs for ratings. It’s a battle they would lose, and both leagues know it.
Instead, the CFP National Championship has carved out its own tradition: Monday night.
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What happened to the other bowl games?
If you feel like you missed the boat on the "minor" bowls, you did. The 2025-26 bowl season is effectively over. We had a massive slate back on January 1st and 2nd—games like the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl—and the semifinals wrapped up over a week ago.
- The Fiesta Bowl (Jan 8): Miami edged out Ole Miss 31-27.
- The Peach Bowl (Jan 9): Indiana absolutely demolished Oregon 56-22.
Since those semifinals ended, there’s been a ten-day gap. It’s a long time to wait, but it gives both teams time to get healthy and gives the fans time to flood into South Florida.
What to do if you're bored tonight
If you’re still asking is there college football tonight because you're desperate for a campus vibe, you might want to look at the hardwood.
College basketball is in full swing.
Tonight, the Florida Gators are hosting the Missouri Tigers in women's hoops (2 p.m. ET on SEC Network+), and the Wisconsin Badgers are taking on the Oregon Ducks (4 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network). It's not a 40-yard bomb to the end zone, but it's live sports.
Otherwise, you can head over to the Miami Beach Convention Center. They’ve been running "Playoff Fan Central" all weekend. It’s free, there are autograph signings, and it’s basically a giant party for people who can't wait until Monday night.
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Looking ahead to the 2026 Season
Once the clock hits zero tomorrow night, the 2025-26 season is officially in the history books. We then enter the "dark times"—the long stretch of months where the only football news is recruiting and the transfer portal.
The 2026 regular season won't kick off until Week 0 on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
We already know some of the big opening matchups for late August. Stanford is playing Hawaii, and North Carolina is heading across the pond to Dublin to play TCU. But that’s a long way off.
For now, clear your schedule for tomorrow night. Whether you’re rooting for the Hoosiers to complete the perfect season or for the Hurricanes to win a title in their own backyard, that’s when the real action returns.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your ESPN subscription status today to ensure you don't have login issues right at kickoff tomorrow. If you're planning on betting the spread, keep an eye on the Indiana -8.5 line; late money on the "home" underdog Miami could shift that number before Monday evening.