You’re sitting on the couch, wings are getting cold, and you realize you have no idea where the game is. Honestly, we've all been there. It used to be simple: you just turned on ABC and Howard Cosell or Al Michaels was there to greet you. Then it moved to ESPN, and for a decade, that was the end of the story. But lately? It feels like you need a master’s degree in media rights just to figure out what channel is Monday Night Football.
The 2025-2026 season has been particularly chaotic because the "exclusive" walls are crumbling. Between ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and the occasional ESPN+ exclusive, it's a lot.
The Short Answer: Where to Look First
If you’re in a hurry, look at ESPN. That is still the flagship home. If the game isn't there, or if you don't have cable, flip over to ABC.
During this current season, Disney (which owns both networks) has been much more aggressive about "simulcasting." That basically means they run the exact same broadcast on both channels at once to grab as many eyeballs as possible. In fact, for the 2025 season, ABC committed to airing at least 10 games, including some exclusive split-header matchups where two games happen at the same time on different channels.
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The Network Breakdown
- ESPN: The primary home for every single game. If there is Monday Night Football happening, it is on ESPN.
- ABC: Hits about half the schedule. It’s great for the "over-the-air" crowd who just use an antenna.
- ESPN2: This is almost exclusively for the ManningCast. If you want to hear Peyton and Eli Manning crack jokes and analyze coverages with celebrities, this is your spot.
- ESPN+: This is the wildcard. Sometimes they have an exclusive game (like the Texans vs. Seahawks game earlier this season), but usually, it's just another way to stream the ABC/ESPN feed.
Why it Changes Every Week
The NFL loves a good "doubleheader," and this season has had plenty. When you see two games on the schedule for one Monday, that’s when the channel-surfing gets real. Usually, one game will kick off early (around 7:00 PM ET) on ESPN, and the second game will start about an hour later on ABC.
It’s a bit of a scramble. You’ve got Joe Buck and Troy Aikman—who are now in their fourth year with the network—calling the "A" game, while a second crew handled the other. If you missed the memo, you might find yourself watching the end of a Bills game when you were looking for the Falcons.
How to Stream Without a Cord
Streaming is where people get most frustrated. If you’ve cut the cord, you aren't out of luck, but you have to be specific.
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- Hulu + Live TV: This is arguably the easiest "all-in-one" because it includes ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. Plus, it usually bundles in ESPN+ for those weird exclusive weeks.
- YouTube TV: Pretty much the gold standard for sports fans right now. You get all the Disney-owned channels and the interface doesn't lag when the game gets intense.
- Fubo: Great for sports, though sometimes pricier.
- Sling Orange: This is the "budget" pick. It carries ESPN, but be careful—Sling Orange doesn't always have your local ABC station. You might have to rely on the ESPN3 "simulcast" within the app to see the ABC games.
- NFL+: If you’re okay watching on a phone or tablet, this is the cheapest way ($6.99/mo). You can’t legally "cast" it to your TV, though, which is a dealbreaker for some.
The ManningCast Factor
You can't talk about Monday night without mentioning Peyton and Eli. Their broadcast on ESPN2 has fundamentally changed how people watch. It’s not for everyone—some people find the constant talking distracting—but if you’re a football nerd, the insight is top-tier.
They don't do every week, though. They usually have a 12-game schedule. If you tune into ESPN2 and it's just "regular" sports news, it means the brothers are off that week.
What About the Playoffs?
As we head deeper into the 2026 post-season, the rules shift slightly. ESPN and ABC usually share the Monday Night Wild Card game. For example, the recent Texans vs. Steelers clash was blasted across almost every Disney platform imaginable. They even used nearly 60 cameras for that one, including those "shallow depth-of-field" rigs that make the game look like a movie.
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Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think Amazon Prime has Monday nights. They don't. Amazon is strictly Thursday Night Football.
Others think they can watch every game on Peacock. Nope. Peacock is for Sunday Night Football (the NBC games).
It's a fragmented mess, but the rule of thumb is: Disney owns Monday. If the app or channel has an ESPN or ABC logo on it, you’re in the right neighborhood.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the Schedule: Before Monday afternoon, Google the specific matchup. If it says "ABC/ESPN," you're golden with an antenna. If it just says "ESPN," you need a cable login or a streaming service.
- Update Your Apps: If you're using the ESPN app to stream, make sure it’s updated at least 24 hours before kickoff. Nothing kills the mood like a "Mandatory Update" bar at 8:14 PM.
- Test Your Antenna: If you’re relying on ABC for free, do a channel scan on Sunday. Weather and signal shifts can sometimes drop your local station right when you need it.
- Consider a Free Trial: If there's a huge game and you're broke, YouTube TV and Fubo almost always offer a 7-day trial. Just remember to cancel it Tuesday morning!
At the end of the day, the league wants you to find the game. They aren't trying to hide it; they're just trying to get paid by as many different platforms as possible. Stick to the ESPN/ABC family, and you’ll never miss a kickoff.