If you’re scrolling through your guide looking for ncaa football on tv this weekend, you might think your cable box is broken. It isn't.
Usually, Saturdays in January are for the chaos of the playoffs, but the 2026 calendar has thrown us a bit of a curveball. There are literally zero college football games today, Saturday, January 17, or tomorrow, Sunday, January 18. Honestly, it’s a bit of a ghost town on the collegiate front. The reason? We are currently in the "eye of the storm"—that ten-day dead period between the high-octane semifinals and the winner-take-all finale.
The NFL has effectively hijacked the weekend with the Divisional Round. While the pros take over the airwaves, college fans are stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for the massive showdown happening this coming Monday night.
The National Championship Game is the Only Show in Town
Since there is no ncaa football on tv this weekend, all eyes are shifting to Monday, January 19. That is when the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers take on the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes.
It’s happening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Basically, Miami is playing a "road" game in their own backyard. This is the culmination of the 12-team playoff era's latest chapter, and it’s a matchup nobody—and I mean nobody—predicted back in August.
📖 Related: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
Indiana? In a football title game?
It sounds like a fever dream. But Curt Cignetti has turned Bloomington into a juggernaut. They just dismantled Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl. They are 15-0. They aren't just winning; they’re embarrassing people.
Then you have Miami. Mario Cristobal finally has the U "back," but they’ve taken the scenic route. They entered the bracket as the 10-seed and have been playing the role of the giant killer ever since. They bounced the defending champ Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl and then outlasted Ole Miss in a 31-27 thriller at the Fiesta Bowl.
How to Watch the Big One
Since you can't watch ncaa football on tv this weekend, you’ll want to make sure your Monday night is cleared. Here is the technical breakdown of the broadcast:
👉 See also: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
- Date: Monday, January 19, 2026
- Kickoff Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Primary Channel: ESPN
- Announcers: Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will be on the call, with Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath handling the sidelines.
ESPN is doing that "MegaCast" thing again. If you’re tired of the standard broadcast, you can flip to ESPN2 for the "Field Pass" with Pat McAfee. It's usually a mess, but a fun mess. If you’re a nerd for stats and X’s and O’s, ESPNU will have the "Command Center" feed which shows multiple angles and live data.
Why the Schedule is Empty Right Now
It’s kind of weird to have a Saturday without college football in January. We’ve become so used to the expanded playoff schedule stretching across the month.
However, the organizers wanted to give the student-athletes (and the fans' wallets) a breather. The semifinals wrapped up on January 8 and 9. Pushing the championship to the Monday after the NFL’s Divisional Round is a strategic move. They want the stage all to themselves.
If you absolutely need a college football fix before Monday, you’re basically limited to watching re-runs on the ACC Network or Big Ten Network. Or, you could look ahead to the All-Star circuit. The East-West Shrine Bowl doesn't kick off until January 27, and the Senior Bowl is set for January 31.
✨ Don't miss: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
What to Watch Instead This Weekend
Since the ncaa football on tv this weekend search comes up empty, most fans are pivoting to the NFL. Saturday features a massive AFC clash between the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
On the college side of things, basketball is currently king. If you’re a Miami fan waiting for Monday, you might catch yourself watching some hoop just to kill the nerves.
Actionable Insights for Monday’s Game
Don't let the lack of games today make you rusty. If you're planning to watch the National Championship on Monday, here is how to prep:
- Check your streaming login now. There is nothing worse than trying to remember your ESPN app password at 7:29 p.m. while the national anthem is playing.
- Monitor the Mendoza connection. Interestingly, Indiana's quarterbacks (Fernando and Alberto Mendoza) and Miami's head coach Mario Cristobal all went to the same high school in Miami (Christopher Columbus High). The storylines for this game are incredibly deep.
- Betting Lines: Indiana opened as an 8.5-point favorite. Given how they looked against Oregon, that might actually be a bargain, though Miami has covered the spread in every playoff game so far as an underdog.
Enjoy the rare Saturday off. Rest your voice. Monday night is going to be loud.
Update your TV provider apps today to ensure you have access to the ESPN MegaCast feeds, as some secondary channels like ESPNEWS or the ACC Network require specific sports tier packages. If you're hosting a watch party, the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff is firm, so plan your food prep to wrap up by 7:00 p.m. to catch the full pre-game hype.