If you're waking up and wondering what football game come on today, you’ve basically hit the jackpot. It is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the sports calendar is absolutely stacked. We aren’t just talking about mid-season filler matches either; we are deep into the NFL Divisional Round and a massive Matchday 22 in the Premier League.
The air is crisp, the stakes are sky-high, and if you haven't cleared your schedule, you might want to start making excuses now.
The NFL Divisional Round: Saturday’s Heavy Hitters
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is narrowing. Today marks the start of the Divisional Round, which many football purists argue is actually the best weekend of the entire year. Better than the Super Bowl? Kinda. You get two games today where every mistake is magnified by ten.
Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos (AFC)
First up, we’ve got the Buffalo Bills traveling to Mile High to face the top-seeded Denver Broncos. This one kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Denver has been a juggernaut this season, finishing 14-3 with a defense that only gives up about 18 points a game. But honestly, the Bills (12-5) don't care about your stats. They’re averaging over 28 points per game. Watching Josh Allen try to navigate that thin Denver air against a defense ranked third in the league is going to be a chess match with pads on. You can stream this one on Paramount+ if you aren't near a TV.
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San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (NFC)
The nightcap is a nasty NFC West rivalry. The San Francisco 49ers are at Lumen Field to take on the Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Seattle managed to snag the #1 seed, which means that "12th Man" crowd is going to be deafening. It’s a classic divisional showdown—these teams know each other's playbooks better than their own. Expect a lot of physical play and probably a few late-game heroics. If you're on the go, FOX One or FOX Deportes has you covered for the stream.
Premier League: A Manchester Derby for the Ages
While the Americans are prepping their wings and dips, the morning belongs to the English Premier League. Today is January 17, and it's a massive day for the 2025-26 season.
The headline act? Manchester United vs. Manchester City.
This kicks off early at 12:30 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. ET). It’s actually Michael Carrick’s first game as the permanent head coach for United, and he’s being thrown straight into the fire against Pep Guardiola’s machine. Talk about a "welcome to the job" moment.
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Beyond the derby, there's a huge slate of 3:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m. ET) kickoffs:
- Chelsea vs. Brentford at Stamford Bridge.
- Liverpool vs. Burnley at Anfield.
- Tottenham vs. West Ham (Another London derby, because why not?).
- Leeds United vs. Fulham.
- Sunderland vs. Crystal Palace.
To cap off the English action, Arsenal travels to Nottingham Forest for the late game at 5:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. ET). It’s a relentless schedule, and honestly, if you're a fan of the "beautiful game," you won't be leaving your couch until the NFL pre-game shows start.
La Liga: Real Madrid Returns to the Bernabéu
Spain isn't sitting this Saturday out either. Real Madrid is back at the Santiago Bernabéu to face Levante at 2:00 p.m. CET (8:00 a.m. ET).
Even though Real Madrid is missing a chunk of their defense—guys like Rüdiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold are out—they still have Mbappé. He’s been on a tear, leading the league with 18 goals. Levante is sitting near the bottom of the table, but they’ve been unbeaten in their last three, including a 3-0 thumping of Sevilla. Don't sleep on this one; La Liga upsets happen when you least expect them.
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Other Spanish matchups today include:
- Mallorca vs. Athletic Club (3:15 p.m. CET).
- Osasuna vs. Real Oviedo (5:30 p.m. CET).
- Real Betis vs. Villarreal (8:00 p.m. CET).
Don't Forget the College Scene
While we are between the bowl season and the big championship, there is still plenty of college action, specifically in the hoops world if you need a break from the turf. The Georgia Bulldogs are hosting Arkansas at 4:00 p.m. ET. But in terms of the gridiron, the focus today is strictly on the pros as the NFL playoffs take center stage.
Actionable Tips for Today's Games
- Check your subscriptions: If you're watching the NFL, make sure your Paramount+ (for CBS games) and Peacock (for tomorrow’s games) accounts are active.
- Set the DVR: With the Manchester Derby starting so early in the US, you’ll likely miss the first half if you aren't an early riser.
- Watch the lines: The Broncos are currently 1.5-point favorites over the Bills. It’s basically a toss-up, so keep an eye on the weather reports from Denver as kickoff approaches.
Knowing what football game come on today is half the battle. The other half is making sure you have enough snacks to last from the 7:30 a.m. kickoff in Manchester until the final whistle in Seattle around 11:00 p.m. tonight.
Next Steps for Your Football Saturday:
Double-check your local listings for any regional blackouts on the Premier League games, and ensure your streaming apps are updated to avoid the dreaded "buffering" during the final two minutes of the Bills-Broncos game. If you're hosting, start the prep now—Divisional Round Saturday waits for no one.