Friday nights in January are usually that weird, quiet bridge between the chaos of Wild Card weekend and the high-stakes Divisional drama. If you’re looking for what games are on tonight football fans, I have to be the bearer of slightly "meh" news for the NFL crowd: the pros are taking the night off.
Seriously.
The league is currently catching its breath. After that wild Houston-Pittsburgh finale on Monday, the NFL has parked itself until tomorrow afternoon. But don't click away just yet. If you're a "football is football" kind of person, the college hardwood and some massive international soccer matchups are doing the heavy lifting tonight, January 16, 2026.
The NFL Divisional Gap: Why Nothing Is On Tonight
Honestly, it’s a bit of a tease. We’re sitting right in the middle of the best month of the year, and the Friday schedule is a total desert for American pro football. The NFL knows it owns Saturday and Sunday, so it rarely bleeds into Friday during the postseason unless there's a weird calendar quirk.
Tomorrow is the real kickoff. If you're planning your weekend, here is the "meat" of the Divisional Round starting January 17:
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- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: This is the early bird special tomorrow at 4:30 PM ET. Denver’s altitude vs. Buffalo’s momentum is going to be a collision.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: The night cap tomorrow at 8:00 PM ET on FOX. A divisional rivalry in the Divisional Round? Yes, please.
For tonight? You’ve basically got a choice: watch the NBA, dive into some high-level college hoops, or flip over to some Friday night lights of the international variety.
College Basketball is Carrying the Friday Slate
Since the gridiron is cold, the court is hot. Tonight actually features some massive Top 25 implications that'll keep you occupied if you're a sports gambler or just a degenerate fan of collegiate athletics.
Kansas just put a hurting on Baylor earlier today (80-62, if you missed it), but the night isn't over. We've got Colorado State heading into Boise State at 10:30 PM ET. That’s a Mountain West clash that usually gets pretty chippy. If you prefer the East Coast vibe, Marquette and DePaul are tangling in a Big East matchup.
Actually, the Big East has been the story of the day. Providence just clipped Creighton 93-88 in a game that felt like a March Madness preview. Stefan Vaaks went absolutely nuclear with 24 points. If you’re looking for "tonight" specifically, keep an eye on those late-night West Coast tips.
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International Football: The Other "Football"
If you’re the type of fan who calls it "football" and wears a scarf even when it’s 70 degrees out, tonight is actually a sneaky good time for soccer. We are on the precipice of a massive Premier League weekend.
While the Premier League games don't start until tomorrow morning (Man Utd vs. Man City at 7:30 AM ET is the one everyone is talking about), the African Cup of Nations is in its final, brutal stages. We just saw Senegal edge out Egypt 1-0 in the semis, and Nigeria took down Morocco.
If you need a fix right now, check the late-night South American feeds. Usually, you can find some Liga MX or Brazilian state championship matches that satisfy that craving for a ball moving across grass.
What Most People Get Wrong About January Fridays
People always assume there’s a stray "Friday Night Football" game in the NFL playoffs. There isn't. The NFL is incredibly protective of its "Divisional Saturday" and "Championship Sunday" brands.
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Wait. I should mention the NBA because it's actually providing the most consistent action tonight.
- Clippers vs. Raptors: Tips at 7:30 PM ET. James Harden and Kawhi (if his ankle holds up) against a surprisingly tough Toronto defense.
- Cavs vs. Sixers: This one is basically a coin flip. Cleveland won the last meeting by 20+, but Philly at home is a different animal.
Actionable Steps for Your Sports Weekend
Since you've realized tonight's football schedule is a bit of a ghost town for the NFL, here is how you should actually spend your time to prepare for the Divisional Round:
- Set the DVR for 4:30 PM ET Tomorrow: Don't be the person who realizes the Bills/Broncos game started an hour ago while you were at Home Depot.
- Check the Injury Reports Now: Kawhi Leonard is questionable for the Clippers tonight. In the NFL world, keep a close eye on the 49ers' backfield health before that Seattle game tomorrow.
- Download a Global Sports App: If you’re bored tonight, apps like FotMob or the ESPN app are the only way to track those obscure international football matches that actually are playing on a Friday night.
- Meal Prep for Sunday: Sunday has the Rams at the Bears (6:30 PM ET) and the Texans at the Patriots (3:00 PM ET). Do the grocery shopping tonight while the stadiums are empty.
The wait for the NFL is annoying, I get it. But use tonight to catch up on the NBA or see if Boise State can defend their home court. Tomorrow, the real madness begins.