If you woke up today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, and grabbed the remote expecting a full slate of triple-option offenses and chaotic upsets, you've probably noticed something's a bit off. Usually, Saturdays are sacred in this sport. But today is a weird "in-between" day. Honestly, if you're asking what channel is college football on today, the short answer is that there aren't any actual live games happening on the field right now.
We are currently sitting in the eye of the storm between the massive 12-team playoff semifinals that just wrapped up and the massive National Championship showdown coming on Monday night. It's frustrating, I know. You've got the itch for a game, but the stadium lights are dark for just a few more hours while the teams travel to Miami.
Instead of live action, the "channels" for college football today are basically dominated by hype, analysis, and the NFL taking over the Saturday window for their Divisional Round.
Where to Find the Pre-Game Hype Today
Even without a kickoff, the major networks are pivoting to heavy "Championship Weekend" coverage. If you flip to ESPN, you aren't going to see a live game, but you will see a massive amount of "Media Day" coverage and "College GameDay" specials.
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Since the National Championship is set for Monday, January 19, the networks are using today to squeeze every bit of drama out of the matchup between the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers and the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes. It’s a wild matchup that basically nobody predicted back in August.
- ESPN and ESPNU: These are your primary spots for Media Day feeds. You’ll see Indiana's Curt Cignetti and Miami's Mario Cristobal answering the same questions for the hundredth time.
- ACC Network: Since the Hurricanes are representing the conference in their own backyard, the ACC Network is running "All About the U" marathons and tactical breakdowns of how Miami's defense can stop Indiana’s high-flying offense.
- The SEC Network and Big Ten Network: Usually, these are packed, but today they’re mostly doing recap shows of the season that just ended.
The "Real" Reason the Channels Are Empty
Basically, the NFL has a death grip on Saturdays in mid-January. If you're looking for football on TV today, you're going to see the NFL Divisional Playoffs on FOX and CBS.
For example, the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks are sucking up the 8:00 p.m. ET primetime slot on FOX. College football knows better than to try and compete with that. The NCAA and ESPN (which holds the playoff rights) intentionally cleared the deck today to ensure the National Championship gets its own dedicated stage on Monday night.
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How to Watch the National Championship on Monday
Since you’re looking for the game, you need to mark your calendar for Monday, January 19. That’s when the real "what channel" question matters.
The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. It is an ESPN exclusive, but they are doing that "MegaCast" thing again where they put a different version of the game on every channel they own.
- ESPN: The main broadcast with the "A-Team" announcers.
- ESPN2: Usually the "Field Pass" or "Pat McAfee Show" version where they just goof off and talk over the game.
- ESPNU: Often features the "Coaches Film Room" where active coaches break down the X's and O's in real-time.
- ESPNEWS: Frequently the "Command Center" view with multiple camera angles and advanced stats.
- ESPN+: The streaming home for all of the above, plus specific "hometown" radio feeds.
Why This Saturday Feels Different (The 12-Team Hangover)
This is only the second year of the expanded 12-team playoff, and we are still getting used to the rhythm. In the old days, the championship might have happened a week ago. With the new schedule, the quarterfinals were on New Year’s Day, and the semifinals (like the Indiana vs. Oregon game at the Peach Bowl) only happened a few days ago.
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The players are exhausted. The fans are broke from traveling. Today is essentially a "travel and recovery" day for the entire college football ecosystem.
What Happened to the Other Bowls?
If you're wondering where the smaller bowls went, like the Duke's Mayo Bowl or the Liberty Bowl, those all finished up by January 2. The "Bowl Season" as we knew it is basically over by the time we hit the second week of January now. It’s all about the Playoff bracket from here on out.
Actionable Steps for the Rest of Your Saturday
Since you won't find a live college game on the dial today, here is how to actually prep for the big one on Monday:
- Download the ESPN App: If you plan on streaming Monday's game, make sure your login for your TV provider (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or Cable) actually works today. Nothing ruins a kickoff like a "forgot password" loop.
- Check the Betting Lines: If you're into that sort of thing, the lines for Indiana vs. Miami are moving today as the "Media Day" injury reports come out. Indiana opened as a slight favorite, which is crazy considering Miami is playing in their home city.
- Watch the "Inside the College Football Playoff" Series: It’s on ESPN+ right now. It gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how Indiana and Miami actually made it through the bracket. It’s better than watching another NFL pre-game show if you’re a die-hard college fan.
- Set Your DVR for Monday: If you have to work late on Monday, set the recording for ESPN now. Give it an extra hour of padding because these championship games always run long with the extended halftime shows.
You’ve got about 48 hours until the final game of the season. Enjoy the "off" day, watch the NFL pros do their thing on FOX and CBS, and get ready for a weirdly historical Monday night.