Look, being a Cowboys fan is basically a full-time job at this point. You aren't just dealing with the stress of a fourth-quarter lead evaporating; you're also playing a game of "Where’s Waldo?" with your TV remote. If you’re waking up on a Tuesday morning—January 13, 2026, specifically—and wondering what channel is cowboys playing on, I have some news that might sting a bit.
The Dallas Cowboys are done for the year.
After that 17-34 loss to the New York Giants on January 4th, the curtains officially closed on a 7-9-1 season. It’s a weird feeling, right? Usually, by mid-January, we're either hyping ourselves up for a Wild Card run or already mourning a heartbreaking playoff exit. This year, the couch is the only thing the team is hitting. If you see "Cowboys" on your TV guide today, you're actually looking at the Oklahoma State Cowboys taking on Baylor in basketball (that's on CBS Sports Network, by the way).
The Current State of the Broadcast Schedule
Since there isn't a live NFL game for Dallas today, you might be looking for replays or post-mortem analysis. Honestly, the local Dallas stations like WFAA or KTVT-CBS are usually the spots where you’ll find the coaching staff trying to explain what happened to a season that started with so much promise.
During the regular season, the "What channel?" question is usually answered by FOX. They carry the bulk of the NFC games. But the NFL's media rights are a tangled web. You’ve got the Sunday night games on NBC, the Monday night slots on ESPN (and sometimes ABC), and the Thursday night gauntlet on Amazon Prime.
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For the 2025-2026 season that just ended, Dallas actually had a pretty diverse spread:
- FOX handled the majority of the Sunday afternoon games, including that final MetLife Stadium disaster.
- NBC had them for the season opener against the Eagles and a Thanksgiving-adjacent slot.
- Amazon Prime took over for the Thursday night matchups in December.
- ESPN snagged the Monday night appearances in November.
It's a lot to keep track of. You basically need five different apps and a cable subscription just to see Dak Prescott take a snap.
Why 2026 Looks Different for Viewers
The NFL is moving more toward streaming, which is great for some and a nightmare for others. If you were looking for what channel is cowboys playing on earlier this year, you probably noticed that Netflix even got in on the action with the Christmas Day games.
For the upcoming 2026-2027 season, the schedule isn't fully set with times and channels yet—that usually happens in May—but we know who they’re playing. Because the Cowboys finished second in the NFC East, their schedule for next year is technically "easier" on paper, though we all know there's no such thing as an easy game in this league.
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You’ll be looking for games against the AFC South and the NFC West. That means games against the Texans, Colts, and Rams. Expect those high-profile matchups to land on national TV. Whenever the Cowboys play a team like the 49ers or the Rams, the league almost always puts it in a late-afternoon FOX window or a primetime NBC slot.
Dealing with Blackouts and "In-Market" Rules
The biggest headache for fans isn't just knowing the channel; it's being allowed to watch it. If you’re in Dallas, you’re fine. If you’re a fan living in, say, Seattle, you’re at the mercy of the "local market" rules.
NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is basically the only legal way to bypass this if the game isn't on a national broadcast like Monday Night Football. If you’re searching for the game and it’s a Sunday afternoon but you only see the Seahawks playing on your local FOX affiliate, you’re blacked out.
I’ve seen plenty of people get frustrated because they have a streaming service that doesn't carry their local CBS or FOX station. Pro tip: if you’re trying to find what channel is cowboys playing on and you don't have cable, a simple over-the-air antenna still works. It’s old school, but it’s free and it’s usually in HD.
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Looking Ahead to the 2026-2027 Season
Since the 2025-2026 campaign is in the books, the focus shifts to the draft and the schedule release. We know the Cowboys will have nine home games at AT&T Stadium next year. There’s also heavy talk about an international game—potentially in Mexico City.
If that happens, the "channel" might not even be a channel. It might be an exclusive stream on NFL+ or Peacock. It’s the direction the league is heading.
So, to recap the "right now" of it all:
- Is there a game today? No. The NFL season is over for Dallas.
- Where can I watch news? Check the Dallas Cowboys official app or local DFW stations like WFAA.
- What about next season? Expect a mix of FOX, NBC, ESPN, and likely a few more streaming-exclusive games on Amazon or Netflix.
The best thing you can do now is keep an eye on the official schedule release in late spring. That is when the specific networks get assigned to each game. Until then, we’re all just left wondering if 2026 will be the year things actually change on the field.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for the next kickoff, start looking into whether your current streaming setup covers all the bases. A combination of a base TV plan (like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV) and a few specific apps like Peacock and Amazon Prime is usually the only way to ensure you never miss a play.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're already planning for next season, your best bet is to check your current streaming subscriptions. Ensure you have access to your local FOX and CBS affiliates, as well as Amazon Prime for those Thursday night games that have become a staple of the NFL experience.