So, it's Tuesday, January 13, 2026. You’ve probably woken up with that lingering postseason itch, wondering what channel is the football game on this morning, only to realize the house is unusually quiet. No whistle. No pads popping. Just the hum of the refrigerator and maybe a re-run of some sports talk show.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling. We just came off a massive three-day heater. The NFL Wild Card round literally just wrapped up last night with the Houston Texans absolutely dismantling the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6. If you were looking for a game over your morning coffee today, you’ve basically hit the "eye of the storm."
There are no live NFL or College Football games scheduled for this morning.
I know, it’s a bummer. But that doesn’t mean the football world is asleep. Far from it. We are currently sitting in the narrow gap between the most chaotic Wild Card weekend in recent memory and a College Football National Championship that’s shaping up to be an all-timer.
The Morning After: Where Did the NFL Go?
If you were hoping to catch a morning kickoff, you're a few days early for the Divisional Round and a few days late for the Wild Card madness. The NFL doesn't typically run Tuesday morning games unless there’s a massive weather emergency—think of those "Snow Bowl" situations that occasionally force a Monday or Tuesday night tilt.
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Since the Texans and Steelers finished their business last night, today is purely a "film study" day for the teams and a "speculation day" for the rest of us.
The schedule for the upcoming Divisional Round is already set, and while nothing is on this morning, you’ll want to clear your calendar for the weekend. We've got:
- Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos: Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks: Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots: Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC.
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears: Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
The Patriots game is especially spicy. Drake Maye just won his first playoff start, and now he’s gotta face a DeMeco Ryans defense that just made the Steelers look like a high school JV squad.
Why People Keep Asking What Channel Is The Football Game On This Morning
There’s a reason this question keeps popping up on Tuesdays in mid-January. It's the "hangover effect." For the last month, we’ve been spoiled with bowl games, playoff brackets, and Saturday triple-headers. Your brain is conditioned to expect a kickoff.
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Also, if you're seeing "football" listed on your TV guide this morning, it’s almost certainly Good Morning Football on NFL Network. It’s not a live game, but it's the next best thing if you need that background noise of people arguing about whether Josh Allen is actually the best quarterback on the planet right now.
The College Football Void
On the college side, it’s even quieter. We just finished the semifinals on January 8th and 9th. If you missed those, you missed a bloodbath. Indiana—yes, the Indiana Hoosiers—is 15-0 and just booked their ticket to the title game by crushing Oregon 56-22.
The National Championship isn't until next Monday, January 19th. It’ll be Indiana vs. Miami at Hard Rock Stadium. If you’re looking for that game this morning, you’re about six days early. It'll be on ESPN when it finally does arrive.
How to Get Your Football Fix Today
Since you can't find a live game on the dial this morning, you've basically got three options to satisfy the craving:
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- NFL+ and Replays: If you have an NFL+ subscription, this is the best time to go back and watch the 49ers vs. Eagles game from Sunday. It was a 23-19 nail-biter that actually lived up to the hype.
- The "All-22" Tape: For the real nerds, Tuesday is when the coaches' film usually starts circulating. You can see exactly how the Texans' secondary baited the Steelers into those turnovers.
- Draft Prep: Believe it or not, because it's January 13, the non-playoff teams are already deep into draft boards. Mock drafts are flying.
What’s Next for Your Remote Control
Don't delete your sports apps just yet. The "morning" lull is temporary. While you won't find the football game on this morning on any standard channel like NBC, CBS, or ESPN, the news cycle is going to be dominated by injury reports. Keep an eye on the Seahawks—they’re the #1 seed in the NFC and have a target on their back heading into Saturday’s clash with San Francisco.
If you’re desperate for live sports right now, you’re looking at international soccer or maybe some early-season college hoops. But for the gridiron? We’re in a holding pattern until the weekend.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your local listings for NFL Network or ESPN2 for "Instant Replay" versions of the Wild Card games; these often run in 30-minute condensed formats on Tuesday mornings.
- Set your DVR for the Divisional Round starting Saturday, January 17, at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS to catch the Bills and Broncos.
- If you are a college fan, mark Monday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET for the National Championship on ESPN.