Finding out what channel is the football games on today shouldn't feel like a math test. But here we are. It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026, and the sports world is in that weird, high-stakes transition period. We are officially sandwiched between the chaos of Wild Card weekend and the upcoming NFL Divisional Round.
Honestly? If you’re looking for a live NFL game right this second, you’re going to be disappointed. Today is a "dark day" for live pro football broadcasts. The league is currently letting the dust settle before the Divisional Round kicks off this Saturday. However, if you are planning your weekend or looking for the remaining college action, the map is actually pretty clear.
The NFL Divisional Round: Where to Watch This Weekend
Since there isn't a game tonight, everyone is looking toward Saturday and Sunday. The bracket is set. The matchups are locked. If you're trying to figure out what channel is the football games on today for the upcoming window, you'll need a mix of steady reliable cable and a few streaming logins.
Saturday, January 17, 2026
The weekend starts with a massive AFC showdown. At 4:30 p.m. ET, the Buffalo Bills travel to the high altitude of Denver to take on the Broncos. You can catch that one on CBS. If you’ve cut the cord, Paramount+ is your best bet for a high-quality stream.
Later that night, the NFC takes over. At 8:00 p.m. ET, we get an old-school rivalry: the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Seattle Seahawks. This game is on FOX. You don’t need a fancy subscription for this—just a digital antenna or any basic cable package.
📖 Related: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday is a bit of a marathon. The early window features the Houston Texans visiting the New England Patriots at 3:00 p.m. ET. This game is a bit of a "simulcast" situation. It will be on both ABC and ESPN.
The nightcap is going to be freezing. The Los Angeles Rams head to Soldier Field to play the Chicago Bears at 6:30 p.m. ET. That’s an NBC game. If you prefer streaming, Peacock will have the live feed. Just a heads up—the forecast for Chicago is looking brutal, so expect plenty of shots of fans in parkas.
The Biggest Game Left: College Football National Championship
While the NFL takes today off to prep, college football fans are staring down the barrel of the finale. We are just days away from the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship.
On Monday, January 19, 2026, the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers (yes, you read that right) will face the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes.
👉 See also: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
- Kickoff Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN
This is the big one. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens is going to be electric. Because it’s an ESPN broadcast, you can expect the "Megacast." This means if you hate the standard announcers, you can flip to ESPN2 for the "Field Pass" with Pat McAfee or check out ESPNU for the Command Center view. It's basically sensory overload for football nerds.
What About Soccer? The "Other" Football
Sometimes when people ask what channel is the football games on today, they aren't talking about the pigskin. They're talking about the Premier League.
Today, Thursday, Jan 15, is actually a bit quiet on the EPL front too, as we are between Matchweek 21 and 22. Most of the heavy lifting for the English Premier League happens on the weekends. For example, this coming Sunday, Jan 18, has a slate including Brentford vs. Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea. Those usually land on USA Network or Peacock.
If you're looking for something to watch tonight specifically, you might find some re-airs or classic matches on NFL Network or Big Ten Network, but the live "appointment viewing" is currently on a brief hiatus until the weekend warriors take the field.
✨ Don't miss: Por qué los partidos de Primera B de Chile son más entretenidos que la división de honor
Streaming vs. Broadcast: The Great 2026 Divide
It's gotten kinda complicated, hasn't it? You used to just turn on the TV. Now, you need an Excel spreadsheet to track your passwords.
Basically, the NFL has spread its wings. If you want to see every game this postseason, you need to make sure your Peacock and Paramount+ subscriptions are active. While the "big" games are still on local channels like NBC and CBS, the supplemental coverage and some of those exclusive windows are moving deeper into the streaming apps.
Quick Cheat Sheet for the Playoffs
- CBS Games: Watch on Paramount+.
- NBC Games: Watch on Peacock.
- ESPN/ABC Games: Watch on the ESPN App or ESPN+.
- FOX Games: Use the FOX Sports app (though you usually need a cable login).
Honestly, if you're a real fan, a service like Fubo or YouTube TV is usually the easiest way to keep everything in one bucket. They carry all the local affiliates and the sports networks, so you don't have to keep switching inputs on your remote.
Actionable Tips for This Weekend
- Check your Antenna: If you’re watching the 49ers/Seahawks on FOX or the Rams/Bears on NBC, a $20 digital antenna from the store will give you a 4K-ish uncompressed signal that actually looks better than cable.
- Download the Apps Now: Don't wait until 4:25 p.m. on Saturday to realize you forgot your Paramount+ password. Get signed in today.
- Verify the ESPN+ Tier: Remember that the National Championship on Monday is on the main ESPN cable channel. If you only have the ESPN+ streaming app and not a cable provider, you might be restricted to the "alternate" feeds rather than the main broadcast.
- Prepare for the Cold: If you're actually going to that Bears game in Chicago, dress in layers. The wind chill at Soldier Field is expected to be in the negatives.
The NFL Divisional Round is arguably the best weekend of the entire year. The parity is high, the stakes are massive, and the "win or go home" energy is unmatched. Whether you're rooting for a Cinderella Indiana team in the college ranks or waiting to see if the Bills can finally conquer the AFC, the next four days are going to be a wild ride.
Make sure your subscriptions are current, get the snacks ready, and enjoy the break today—because starting Saturday, the TV won't be turning off until Monday night.