So, you're sitting there wondering when you can finally stop pretending to care about yard work and start watching the game. I get it. The term "football season" is basically a moving target these days. If you mean American football, we're talking one calendar. If you’re talking about what the rest of the world calls football—soccer—well, that's a whole different beast. Honestly, there’s almost always a game on somewhere if you look hard enough.
Right now, as we sit in early 2026, we are in the absolute thick of the high-stakes stuff. If you’re a fan of the gridiron, you know January is basically a month-long holiday. But let’s break down exactly when is the football season for every level of the game, because missing a kickoff is a vibe killer.
The NFL Grind: From Heat Waves to Frozen Tundras
The NFL is the big kahuna. For the 2025–2026 cycle, things kicked off back on September 4, 2025. It feels like forever ago, right? The Philadelphia Eagles took down Dallas in that opener, and we’ve been rolling ever since.
Usually, the regular season runs for 18 weeks. This year, the regular season wrapped up on January 4, 2026. If you're looking for games right now, you're looking at the playoffs. We just saw Wild Card weekend happen from January 10 to 12.
The Divisional Round is set for this weekend, January 17–18, 2026.
After that, it's a sprint to the finish:
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- Conference Championships: January 25, 2026.
- The Pro Bowl Games: February 3, 2026 (in San Francisco).
- Super Bowl LX: February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
Then, the league goes into hibernation for a bit. Sorta. You’ve got the Scouting Combine in late February and the Draft in April, but the actual hitting doesn't start again until the preseason in August 2026.
College Football: The New 12-Team Chaos
College ball has changed so much it’s almost unrecognizable. We used to be done by early January, but the new playoff format has stretched the calendar. The 2025–2026 College Football Playoff (CFP) is currently reaching its peak.
The first round started on December 19, 2025. We had games at campus sites, which was incredible. Imagine a playoff game in Norman or College Station in late December. Cold, loud, and perfect.
The Quarterfinals took over New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl were the highlights there. Then the Semifinals (Fiesta and Peach Bowls) went down on January 8 and 9.
The big one? The CFP National Championship is set for Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. It’s Indiana against Miami. Yeah, you read that right. Indiana. What a year.
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Once that trophy is hoisted, the college season is officially over until the end of August 2026. Usually, "Week 0" kicks off around August 29.
High School Lights: Friday Night Timelines
High school is where it starts for most of us. Because schools have different academic calendars, the start dates are all over the place.
Back in August 2025, Hawaii was the first to go on August 9. Most of the "football states" like Texas, Florida, and Georgia started their 2025 season between August 15 and August 28.
If you are looking for the next high school season, expect a similar rollout for 2026. Most states will begin practices in late July or early August, with the first Friday night games hitting in mid-to-late August 2026.
The "Other" Football: Soccer’s Never-Ending Cycle
If you’re here for soccer, the "season" is basically "always."
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In Europe (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga), the 2025–2026 season started in mid-August 2025. It’s a marathon. These leagues run all the way through May 24, 2026.
The UEFA Champions League is also in full swing. The "League Phase" has matches on January 20, 21, and 28, 2026. The whole thing ends with the final in Budapest on May 30, 2026.
But what about the US?
Major League Soccer (MLS) does things differently. They play through the summer. The 2026 MLS season is actually starting very soon—February 21, 2026. This year is special because of the 2026 World Cup. MLS is going to take a huge break from May 25 to July 16 so everyone can focus on the World Cup happening right here in North America.
When Is the Football Season: A Quick Summary
| Type of Football | Season Start | Season End |
|---|---|---|
| NFL | Early September | Early February |
| College (FBS) | Late August | Mid-January |
| High School | August | December (State Finals) |
| European Soccer | Mid-August | Late May |
| MLS (USA) | Late February | November |
What You Should Do Now
If you're a die-hard fan, your immediate priority is clearing your schedule for the NFL Divisional round this weekend. Check your local listings for the exact kickoff times for the January 17 and 18 games.
For those looking ahead to the 2026 fall season, keep an eye out for the NFL schedule release in May. That’s when you can actually start booking trips and planning your life around the games. If you want to catch the end of the college season, make sure you're tuned in this Monday night for the National Championship. It’s the last bit of college action we’ll see for seven months.