If you’re sitting on your couch right now asking who play monday night football tonight, you might be expecting to see a bunch of NFL jerseys. Honestly, it’s a bit of a trick question this week. Today is Monday, January 19, 2026, and while the "Monday Night Football" crew from ESPN is definitely in the building, they aren't at an NFL stadium.
The NFL just wrapped up its Divisional Round yesterday. Instead of a pro game, tonight is the biggest night in amateur sports: the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship.
It’s No. 1 Indiana versus No. 10 Miami.
Yeah, you read that right. Indiana. The Hoosiers are 15-0 and trying to finish off a dream season that nobody—literally nobody—saw coming two years ago. On the other side, the Miami Hurricanes are playing in their own backyard at Hard Rock Stadium. It’s a weird, lopsided, fascinating matchup that has completely hijacked the Monday night sports slot.
Why There Isn't an NFL Game Tonight
Usually, we’re used to the NFL owning Monday nights until the playoffs start. But the league actually shifts its schedule once the postseason hits. During the Wild Card round last week, we did have a Monday night game (the Texans crushed the Steelers, in case you missed it).
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But for the Divisional Round? The NFL prefers to stack those games on Saturday and Sunday to give the winners more recovery time before the Conference Championships.
Because of that, the NFL clears the stage. They basically hand the keys to the stadium over to the NCAA so the National Championship can have the undivided attention of the country. If you tune into ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET, you’ll see the same production quality, the same flashy graphics, and a lot of the same commentators you’d see for a typical NFL Monday night, but the stakes are for a different trophy.
The Matchup: Indiana vs. Miami
This game is kinda wild when you look at how these teams got here. Indiana has been a steamroller. They didn't just win their games; they humiliated people. They beat Oregon 56-22 in the semifinal. Who does that?
The Indiana Juggernaut
Coach Curt Cignetti has turned Bloomington into a football town, which feels like a glitch in the matrix. They have the largest average scoring margin in the country. They’re basically playing "Madden" on rookie mode. Their defense is aggressive, and their offense starts so fast it usually puts games away by the second quarter.
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The Miami Underdog Story
Then you’ve got Miami. They were the last team to even make the 12-team playoff field. They’re the 10 seed, but they’ve played like a top-3 team ever since the tournament started. They knocked off Ohio State and survived a thriller against Ole Miss to get here.
Plus, they have Carson Beck at quarterback. He’s a fifth-year senior who transferred from Georgia and has basically seen everything a college defense can throw at him. He’s throwing to Malachi Toney, a freshman who has been absolutely electric this year.
Game Logistics and How to Watch
If you are looking for the game, here is the "need-to-know" info so you don't miss kickoff:
- Kickoff Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- TV Channel: ESPN (Main broadcast)
- The Broadcast Team: Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit are on the call.
- Alternative Viewing: If you hate traditional commentary, check out the "Field Pass" on ESPN2 or the various "MegaCast" options across the ESPN family of networks.
The betting line has Indiana as an 8.5-point favorite. That feels high for a title game, but given how they've played, it's hard to bet against them. The Over/Under is sitting around 47.5, which suggests the oddsmakers expect a bit more of a defensive struggle than Indiana’s previous blowouts.
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What's Next for the NFL?
Since there’s no NFL tonight, you might be wondering when the pros actually get back on the field. You won't have to wait long. The AFC and NFC Championship Games are scheduled for next Sunday, January 25.
The New England Patriots (who just beat the Texans yesterday) and the Chicago Bears (who survived the Rams) are still in the hunt. We’re officially in the "Elite Four" stage of the NFL season.
Basically, tonight is your last chance to enjoy a high-stakes football game before the NFL takes over the conversation again for the Super Bowl lead-up. If you were hoping to see the pros, don't be disappointed—the level of talent on the field tonight in Miami features at least a dozen guys who will be playing on Sundays this time next year.
Check your local listings for any pre-game shows starting as early as 6:00 p.m. ET. Most sports bars will have the sound on for this one, especially with the "home game" atmosphere for Miami.
Make sure your streaming apps are updated if you're watching on mobile. ESPN+ will have a live stream, but you’ll likely need a cable provider login to access the main broadcast. If you’re a cord-cutter, YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV are your best bets to catch the action live without a traditional satellite dish.