If you're looking for an NFL game to flip on this evening, you're actually going to be a little disappointed. The "Monday Night Football" branding usually belongs to the pros, but tonight—Monday, January 19, 2026—the schedule belongs entirely to the college kids.
Basically, the NFL just finished up its Divisional Round yesterday. With the Texans, Patriots, Rams, and Bears all battling it out for a spot in the conference championships, the league is taking a breather. But don't click away yet. The game replacing the usual NFL slot is arguably the biggest football event of the year so far.
Who Plays Monday Night Football Tonight?
Tonight, it's the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes taking on the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship.
It's happening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Yeah, the Hurricanes essentially have a home-field advantage for the biggest game of their lives. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and you'll find it on ESPN.
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Honestly, if you told someone two years ago that Indiana would be the #1 seed in a national title game, they’d have laughed you out of the room. But here we are. Curt Cignetti has turned that program into an absolute juggernaut. They are 15-0. They aren't just winning; they are destroying people with an average scoring margin of nearly 29 points.
Why the NFL isn't on
The NFL usually avoids Monday nights once they hit the deeper rounds of the playoffs to ensure teams get enough rest before the AFC and NFC Championship games. Last Monday (Jan 12), we saw the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 to close out the Wild Card round. That was the final Monday game for the NFL this season.
From here on out, it’s all weekends for the pros.
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A Massive David vs. Goliath (Sorta)
Miami is the first-ever #10 seed to make it this far in the expanded playoff era. They’ve been on a "revenge tour" after a heartbreaker against SMU back in November. Since then? They've knocked off Texas A&M, Ohio State, and Ole Miss.
Their defense is scary. They’ve got 47 sacks on the year. If you're Indiana, you're worried about that pass rush getting to your quarterback early and often.
Indiana, on the other hand, is trying to complete the perfect season. They just came off a 56-22 thrashing of Oregon in the semifinals. It wasn't even close. They play a brand of football that is fast, physical, and, frankly, exhausting to watch if you're rooting for the other team.
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How to watch and stream
You've got a few options if you aren't sitting in front of a traditional cable box:
- TV: ESPN (Main broadcast)
- Alternative Broadcasts: ESPN2 usually runs a "Field Pass" or "ManningCast" style view for these big games.
- Streaming: Fubo, YouTube TV, or the ESPN App (if you have a login).
What’s Next for Football Fans?
Once the clock hits zero tonight and a champion is crowned, the focus shifts back to the NFL.
The Conference Championships are set for Sunday, January 25. We’re looking at the final four teams fighting for a trip to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara. If you were hoping for more Monday night action, you'll have to wait until the 2026 regular season kicks off in September.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your ESPN subscription: Ensure your streaming apps are updated before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff to avoid the "spinning wheel of death" during the first quarter.
- Clear your Sunday: Mark January 25 on your calendar for the NFL Conference Championships; there are no games between tonight and then.
- Watch the lines: If you're into sports betting, Indiana opened as a favorite, but the "home" crowd for Miami is narrowing that gap quickly on most books.