If you’re sitting there scrolling through your TV guide looking for a professional football game on Monday, January 19, 2026, you’re gonna be a little confused. Usually, by this time in January, we’re used to that final Wild Card game capping off the weekend. But honestly? The NFL is taking a backseat this time.
The short answer is: nobody is playing Monday Night Football in the NFL sense on January 19.
The league actually wrapped up its Wild Card round a week ago. On Monday, January 12, the Houston Texans traveled to Acrisure Stadium and absolutely handled the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6. That was the official end of the "Monday Night Football" branding for this postseason. Right now, as you read this, we are smack in the middle of the Divisional Round, and the NFL has structured this weekend to finish on Sunday night.
But don't turn off the TV. There is a massive game happening, just not the one with the shield on the 50-yard line.
College Football Takes Over the Monday Spotlight
The reason the NFL cleared the schedule is simple: the 2026 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship.
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While the pros played their Divisional games on Saturday (Bills at Broncos and 49ers at Seahawks) and Sunday (Texans at Patriots and Rams at Bears), Monday night is reserved for the kids. Or, well, the future pros.
At 7:30 p.m. ET tonight, the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers face off against the No. 10 Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. It’s a weird matchup, right? Most people expected the usual SEC juggernauts, but Indiana has been an absolute wagon this year under Curt Cignetti, going 15-0. Miami, on the other hand, is basically playing a home game in their own backyard.
If you were specifically looking for who plays next Monday night football because you wanted that NFL fix, you'll have to wait until the Conference Championships on Sunday, January 25. There are no NFL games scheduled for Monday the 26th either.
The NFL Playoff Schedule Shift
The league is picky about its "Monday Night" inventory. Since they introduced the Monday night Wild Card game a few years back, fans expect it every week of the playoffs.
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It doesn't work that way.
The NFL avoids Mondays during the Divisional and Championship rounds to ensure teams get a "fair" rest period before the next game. If the Texans or Patriots played tonight, they'd only have six days to prepare for a conference title game, while their opponent might have had eight. The league office—led by schedule makers like Howard Katz—prioritizes that competitive balance once you get down to the final eight teams.
What happened to the Monday Night Football crew?
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman aren't just sitting at home, though. Since ESPN/ABC has rights to both the NFL and the CFP, the "big" production energy is shifting to the college game. You’ll see the same level of polish, the same overhead cams, and the same massive pre-game hype, just with different logos on the helmets.
Here is how the "football" schedule actually looks for this window:
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- Saturday, Jan 17: NFL Divisional Round (Doubleheader)
- Sunday, Jan 18: NFL Divisional Round (Doubleheader)
- Monday, Jan 19: CFP National Championship (Indiana vs. Miami)
- Sunday, Jan 25: AFC and NFC Championship Games
Why This Specific Monday Matters
It’s also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Historically, the NFL has toyed with playing on this holiday, but the College Football Playoff has firmly planted its flag on this specific Monday night for their title game.
Miami is the first "double-digit" seed to make it this far in the new 12-team playoff format. They’ve been on a tear, knocking off Ohio State and Ole Miss to get here. Indiana is trying to become one of the most improbable undefeated champions in the history of the sport. Even if you're a die-hard NFL fan who "only watches the pros," this game is going to have at least a dozen first-round picks on the field.
Betting and Viewing Logistics
For the folks looking to place a wager or set their DVRs, here is the breakdown for tonight's "substitute" Monday Night Football:
- Kickoff: 7:50 p.m. ET (Broadcast starts at 7:30)
- Channel: ESPN (Main broadcast), ESPN2 (Field Pass), and ESPNU (Command Center)
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
- The Line: Indiana opened as a slight favorite, which is wild considering Miami is essentially the home team.
If you’re strictly an NFL purist, your next chance to watch a game is next Sunday. The winners of this weekend’s Divisional games will play for a trip to Super Bowl LX, which is set for February 8 at Levi’s Stadium.
Basically, the "Monday Night" brand is on hiatus until the 2026 regular season kicks off in September. For now, the lights in Pittsburgh and Foxborough are dark tonight, and all eyes are on the orange and green in South Florida.
Actionable Next Steps
- Tune into ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET if you want to see the only high-level football game happening tonight.
- Check the NFL app tomorrow morning to see the finalized kickoff times for the AFC and NFC Championship games on Sunday, January 25.
- Update your calendar: Remember that the NFL does not play on Mondays again until the next regular season; the Super Bowl and all remaining playoff games are Sunday-only affairs.