Honestly, if you're staring at your TV guide tonight looking for a professional football game, you're going to be a little disappointed or very excited, depending on which kind of pigskin you prefer. It's January 19, 2026. Usually, this is when the NFL is deep into the postseason grind. But here’s the thing: there isn’t a Monday Night Football game in the NFL tonight.
Wait. Don't close the tab just yet.
The NFL Wild Card round actually wrapped up its Monday night duties last week on January 12th. If you missed it, the Houston Texans basically dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score suggests. Because the league moves the Divisional Round to a strictly Saturday-Sunday format to ensure teams get enough rest before the Conference Championships, the Monday night "pro" slot is empty.
However, football is definitely still on. It’s just the college kids taking over the spotlight for the biggest game of their lives.
The Big Game Tonight: College Football Playoff National Championship
While the NFL takes a breather, the College Football Playoff National Championship is filling the void at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. If you were searching for who's playing monday night football and what channel, this is the "Monday Night Football" of the season for the NCAA.
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The matchup features the winners of the New Year's Day semifinals. We've seen a wild season where the expanded 12-team playoff format finally took root, leading us to this final showdown in Florida.
What Channel is the Game On?
You can find the National Championship on ESPN. Kickoff is traditionally set for around 8:00 PM ET. If you’re a fan of the "ManningCast" style of watching, ESPN usually runs multiple "MegaCast" options across their other channels like ESPN2 or ESPNU, featuring film rooms, hometown radio calls, and sky-cam views.
- Primary Broadcast: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN App, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV
- Kickoff Time: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
Why isn't there an NFL Monday Night Football game?
It’s kinda weird, right? We get so used to the Monday night routine from September through December. But the NFL is extremely protective of their playoff teams' recovery times.
Last week's Monday night game between the Texans and Steelers was the final Monday game of the 2025-2026 season. Since the Divisional Round games were just played this past Saturday (Jan 17) and Sunday (Jan 18), playing a game tonight would mean a team would have to turn around and play a Conference Championship game on just five or six days' rest. The league doesn't like doing that in the playoffs if they can help it.
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Instead, we’re in that brief "dead zone" where we recap the Divisional results while waiting for the AFC and NFC Championship games next Sunday, January 25.
What Happened in the NFL Divisional Round?
Since you're looking for football, you probably want to know how the bracket is shaking out. The Divisional Round was a bloodbath.
On Saturday, the Denver Broncos (the AFC's top seed) hosted the Buffalo Bills. It was a frigid one at Mile High. Then we had a classic NFC West rivalry as the San Francisco 49ers traveled to Seattle to take on the Seahawks.
Sunday was just as intense. The New England Patriots—who have had a surprisingly strong resurgence this year—took on the Texans, and the Chicago Bears hosted the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field. Honestly, seeing Caleb Williams lead the Bears this deep into January has been one of the biggest stories of the year.
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Where to Watch the Next NFL Games
If you're strictly an NFL fan and don't care about the college title game, you'll have to wait until next weekend. Here is how the schedule looks for the Conference Championships:
- AFC Championship Game: Sunday, Jan. 25 at 3:00 PM ET on CBS.
- NFC Championship Game: Sunday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 PM ET on FOX.
The winners of those two games will head to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, 2026.
How to Stream Tonight's Action
If you've cut the cord, getting the game on your screen is pretty straightforward. Since the National Championship is an ESPN property, you can't just pull it in with an over-the-air antenna like you can with games on NBC or FOX.
Basically, you need a service that carries ESPN. Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV are the most popular, but Fubo is usually the go-to for sports junkies because of the 4K streams. If you’re already paying for Disney+, check if you have the triple bundle; sometimes you can access the ESPN feed directly through the Disney interface now.
Actionable Steps for Football Fans
Now that you know who's playing monday night football and what channel, here’s how to make the most of the night:
- Check your ESPN subscription: Ensure your login for the ESPN app is working before the 8:00 PM ET kickoff to avoid missing the opening drive.
- Update your Bracket: If you’re following the NFL playoffs, tonight is the perfect time to look at the betting lines for the Conference Championships. The odds usually shift significantly on Monday morning after the Divisional injury reports come out.
- Set your DVR for Sunday: Since there are only two NFL games left before the Super Bowl, make sure your Sunday, Jan. 25 is cleared.
The road to Super Bowl LX is almost over. Enjoy the college title game tonight—it’s the last time we’ll have high-stakes football on a Monday until next September.