It is a bit of a weird night if you're looking for an NFL fix. Usually, this time of year, we are obsessing over point spreads and injury reports for the pros. But tonight, January 19, 2026, the Monday Night Football slot doesn't belong to the NFL.
The shield is taking a breather.
Instead, the biggest game in the country is the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship. We've got the #1 Indiana Hoosiers taking on the #10 Miami Hurricanes. It’s a matchup almost nobody saw coming back in August, but here we are.
Why isn't there an NFL game tonight?
Technically, the "Monday Night Football" brand is an NFL staple. However, the league specifically leaves this Monday open every year to avoid clashing with the college title game.
The NFL actually wrapped up its own Monday night commitments for the season exactly one week ago. On January 12, we saw the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 to close out Wild Card Weekend. Since the Divisional Round was completed yesterday (Sunday, Jan 18), the NFL is currently in a holding pattern until the Conference Championships next Sunday.
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Basically, the pros have cleared the stage so the kids can play for the trophy.
The Matchup: #1 Indiana vs. #10 Miami
If you told a college football fan two years ago that Indiana would be the #1 seed in a 12-team playoff, they would have laughed you out of the room. Curt Cignetti has pulled off what might be the greatest coaching turnaround in the history of the sport. The Hoosiers are sitting at a perfect 15-0.
They aren't just winning; they are destroying people. They just hung 56 points on Oregon in the semifinals.
On the other side, you have the "Cardiac Canes." Miami was the very last team to squeeze into the playoff field as the 10-seed. Since then, Mario Cristobal’s squad has knocked off three straight top-10 opponents.
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Game Details for Tonight:
- Who: #1 Indiana vs. #10 Miami
- Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Channel: ESPN
Key Players to Watch
Carson Beck, the Miami quarterback, is the name most people know. He’s a fifth-year senior who spent forever at Georgia before transferring to Coral Gables. He's been surgical this postseason, completing over 73% of his passes.
Keep an eye on Indiana’s defense, though. They lead the nation in turnover margin at +21. If they get to Beck early, it could be a long night for the Hurricanes.
Then there's Malachi Toney for Miami. He’s a freshman, but he plays like a seasoned vet. He has nearly 1,100 yards on the season and is arguably the fastest player on the field tonight. Indiana’s secondary has been solid, but they haven't seen "track speed" like Toney’s in a few weeks.
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When does the NFL return to Monday nights?
If you’re strictly an NFL fan and couldn't care less about the college game, you’re going to be waiting a while. There are no more Monday night games for the rest of the 2025-2026 NFL season.
The remaining schedule looks like this:
- Conference Championships: Sunday, Jan 25.
- Pro Bowl Games: Tuesday, Feb 3.
- Super Bowl LX: Sunday, Feb 8.
The NFL won't return to its Monday night slot until the 2026 regular season kicks off in September.
What to do if you're looking for the game
If you turn on your TV tonight expecting to see Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, you’re going to be disappointed. You’ll get Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit instead.
Honestly, even if you aren't a big college fan, this Indiana story is worth the watch. It’s a "Cinderella" team that also happens to be a juggernaut. It’s rare.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your local listings: The game is on ESPN, but there are usually "MegaCast" options on ESPN2 and ESPNU if you want different camera angles or film room analysis.
- Set your DVR: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET, but these championship games tend to run long with the extended halftime shows.
- NFL Fans: Mark your calendars for next Sunday, January 25, for the AFC and NFC Championship games—that's when the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara officially hits its final stretch.