If you’re staring at your TV guide right now wondering who's playing tonight in football, you might be feeling that weird mid-January itch. We just came off a wild Wild Card weekend, and the massive College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals are still fresh in our minds. But here is the honest, slightly annoying truth for a Thursday night: the gridiron is actually quiet in the States.
It’s January 15, 2026. Usually, Thursdays are for the NFL, but we’ve hit that specific gap in the postseason schedule where the "Thursday Night Football" contract has expired for the year, and the Divisional Round hasn't started yet.
Does that mean there's zero football? Not even close. You just have to look across the Atlantic or south of the border to find it. While American stadiums are being prepped for the massive playoff games this coming Saturday and Sunday, European leagues and domestic cups are in full swing.
The Global Slate: Who's Playing Tonight in Football
If you’re a fan of the "other" football—soccer—tonight is actually a banger. Specifically, Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s Copa del Rey are carrying the load.
Italy: Serie A Matchday 16
Over in Italy, we have a double-header that matters for the table.
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- Hellas Verona vs. Bologna: This one kicked off earlier, but it’s been a scrap. Bologna is trying to keep their European dreams alive, while Verona is basically fighting for their lives to stay out of the relegation zone.
- Como vs. AC Milan: This is the late-night special for the Italian fans. AC Milan is traveling to the beautiful lakeside city of Como. Honestly, watching Milan's high-octane offense try to break down a stubborn Como defense is a solid way to spend an afternoon if you're in the U.S.
Spain: Copa del Rey Round of 16
Spain is doing the "giant-killing" thing tonight.
- Racing Santander vs. Barcelona: This is the big one. Racing Santander is a historic club, but they're currently a division below the titans. Seeing Barcelona travel to the Cantabria region for a knockout game is always risky.
- Burgos vs. Valencia: Another knockout clash where anything can happen.
Mexico: Liga MX (Clausura)
If you're looking for something in a closer time zone, Liga MX is delivering.
- Club America vs. San Luis: Club America is basically the Dallas Cowboys of Mexico—you either love them or you hate them, but they’re always on TV.
- Tigres vs. Pumas: This is a classic "Big University" rivalry. Tigres has the money and the stars, while Pumas has the history.
Why There’s No NFL Tonight
I know, it feels wrong. We’ve been conditioned since September to expect a game on Thursday. But the NFL playoffs are a different beast. Once the regular season ends, Amazon Prime’s exclusive Thursday night package ends too.
The league wants the maximum number of eyeballs on the Divisional Round, and that means stacking the games on Saturday and Sunday. They also want to ensure that teams playing this weekend have a fair amount of rest. For example, the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears are scheduled for Sunday; putting a game on Thursday would just mess up the rhythm of the entire playoff bracket.
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According to the latest 2026 playoff schedule, the real action starts in about 48 hours. If you're looking for who's playing tonight in football because you want to see the road to the Super Bowl, you'll have to wait until Saturday afternoon when the Buffalo Bills head into the thin air of Denver to take on the Broncos.
The College Football Void
On the college side, we are in the "eye of the storm." We just finished the quarterfinals on New Year's Day—which, by the way, were incredible. Who expected Indiana to actually handle Alabama in the Rose Bowl? Or Ole Miss to knock off Georgia in that 39-34 thriller at the Sugar Bowl?
The semifinals (Fiesta Bowl and Peach Bowl) were just last week. We are now in the dead period before the National Championship game on Monday, January 19, 2026.
So, if you see a "football" game on ESPN tonight, double-check the screen. It's likely a replay of a classic game or a very specific mid-major college basketball matchup. Actually, tonight is a "mid-major paradise" for basketball fans. You've got games from the Sun Belt, the WAC, and the West Coast Conference. It's not football, but it's live sports.
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What to Watch Instead
If you absolutely need your sports fix tonight and soccer isn't doing it for you, the NBA and NHL have full slates.
- NBA: The Dallas Mavericks are hosting the Denver Nuggets. It’s Luka vs. Jokic. If you can’t have a touchdown, a triple-double is a decent consolation prize.
- NHL: A dozen games are on the ice tonight.
- Tennis: The Australian Open is currently in the early rounds. If you're an insomniac, that's your best bet.
Looking Ahead: The NFL Divisional Weekend
Since tonight is a wash for American football, let’s look at what you’re actually waiting for. The Divisional Round is arguably the best weekend of the entire year.
Saturday, January 17
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET): Josh Allen in the cold. This is peak football.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET): An NFC West rivalry in the playoffs? Yes, please.
Sunday, January 18
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET): The "new guard" vs. the "old guard."
- L.A. Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET): This one is going to be loud. Soldier Field in January is a nightmare for California teams.
Your Game Plan for Tonight
Since the question of who's playing tonight in football yielded some soccer and a whole lot of "wait until Saturday," here is how you should handle your evening.
- Check the International Streams: Use Paramount+ for the Serie A games (Milan/Como) or find a Spanish broadcast for the Copa del Rey.
- Update Your Fantasy/Betting Apps: Now is the time to look at the lines for the Bills/Broncos game. Currently, Denver is a slight home favorite, which feels like a trap.
- Prep the Menu: Use tonight to do the grocery run for Saturday. You don't want to be at the store when kickoff happens.
While tonight might be a "dark night" for the NFL and College Football, the silence is just the buildup for the biggest weekend of the winter. Grab a soccer game, watch some hoops, and get some sleep. You're going to need it for the 12 hours of football coming this weekend.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your local listings for the AC Milan vs. Como match starting shortly on Paramount+, and set your DVR for the NFL Divisional Round triple-header starting this Saturday at 4:30 PM ET. If you're betting the weekend games, keep a close eye on the injury reports for the Chicago Bears' secondary before their Sunday night clash with the Rams.