If you’re waking up on Thursday, January 15, 2026, asking who's winning the football game today, the answer depends entirely on which side of the Atlantic you’re calling home.
In the United States, we are currently in that high-tension "eye of the storm" period. The NFL Wild Card round just wrapped up with a Monday night thriller that saw C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans survive a chaotic, five-fumble nightmare to bounce the Steelers. Now, the league is catching its breath before the Divisional Round kicks off this Saturday. On the college side, the vibes are even more electric as No. 1 Indiana and No. 10 Miami prepare for their National Championship clash at Hard Rock Stadium this coming Monday.
But if you’re looking for live "football" (the kind played with feet) right now, the European leagues and South American domestic cups are picking up the slack.
The NFL Postseason: Who Just Won and What’s Next?
We just moved past one of the weirdest Wild Card weekends in recent memory. Honestly, the biggest story isn't just who won, but how they did it. C.J. Stroud joined Eli Manning as the only quarterbacks to ever fumble five times in a playoff game and still come out with a "W." The Texans' 30-6 victory over Pittsburgh was dominant on defense but a total disaster in terms of ball security.
Right now, there are no NFL games on the schedule for Thursday. Everyone is prepping for the Divisional Round.
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Here is how the bracket looks for this weekend:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 PM ET)
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 PM ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET)
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET)
The Broncos are currently slim 1-point favorites over Buffalo. It’s a brutal spot for Josh Allen, who just got beat up in Jacksonville and now has to face a Denver defense that set a franchise record with 68 sacks this season. Most experts are leaning toward Denver in a tight one, maybe 24-22.
Global Soccer: Who is Winning Right Now?
While American football fans wait for Saturday, the rest of the world has a massive slate today. If you're checking the scores for Thursday, January 15, keep an eye on these specific matchups.
Spanish Copa Del Rey and Italian Serie A
In Spain, the Round of 16 is in full swing. Barcelona is facing Racing Santander today. Historically, Barca dominates these mid-tier cup matches, but Racing is known for being scrappy at home. Most analysts expect a multi-goal victory for Barcelona, likely 3-0 or 4-1, as they rarely take their foot off the gas even in cup play.
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Over in Italy, we have a fascinating Serie A doubleheader. AC Milan is traveling to face Como. Milan is currently on a four-game unbeaten streak, though they’ve been grinding out 1-1 draws rather than blowing teams out. Como has actually managed to keep games against Milan close recently, with their last two meetings ending in 2-1 results.
Premier League Drama
The biggest news in England today isn't a score yet, but a sideline shift. Michael Carrick has officially stepped in as Manchester United’s caretaker boss following Ruben Amorim’s sacking on January 5. United fans are desperate for a turnaround after a draw against Burnley and a cup loss to Brighton. Their next big test is the Manchester Derby, and with City facing a defensive injury crisis, the momentum might actually be shifting toward the red side of Manchester for once.
College Football: The Indiana vs. Miami Showdown
You can't talk about who's winning the football game today without mentioning the massive shadow cast by the upcoming CFP National Championship.
Indiana is 15-0. Let that sink in. They just dismantled Alabama 38-3 and dropped 55 points on Oregon. They are the definition of a juggernaut. Meanwhile, Miami is the "home team" playing in South Florida, coming off an improbable three-game run where they upset Ohio State and Ole Miss.
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While the game isn't until Monday, Jan 19, the betting markets are already moving. Indiana is the favorite, but the "home field" advantage for the Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium is making people nervous about betting against the U.
How to Track Live Scores Today
If you are trying to keep up with the flurry of international games or the latest injury reports for the NFL Divisional round, here is your checklist:
- Check the "Prop" Markets: For the AC Milan vs. Como game, "Both Teams to Score" (BTTS) is the smart money play.
- Monitor the Texans' Injury Report: C.J. Stroud’s center, Jake Andrews, is under the microscope today to see if they've fixed the snapping issues before they head to Foxborough.
- Watch the Weather in Denver: Saturday’s Bills/Broncos game is expected to be a defensive struggle, and any late-week snow forecasts will push the point total even lower.
Football never really has an "off" day; it just changes shape. Whether you're tracking a soccer cup in Spain or waiting for the NFL's heavy hitters to take the field this weekend, the parity in 2026 is making it harder than ever to predict a winner.
Actionable Insights for Today:
- If betting on the Copa Del Rey, look for Barcelona to score over 1.5 goals in the first half.
- Monitor the news out of Manchester; United's "new manager bounce" under Carrick is a real statistical phenomenon to watch.
- Prepare for the NFL Divisional round by checking the status of Nico Collins (Houston), who is currently in concussion protocol. His absence would drastically change the line for the Patriots game.