If you’re asking yourself, “What time are the football games on today you’re definitely not alone. Football fans deal with rotating schedules, shifting time slots, and last-minute broadcast changes almost every week. Whether you’re following the NFL, college football, or international soccer, kickoff times can feel like a moving target. And because most people don’t want to dig through multiple websites just to figure out when the next game starts, having a straightforward guide can make your day a lot easier.
This article breaks down how football schedules usually work, why times change so often, and where you can always find the exact starting times for the games happening today. Even if you don’t know the league or team, this guide will help you make sense of how game timings are structured so you never miss kickoff again.
Understanding Why Football Schedules Can Be Confusing
Football doesn’t follow a single universal timetable. Instead, every league—NFL, college, MLS, international soccer—creates its own calendar based on broadcasts, stadium availability, and league rules. Add in things like weather delays, playoff scheduling, and international time zones, and you get a system that can be unpredictable day to day.
That’s why when people search “what time are the football games on today,” they usually aren’t looking for a single answer—they want a clear path to find today’s exact schedule.
Before we get into where to find those times, here’s what you can generally expect from each major type of football.
Typical NFL Game Times
NFL schedules are the closest thing to predictable in the football world. While game days shift slightly later in the season, the league usually sticks to a familiar pattern:
- Thursday Night Football: 8:15 PM ET
- Sunday Early Games: 1:00 PM ET
- Sunday Afternoon Games: 4:05 PM or 4:25 PM ET
- Sunday Night Football: 8:20 PM ET
- Monday Night Football: 8:15 PM ET
Late in the season, usually from Week 11 onward, the league may “flex” games—meaning the NFL can move a Sunday afternoon matchup into a primetime spot if it’s more competitive or high-profile.
There are also occasional Saturday games in December, which generally fall into early afternoon and primetime windows.
College Football Game Times
College football is a different world entirely. With over 100 major teams, dozens of conferences, and multiple broadcast partners, game times can land virtually anywhere across the day. Typical kickoff windows include:
- 12:00 PM ET (Noon)
- 3:30 PM ET
- 7:00 PM or 7:30 PM ET
- 8:00 PM ET primetime games
- 10:15 PM ET West Coast late games
Because networks pick which games they want to air only days in advance, college football times can shift frequently—even within the same week.
International Football (Soccer) Match Times
If your question refers to soccer rather than American football, the schedule usually looks very different.
- Premier League: Early morning to early afternoon in U.S. time zones
- La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga: Morning through mid-afternoon US time
- UEFA Champions League: Mid-afternoon during weekdays
- MLS: Typically evenings or late afternoons in the U.S.
International matches must also account for major time zone differences, so kickoff times that feel unusual to U.S. fans are completely normal in those leagues.
Where You Can Always Find Today’s Exact Game Times
Even though no single article can provide every league’s schedule for today, you can easily get the correct times in seconds using any of these reliable sources.
1. League Websites
These are the most accurate and up-to-date:
- NFL.com → Scores/Schedule
- ESPN College Football → Daily Schedule
- MLSsoccer.com → Matchday page
- Premier League, La Liga, Serie A official sites
Since these come straight from the leagues, they update instantly when times change.
2. TV Networks
Networks like CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, and ABC list every game they broadcast with that day’s airtimes.
3. Streaming Apps
If the game is exclusive to Prime Video, Peacock, ESPN+, Apple TV (MLS), or Paramount+, the app will list the live event with the exact kickoff time.
4. All-in-One Sports Apps
The easiest options for most fans:
- ESPN App
- Yahoo Sports
- TheScore
- Bleacher Report
These usually send you alerts for your favorite teams so you never have to look up times manually.
Why Game Times Sometimes Change at the Last Minute
Even when schedules look settled, they still shift. Here’s why:
✔ Flex scheduling
Used mainly by the NFL to feature more competitive matchups.
✔ Weather delays
Lightning delays in college football are common and can push games by 30 minutes or more.
✔ Broadcast rights
Networks sometimes move games to maximize viewers.
✔ International scheduling
When NFL teams play in Europe, game times in the U.S. start early in the morning.
✔ Stadium or travel issues
Occasionally, logistical problems force small schedule changes.
FAQs About Today’s Football Game Times
1. Why doesn’t this article list the specific games for today?
Game schedules change daily, often even hourly. This guide explains where to find the most accurate, real-time information for today’s specific matchups.
2. What time is the earliest football game usually played?
International NFL games can start as early as 9:30 AM ET, and European soccer often airs even earlier.
3. What time do Sunday NFL games start?
Most begin at 1 PM ET, with afternoon and evening slots following.
4. What’s the best way to make sure I don’t miss kickoff?
Turn on alerts in apps like ESPN or Yahoo Sports—these update instantly.
5. Why do college football times vary so much?
Networks choose times weekly based on matchups and ratings potential.
