What Time Do Football Games Start Today? Full Schedule

By Sarah Miller · February 18, 2040

Football game start times today vary by league, region, and broadcast schedule. In the U.S., NFL games typically begin at 1:00 PM, 4:05 PM, 4:25 PM, or 8:20 PM Eastern Time on Sundays, with Monday and Thursday night games at 8:15 PM ET. College football games can start as early as 12:00 PM and as late as 7:30 PM ET. For international viewers, kickoff times range from 18:00 to 22:00 UTC depending on the competition such as the English Premier League or UEFA Champions League.

NFL Game Start Times Today

If you're asking "what time do football games start today" in the context of American football, especially during the NFL season (September to January), kickoffs are scheduled across multiple windows:

Early Afternoon Games: 1:00 PM ET (4:00 PM local time in Pacific zones)
Late Afternoon Games: 4:05 PM or 4:25 PM ET
Prime Time Games: 8:15 PM ET on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays
Doubleheader Weeks: Teams may play at 1:00 PM or 4:00+ PM depending on network designation

For Week 6 of the 2025 NFL season, here are the scheduled start times for games being played today:

Game	Location	Date	Kickoff Time (ET)	TV Network
Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins	Hard Rock Stadium, FL	October 19, 2025	1:00 PM	CBS
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders	Allegiant Stadium, NV	October 19, 2025	4:25 PM	CBS
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles	Lincoln Financial Field, PA	October 19, 2025	4:25 PM	FOX
Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings	U.S. Bank Stadium, MN	October 19, 2025	1:00 PM	CBS
Monday Night Football: Seattle Seahawks vs. Detroit Lions	Lumen Field, WA	October 20, 2025	8:15 PM	ESPN

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows that most NFL games are clustered in two afternoon slots—1:00 PM and 4:25 PM ET—allowing national broadcasts to air regionally appropriate matchups. Prime-time games like Monday Night Football draw larger audiences and are reserved for marquee teams or divisional rivalries. Broadcast networks coordinate start times based on team performance, market size, and viewer demand.

College Football Kickoff Times

Today’s college football games follow a staggered schedule, particularly on Saturdays. Start times are designed to maximize TV exposure and fan engagement across time zones.

Typical College Football Start Windows

Early Window: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM ET
Mid-Afternoon: 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Late Afternoon: 7:30 PM ET (ABC Saturday Night Football)
Occasional Primetime: 8:00 PM or later on ESPN or SEC Network

For example, today’s featured matchup between Ohio State and Penn State is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET on ABC, highlighting a top-10 showdown in the Big Ten Conference.

International Football (Soccer) Match Times

In global contexts, "football" refers to soccer. Major leagues have standardized kickoff times based on regional viewing habits and broadcasting agreements.

Key Leagues and Their Typical Start Times (UTC)

Premier League (England): 15:00, 17:30, or 20:00 UTC (weekends); midweek games at 19:00 or 20:00 UTC
La Liga (Spain): 15:00, 17:15, 19:00, or 21:00 UTC
Bundesliga (Germany): 14:30 and 17:30 CET (13:30 & 16:30 UTC)
Serie A (Italy): 15:00, 18:00, 20:45 CET
UEFA Champions League: 18:45 and 21:00 CET (17:45 & 20:00 UTC)

Today, October 19, 2025, features several Premier League fixtures starting at 15:00 UTC, including Arsenal vs. Manchester United at Emirates Stadium.

How to Find Exact Game Times for Today

To get real-time updates on today's football game start times:

Visit official league websites: NFL.com, PremierLeague.com
Use sports apps: ESPN, Yahoo Sports, FotMob
Check TV listings: NBC, CBS, FOX, Sky Sports, TNT Sports
Enable location-based alerts through Google Search or Siri Shortcuts

Time zone conversion tools like WorldTimeBuddy.com help international fans adjust UTC times to local clocks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Football Game Start Times Today

What time does the main NFL game start today?

The primary NFL game today, Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles, kicks off at 4:25 PM Eastern Time and will be broadcast on FOX.

Are there any football games tonight?

Yes, the Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions starts at 8:15 PM ET on October 20, 2025.

Do football game start times change?

Yes, NFL games can be flexed into different time slots up to 12 days in advance for better viewership. College and international games rarely change once scheduled.

What time do Premier League games start today?

Today's Premier League matches begin at 15:00 UTC (11:00 AM ET), with select games at 17:30 and 20:00 UTC depending on broadcast selection.

How can I watch today’s football games live?

You can stream NFL games via NFL+ or ESPN+, college football on ABC/ESPN, and Premier League matches on NBC, Peacock, or Sky Sports depending on your region.