October is upon us, which means the sports viewing public will be working overtime. Get ready for the most crowded, forced reach of the calendar.
The 10th month has absolutely everything. The MLB and WNBA champions will be on display, while the NFL will go overseas to London and Paris. LeBron James reintroduced himself as a Philadelphia 76er, and the New York Knicks reasserted themselves as kings of the court. The soccer slate ranges from the glorious “El Clásico” to Manchester City’s constant heel turn. If that’s not enough, there are sports streaming series and theatrical releases set to make their premieres.
We couldn’t include everything in this guide, but we tried to pick the highlights. All times are ET, and all channel listings are for US viewers.
You can watch live sports on Fubo (Stream Free Now).
October 2026 sports schedule
Women’s Super League: Arsenal at Manchester City
Oct. 4, 11:30 am on Paramount+
It’s the defending champion against the runner-up at the Etihad Stadium. These two produced a pair of thrilling finishes last season. City is leading the WSL table again, unbeaten by the power of Khadija Shaw, the reigning Footballer of the Year.
Bahrain Grand Prix
Oct. 4, 3 am on Apple TV
The rubber will melt and the flags will fly at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit. Oscar Piastri won the race last year, while Lewis Hamilton had his best Grand Prix result of the season as a Ferrari driver. The F1 schedule continues throughout the month with the Singapore GP on Oct. 11 and the United States GP on Oct. 25. No subscription is required to watch this race — Apple TV makes it available for free.
Finals of the China Open
Oct. 6 (men’s singles), Oct. 11 (women’s singles) on the Tennis Channel
There aren’t any repeat singles champs in Beijing. Jannik Sinner claimed part of the men’s bracket in 2025, but he has no knee problems. That beckons six-time tournament winner Novak Djokovic to reclaim his crown. And incumbent women’s champion Amanda Anisimova is done for the season with a wrist injury — the world No. 1 Elena Rybakina is the favorite this time.
Is October the best sports month?
Branch of Chris
“Saban” premieres
October 8, 6 pm on ESPN
Nick Saban got his own six-part documentary as the retired football coach, who won seven national championships, sat down for interviews. The series also gets exclusives from the likes of Bill Belichick, Lane Kiffin and Jalen Hurts. All episodes will drop together on ESPN Unlimited.
Baycurrent Classic
October 8-11 on the Golf Channel
The only PGA Tour event in Asia tees off from Japan’s Yokohama Country Club. Xander Schauffele won the 2025 tournament in thrilling fashion. He will defend it against a field that includes Keegan Bradley, Wyndham Clark and Japanese hero Hideki Matsuyama.
‘Portrait of an Artist: Stephen Curry’
Oct. 9 in IMAX theaters
The majestic 30-footers get some big-screen love in this analysis of Curry’s career impact. Gotham Chopra and his crew used 21 IMAX-certified cameras to capture the Golden State Warrior before his 4,000th career 3-pointer.
Texas vs. Oklahoma
October 10, 3:30 pm on ABC
The long-running Red River Rivalry returns to the neutral-site Cotton Bowl. Arch Manning and the Longhorns opened October at No. 1. The Sooners stumbled in the AP rankings in September, but their defense still boasts some future NFL players who could tighten up this matchup. For more SEC grudges, Georgia faces Alabama later that night (7:30 pm on ABC).
Banana Bowl Championship
Oct. 10, 7 pm on Disney+
The Savannah Bananas, baseball’s barnstorming novelty act, put batters on stilts and umpires in twerk routines. This inaugural championship game will be at Nationals Park in Washington, DC
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
October 11, 9:30 am on NFL Network
There are three NFL exports in the UK this month, but Eagles-Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is our headliner. The Birds have an aggressive defense and highlight-makers Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. Trevor Lawrence’s Jags, trying to win back-to-back AFC South titles, are the designated hosts in London, their home away from home.
The British slate begins with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders on Oct. 4 and concludes with the Jaguars and Houston Texans from Wembley Stadium on Oct. 18. Three starts at 9:30 am on NFL Network.
English Premier League: Manchester City and Liverpool
Oct. 11, 11:30 am on NBC, NBCSN/Peacock or USA
What scenes await us at Anfield. Erling Haaland and his teammates will be defrauded to the skies now that City have been found guilty of more than 100 charges of financial policy breaches. It will be the first league match since the findings, which the club will appeal. Liverpool legend Graeme Souness says the Reds deserve City’s two Premier League titles.
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams
October 12, 8:15 pm on ABC and ESPN
This Bills-Rams “Monday Night Football” spot is the long-awaited rematch of their 44-42 marathon from 2024. It also pairs the NFL’s two most recent MVPs, Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford. Allen set a regular-season record with three passing and three rushing touchdowns in that last meeting, but it was Stafford’s Rams who got the W.
The premiere of ‘Tyson’
October 13 on Netflix
“Baddest Man on the Planet” is reviewed in four installments. Mike Tyson is a cultural phenomenon as boxing’s youngest heavyweight champion. He was also convicted of rape in 1992 and arrested on assault charges on several occasions.
Ohio State at Indiana
October 17 on Fox
Last year’s Big Ten championship game, the most watched of all time, got a midseason reprisal in Bloomington. The broadcast window will be announced closer to kickoff. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is a Heisman Trophy favorite for Ohio State, but Indiana’s defense can take down the best of opponents under the watchful eye of Curt Cignetti.
‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story’ premiere
October 17, 8 pm on Hallmark
What if our heroes kiss under a tree on the Ben Johnson route? This is Hallmark’s latest “Holiday Touchdown” movie after previous collaborations with the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. The Chicago version has cameos from Johnson, Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland, along with alumni Mike Singletary and Charles “Peanut” Tillman.
The WNBA Finals are about to begin
October 17 on NBC, Peacock and USA
We already know the field’s top seed isn’t here, as the Minnesota Lynx were swept by the No. 8 New York Liberty in the first round. Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart will try to return to the best-of-seven finals after winning it all in 2024. A’ja Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces are the incumbent champs.
NBA season tips
October 20 on NBC and Peacock
Basketball is back with a spectacular triple-header to set the tone. First, the new-look Boston Celtics visit the upstart Detroit Pistons at 3 pm Then comes the 7 pm centerpiece — LeBron and Jaylen Brown both debut for the 76ers, while Jalen Brunson and the Knicks raise a banner to the Madison Square Garden ceiling. In the 9:30 pm nightcap, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder look for redemption against Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs. Their seven-game Western Conference finals was a series for the ages.
The World Series is about to begin
October 23 on Fox
How could this year’s Fall Classic possibly top the 2025 World Series? We’ll see if Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers can get MLB’s first three-peat since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998 to 2000. Other viable contenders include the Milwaukee Brewers, led by ace fireballer Jacob Misiorowski, and the ultra-efficient Tampa Bay Rays. Savor every frame as a potential MLB lockout looms.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints
October 25, 9:30 am on NFL Network
“Paris is a moving feast,” as Ernest Hemingway once wrote. He definitely writes about the Steelers and Saints. Aaron Rodgers and Cameron Jordan will see the city for themselves as the NFL plays its first regular-season game on French grass.
Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets
October 25, 7 pm on TNT
Outdoor hockey has a unique and attractive quality to it, especially in the Canadian cold. This year’s NHL Heritage Classic pits the Canadiens against the Jets. It takes place at Princess Auto Stadium, where the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers call home.
Real Madrid at Barcelona
October 25, 4 pm on ABC and ESPN Deportes
The incomparable “El Clásico” has given us some real heart-warmers lately. In May 2025, Barcelona rallied from a two-goal hole and survived a Kylian Mbappé hat trick for a 4-3 victory. Jules Koundé had the 116th-minute decider for Barça in the 2025 Copa del Rey final. Last October, Real Madrid pulled off a tight win that ended in shouting matches and brawls. There are plenty of stars in this one — the visitors bring in Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior to match Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Rodri.
The sports equinox
October 26
A sporting solstice is definitely lined up for Monday, Oct. 26. America’s “big four” pro leagues are all in action — regular NBA and NHL games, plus the World Series date and the Dallas Cowboys’ trip to Philadelphia on “Monday Night Football.” The evening becomes overture, if not overstimulation.
‘Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn’ premiere
October 27 on HBO Max
The magnetic Steeler helped reimagine what an NFL quarterback looked like. But “Slash” has struggled to deal with baseless rumors about his sexuality, something he addressed for The Players’ Tribune a few years ago. Interviews with Stewart and his confidants reexamine the moment, with direction and editing from Brian Rivera.
The premiere of ‘The Mosquito Bowl’
October 30 in select theaters
Peter Berg, the director of “Friday Night Lights”, has a new feature about college football players who join the Marines during World War II. It is adapted from a book by Buzz Bissinger, who wrote the original “Friday Night Lights” source material. “The Mosquito Bowl” opens in theaters, but is available on Netflix starting Nov. 25.
Florida vs. Georgia
October 31, 3:30 pm on ABC
What was once known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” is now…inside? Sure. Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts the Gators and Bulldogs, who always turn up for this border-state rivalry game. Breakout Florida running back Jadan Baugh will have to squeeze and muscle in space against Kirby Smart’s monster defensive front on Halloween.
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