ESPN Expands 2026 NFL Preseason to 32 Live Games Across TV and App

Overview

• ESPN announced Wednesday that 32 preseason games will air live between Aug. 13 and Aug. 29 across ESPN, NFL Network and the ESPN App.
• The live breakdown is one national exclusive on ESPN, 19 out‑of‑market games on NFL Network and 12 out‑of‑market games on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers.
• ESPN will air the lone national game on Aug. 20 when the Las Vegas Raiders play the Houston Texans, a matchup promoted as the first national look at No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.
• All 48 preseason games will be available as replays on NFL Network, and some local markets will still show team telecasts that block the national/stream feeds, as Denver fans will see on 9News.
• The package raises streaming inventory from five to 12 games on ESPN Unlimited and signals a push to monetize preseason content and drive app subscriptions while preserving NFL Network as the replay hub.