Some days on the sports calendar deserve to be circled. They come once a year: Super Bowl Sunday; on opening Thursday of March Madness. Make your choice. But did you know that Monday is one of those days on the sports calendar?
That's how it is. October 27, 2025 marks a “sports equinox.”
The premise is simple. Due to different schedules among professional sports (the NFL plays only in the fall and winter, the NBA season doesn't start until mid-fall, etc.), there is an extremely small window in a year in which the four major American men's professional sports leagues all play in one night. This year, Monday is that window.
And for those who want even more sports content, fear not: There will be a lot more on Monday than just the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL. Is football more your speed? There are plenty of options, from a 1 pm ET collegiate kickoff to the MLS playoffs later in the evening. WWE is also on the docket.
Are you interested in what America's four major men's professional sports leagues will do come the 2025 sporting equinox? We've got you covered.
Major Leagues
Key notes: It's the World Series. Do we need to say more? After splitting the first two games of the series, the Toronto Blue Jays head west to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 on Monday. Veteran Max Scherzer will be on the mound for the Blue Jays against Tyler Glasnow for the Dodgers.
Your most time-saving game: Blue Jays-Dodgers, 8 pm ET (FOX)
NBA
Key notes: There will be no shortage of basketball on Monday, with 22 of the league's 30 teams playing. Highlights include a regional rivalry matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons and the Dallas Mavericks hosting the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, but fans experiencing other sports earlier in the evening will likely find the most joy in the later games: Nuggets, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Warriors, Lakers and Trail Blazers start at 9:30 p.m. ET or later.
Your most time-saving game: Denver Nuggets-Minnesota Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)
NFL
Key notes: The equinox “Monday Night Football” matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders contains a little less intrigue with rising Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels ruled out. But the competition is still worth watching as the Chiefs find their groove hosting the Commanders, who will look to make a big statement in Arrowhead.
Your most time-saving game: Commanders-Chiefs, 8:15 pm ET (ABC/ESPN)
nhl
Key notes: It's not a very deep NHL schedule for the equinox: only four teams will be in action on Monday night. The first game is an interconference contest between the St. Louis Blues and the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the other is a divisional showdown between the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators. Any chance to see Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby, 38, before he finally retires is a worthy decision.
Your most time-saving game: Blues-Penguins, 7 p.m. ET (NHL Network)
Elsewhere in the world of sport…
Key notes: Do you think we were missing an opportunity to promote midday college football? At all. BYU and UCF women's soccer are vying for position in the Big 12 standings and will kick off in Orlando at 1 pm ET. Soon after, in Spain, two of LaLiga's best teams, Atlético de Madrid and Real Betis, will meet at 4 pm in a possible early breakthrough in the race for a place in the Champions League. Want postseason football action? A pair of MLS Cup playoff games will begin Monday night: a Hell Is Real derby between FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew and a Western Conference showdown between Minnesota United and Seattle Sounders.
There's even WWE on Monday night! “Monday Night Raw” will air live from Anaheim, California, featuring Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley and more.
Your most time-saving games: BYU-UCF, 1 pm ET (ESPN+); Atlético Madrid-Real Betis, 4 pm ET (ESPN Deportes/ESPN+); Columbus Crew-FC Cincinnati, 6:45 p.m. ET (FS1); “Monday Night Raw,” 7:30 p.m. ET (Netflix)
