Get your snacks, stretch your channel-flipping thumb and throw on your favorite jersey, because October 27 is going to be a sports enthusiast’s dream! Baseballs will fly, footballs will spiral, pucks will glide and basketballs will swish—all on the same day. Welcome to the sports equinox, that rare event in which America’s biggest professional leagues align like planets to create a truly ideal day for fans.
Tune in to the action with DIRECTV!
What Is a Sports Equinox?
A “sports equinox” occurs when all four major U.S. professional leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL) have games scheduled on the same day. It’s not a league-sanctioned holiday, but it might as well be: a confluence of calendars that happens only when the stars (and scheduling committees) align just right.
So why is it happening now?
Because October is typically the only time of the year when the NFL, NBA and NHL regular seasons overlap with the MLB postseason. Baseball is wrapping up its World Series chase, football is deep into its fall rhythm, hockey has just dropped the puck and basketball is tipping off its new season. The result: one glorious night when the TV guide looks like a sports fan designed it themselves.
On October 27, 2025, fans can expect:
- The World Series in full swing (Blue Jays at Dodgers).
- A Monday Night Football showdown between the Commanders and Chiefs.
- A slate of NBA games from coast to coast.
- NHL action on the ice to keep things moving.
- Bonus action with exciting MLS playoffs.
Watch at home or out with friends using our Sports Bar Finder.
Sports Equinox History
The first recorded sports equinox happened on October 17, 1971, when all four leagues took the field, court and ice on the same day, a scheduling quirk that fans at the time could only track through newspapers and rabbit-ear TVs.
Since then, the phenomenon has resurfaced sporadically thanks to TV contracts, adjusted schedules and the way leagues stagger their seasons. In recent years, it’s become more common, with the rise of expanded playoffs and longer regular seasons, but it’s still rare enough to feel like a holiday. Fans now celebrate it on social media with the same reverence meteorologists reserve for a solar eclipse.
Sports Equinox Schedule
Here are all the games being played on October 27:
MLB (World Series)
- Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Dodgers — Game 3 — 8:00 p.m. ET — Watch on FOX
NFL (Monday Night Football)
View the full NFL schedule here
- Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs — 8:15 p.m. ET — Watch on ESPN and ABC
NBA (Regular Season)
View the full NBA Schedule here
- Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons — 7:00 p.m. ET — Watch on Peacock
- Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers — 7:00 p.m. ET — Watch on NBA League Pass
- Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls — 8:00 p.m. ET — Watch on NBA League Pass
- Brooklyn Nets at Houston Rockets — 8:00 p.m. ET — Watch on NBA League Pass
- Boston Celtics at New Orleans Pelicans — 8:00 p.m. ET — Watch on NBA League Pass
- Toronto Raptors at San Antonio Spurs — 8:00 p.m. ET
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks — 8:30 p.m. ET — Watch on NBA League Pass
- Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz — 9:00 p.m. ET — Watch on NBA League Pass
- Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves — 9:30 p.m. ET — Watch on Peacock
- Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors — 10:00 p.m. ET — Watch on NBA League Pass
- Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers — 10:30 p.m. ET — Watch on NBA League Pass
NHL (Regular Season)
View the full NHL schedule here
- St. Louis Blues at Pittsburgh Penguins — 7:00 p.m. ET — Watch on NHL Network
- Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators — 7:30 p.m. ET — Watch on Amazon
Bonus! MLS (Playoffs)
- Columbus Crew at FC Cincinnati — 6:45 p.m. ET — Watch on FS1 and MLS Season Pass
- Seattle Sounders FC at Minnesota United FC — 8:50 p.m. ET — Watch on FS1 and MLS Season Pass
You can also check for these games on your Regional Sports Network!
Watch the Sports Equinox on DIRECTV
Whether you’re a fantasy-league addict, a die-hard fan or someone who just loves being part of a cultural phenomenon, the sports equinox is your ultimate binge-watching event. For one brief night, every fan gets to be in season, in a rare alignment of competition and timing. Join the fun and tune in with DIRECTV!
Click here to see all of Monday’s (and beyond) sporting events available in your home market.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sports equinox?
A "sports equinox" is a rare day when games from all four major North American professional sports leagues (the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL) occur on the same day.
When is the next sports equinox?
The next sports equinox is on October 27, 2025.
When is the sports equinox?
This year's sports equinox will take place on October 27, 2025.
