As of October 6, 2026, the United States is in one of the busiest periods of the sports calendar. There is no single “sports season” because different leagues operate on different schedules. In early October, however, the biggest active U.S. sports storylines include the MLB postseason, the NFL regular season, the NHL season, and the NBA preseason.
For baseball fans, October is playoff season. For football fans, the NFL regular season is underway. Hockey has entered its regular season, while the NBA is still in preseason before its regular season begins later in October.
MLB Is in the Postseason
Major League Baseball is in the Division Series stage right now.
On October 6, the scheduled National League Division Series games include the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers at the San Diego Padres. Both are scheduled for October 6, with the Dodgers-Braves game at 6:00 p.m. ET and Brewers-Padres at 9:30 p.m. ET.
That makes October one of the most important months on the baseball calendar.
The MLB postseason is different from the regular season because teams are competing in a short playoff format where individual games can have a major effect on a series. The Division Series is a best-of-five round.
FOX and FS1 are carrying the 2026 NLDS nationally, with FOX One also providing live streaming.
The NFL Is in Its Regular Season
The NFL is also active in early October.
Unlike baseball, football does not have a postseason underway at this point of the year. The league is in its regular season, with teams working through their scheduled games before the playoffs arrive.
This makes October a particularly strong month for football fans because the season is far enough along for teams to have established identities while there is still a large portion of the schedule remaining.
NFL games are generally concentrated around Thursday, Sunday, and Monday windows, although the exact schedule changes throughout the season.
The NHL Season Has Started
The NHL is also in regular-season action.
The October 6 schedule includes nine NHL games, with matchups such as Nashville at Toronto, Carolina at Montreal, Ottawa at Detroit, Minnesota at Buffalo, the New York Islanders at the New York Rangers, and Florida at Los Angeles.
The NHL’s presence in early October is one of the clearest signs that the North American sports calendar is moving into its fall and winter cycle.
Hockey fans therefore do not have to wait until later in the year for regular-season action.
The NBA Is in Preseason
The NBA is active, but the regular season has not started yet.
The October 6 schedule includes four preseason games: Brooklyn at Charlotte, New Orleans at Oklahoma City, Denver at Utah, and the Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State.
The NBA’s official key dates place the start of the 2026-27 regular season on October 20.
So if someone asks whether NBA season has started on October 6, the answer depends on what they mean by “season.” NBA preseason games are being played, but the regular season has not begun.
What About College Sports?
College football is also part of the fall sports landscape.
October is a major part of the college football season, with conference races beginning to take shape and teams playing regular-season games. College football is therefore another major sport to follow at this time of year.
College basketball, by contrast, has not yet reached its regular-season schedule. The basketball season generally begins later in the fall.
October Is a Transition Month
October is unusual because several major sports overlap.
| Sport | Status on October 6, 2026 |
|---|---|
| MLB | Postseason |
| NFL | Regular season |
| NHL | Regular season |
| NBA | Preseason |
| College football | Regular season |
| College basketball | Not yet in regular-season play |
This overlap is why October can feel like one of the busiest sports months in the United States.
Baseball is moving toward the World Series, football is building toward the playoffs, hockey is beginning its campaign, and basketball is preparing to start its regular season.
Why Is October So Busy?
The major U.S. professional leagues operate on different annual calendars.
Baseball’s regular season runs through the summer before moving into the postseason in October. Football starts in the fall and continues into the winter. Hockey and basketball begin around the same general part of the year, creating a significant overlap.
The result is a sports calendar packed with games.
For a fan who follows multiple leagues, October can mean baseball playoffs during the evening, NFL games during designated weekly windows, NHL games most nights, and NBA preseason games before the regular season begins.
So, What Sports Season Is It Right Now?
The best answer is fall sports season, but that description is broad.
More specifically, on October 6, 2026:
- MLB is in the postseason.
- The NFL is in its regular season.
- The NHL is in its regular season.
- The NBA is in preseason.
- College football is in its regular season.
That combination makes early October one of the most active periods in the U.S. sports calendar.
Bottom Line
If you’re asking what sports are in season right now in the United States, the answer is a lot of them. The biggest distinction is that MLB is in playoff season, while the NFL and NHL are playing regular-season games and the NBA is still in preseason.
For fans trying to decide what to watch, October is an especially crowded part of the calendar because several major leagues are active at the same time.