Your Complete Guide to the Fall Sports Season

Summer is coming to an end, and for some, it’s a bittersweet goodbye to sunny weather and carefree days. But for others, it’s a welcome transition, especially those looking forward to the fall sports season.

With fall comes turning leaves, cool nights, and the beloved PSL. However, for sports lovers, it means football, basketball, and hockey. So, if you’re a sports fan, don’t let the fall sports season sneak up on you without a plan in place. To help you out, the following is a guide to upcoming games, plus a few options for where to watch sports in the Sacramento area.

Football

Photo Courtesy of Levi’s Stadium | IG: @levisstadium

The regular 2025-26 NFL season kicks off Sept. 4 with the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, taking on the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener. Games will continue throughout the season, with the playoffs beginning Jan. 10 and Super Bowl LX held Sunday, Feb. 6 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, home of the San Francisco 49ers.

Score a Home in El Dorado County

Speaking of the 49ers, because they are the home team for most of Sacramento, a summary of their game schedule seems appropriate. Following is a schedule of Niner games for this season.

• Sept. 7: at Seattle Seahawks
• Sept. 14: at New Orleans Saints
• Sept. 21: vs. Arizona Cardinals
• Sept. 28: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
• Oct. 2: at Los Angeles Rams
• Oct. 12: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Oct. 19: vs. Atlanta Falcons
• Oct. 26: at Houston Texans
• Nov. 2: at New York Giants
• Nov. 9: vs. Los Angeles Rams
• Nov. 16: at Arizona Cardinals,
• Nov. 24: vs. Carolina Panthers
• Nov. 30: at Cleveland Browns
• Dec. 14: vs. Tennessee Titans
• Dec. 28: vs. Chicago Bears
• Jan. 3 or 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Basketball

Photo Courtesy of Sacramento Kings | IG: sacramentokings

Prefer the hoops to gridiron? The NBA is also gearing up for its 2025-26 season. Preseason games run Oct. 2–17, with the regular season starting Oct. 21 with two games: The Houston Rockets at the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Golden State Warriors at the Los Angeles Lakers. The season runs through mid-April, with playoffs beginning April 18. The finals are scheduled in early June.

Score a home in Sacramento County

Being that Sacramento is home to its very own NBA team, the Sacramento Kings, the following is their home game schedule for this season. So, consider buying a ticket, heading down to the Golden One Center, and watching them live. This handy guide to seeing a Sacramento Kings Game can help!

• Oct. 24: vs. Utah Jazz
• Oct. 26: vs. Los Angeles Lakers
• Nov. 5: vs. Golden State Warriors
• Nov. 9: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
• Nov. 11: vs. Denver Nuggets
• Nov. 12: vs. Atlanta Hawks
• Nov. 24: vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
• Nov. 30: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
• Dec. 20: vs. Portland Trail Blazers
• Dec. 21: vs. Houston Rockets
• Dec. 23: vs. Detroit Pistons
• Dec. 27: vs. Dallas Mavericks
• Jan. 1: vs. Boston Celtics
• Jan. 4: vs. Milwaukee Bucks
• Jan. 6: vs. Dallas Mavericks
• Jan. 11: vs. Houston Rockets
• Jan. 12: vs. Los Angeles Lakers
• Jan. 14: vs. New York Knicks
• Jan. 16: vs. Washington Wizards
• Jan. 18: vs. Portland Trail Blazers
• Jan. 20: vs. Miami Heat
• Jan. 21: vs. Toronto Raptors
• Feb. 4: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
• Feb. 6: vs. Los Angeles Clippers
• Feb. 7: vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
• Feb. 19: vs. Orlando Magic
• Mar. 3: vs. Phoenix Suns
• Mar. 5: vs. New Orleans Pelicans
• Mar. 8: vs. Chicago Bulls
• Mar. 10: vs. Indiana Pacers
• Mar. 11: vs. Charlotte Hornets
• Mar. 15: vs. Utah Jazz
• Mar. 17: vs. San Antonio Spurs
• Mar. 19: vs. Philadelphia 76ers
• Mar. 22: vs. Brooklyn Nets
• April 3: vs. New Orleans Pelicans
• April 5: vs. Los Angeles Clippers
• April 10: vs. Golden State Warriors

Hockey

Another pro sport that starts up this fall is the NHL. The pre-season runs Sept. 20 through Oct. 4, with the regular season beginning Oct. 7 with three games: the Chicago Blackhawks at the Florida Panthers, the Pittsburgh Penguins at the New York Rangers, and the Colorado Avalanche at the Los Angeles Kings. The season continues through March, with the playoffs starting in April and the finals wrapping up the season in June.

Win big with a home in Placer County

Although Sacramento doesn’t have its own NHL team, most residents cheer on the nearby San Jose Sharks, who will take on the Las Vegas Golden Knights during their first game of the regular season on Oct. 9. Check out the entire NHL 2025-26 schedule.

College Sports

Photo Courtesy of Sacramento State Football | IG: @sacstatefb

It’s not just the pros who are gearing up for their fall season; college athletes are also taking to the fields and courts this time of year. Best of all, the greater Sacramento area is home to two universities, meaning it’s easy and convenient to catch a live game.

At Sac State, Hornets football is ramping up, with their first home game scheduled for Sept. 13 against Mercyhurst University. On the basketball court, the Sac State men’s team, under the leadership of head coach Mike Bibby of the Sacramento Kings, will open the season Nov. 4 against Dominican University. The women’s team will begin Nov. 3 with a game against Stanton University. Check out all Sac State sports and consider getting tickets to a home game.

Take the shot on a home in Yolo County

At UC Davis, the Aggies kicked off the season with a game against Utah Tech. They will play their first home game Sept. 20 against Southern Utah University. On the courts, the Aggies men’s basketball team begins Nov. 3 against Menlo College. The women’s first home game is the same day against William Jessup University. Check the full schedule and buy Aggies tickets.

Where to Watch Fall Sports

If you can’t make it to an in-person game to watch with fellow fans, don’t worry, there are still plenty of sports bars around the greater Sacramento area. So, here are a few spots worth checking out:

• Barwest, Midtown Sacramento
• Clubhouse 56, East Sacramento
• Elk Grove Sports Bar, Elk Grove
• Silk Bar, Folsom
• McGuire’s Sports Bar & Grill, Auburn
• Sully’s Bar & Grill, Rocklin
• 36 Handles Public House, El Dorado Hills
• Parkside Sports Bar & Grill, Davis
• West Sac Sports Bar & Grill, West Sacramento