FROM STUDIO TO STADIUM: NBC’S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SHOW OPEN STARS CARRIE UNDERWOOD FOR 14TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Highlights from New Show Open to Premiere During Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, This Thursday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
New Sunday Night Football Show Open Debuts on Sunday, Sept. 13 Ahead of Cowboys-Giants in SNF Opener on NBC and Peacock
STAMFORD, Conn. – August 4, 2026 – Multi-platinum, 8-time GRAMMY® Award winner Carrie Underwood will star in the show open for NBC’s Sunday Night Football for the 14th consecutive season beginning September 13 on NBC and Peacock.
In the latest evolution of SNF’s show opens since 2013, the year of Underwood’s debut, this year’s edition features scenes in three distinct locations – the recording studio, an intimate setting in a small music venue, and a concert performance in a packed stadium.
“This season, we’ve drawn inspiration from Carrie’s deep, well-documented love of rock music – a perfect fit since our Sunday Night Football anthem was born from pure rock ‘n’ roll: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ ‘I Hate Myself for Loving You.’” said Tripp Dixon, creative director of the SNF show open for each of the past 14 years. “We’ve worked to match these two rock frequencies of past and present as they come together in Carrie’s high-energy performance. The greatest players and teams in the NFL will take it from there.”
“This year’s show open welcomes Sunday Night Football into my ongoing rock star fever dream,” says Underwood. “I love this new version of the track and, once again, Tripp and the incredible team behind the camera brought it to life in a whole new way that captures the spirit of this iconic song and the heart of rock ‘n’ roll. It’s one of my most favorite opens yet!”
The show open for Sunday Night Football, primetime television’s No. 1 program for an unprecedented 15 consecutive years, will debut on Sunday, Sept. 13 leading into the season debut of SNF featuring Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys visiting Jaxson Dart and the New York Giants, in John Harbaugh’s head coaching debut with New York. The Sunday night opener marks the 15th time the Cowboys face the Giants in NBC’s Sunday Night Football package – the second-most played matchup on NBC’s SNF (Cowboys-Eagles, 17).
A preview will debut during the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on NBC and Peacock this Thursday, August 6, at 8 p.m. ET, as the Carolina Panthers face the Arizona Cardinals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock with Football Night in America on-site in Canton.
NBC’S SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS PRIMETIME TELEVISION’S NO. 1 SHOW FOR RECORD 15 CONSECUTIVE YEARS: NBC’s Sunday Night Football finished the 2025-26 TV season as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented 15th consecutive year – adding to its record for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Sunday Night Football also ranked as the No. 1 primetime show in every major metric and demographic. For more information, click here.
| 2026 NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE | ||
| Wed. Sept. 9 | NFL Kickoff | New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks |
| Sun. Sept. 13 | Week 1 | Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants |
| Sun. Sept. 20 | Week 2 | Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs |
| Sun. Sept. 27 | Week 3 | Los Angeles Rams at Denver Broncos |
| Sun. Oct. 4 | Week 4 | Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers |
| *Sun. Oct. 11 | Week 5 | Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons |
| *Sun. Oct. 18 | Week 6 | Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers |
| *Sun. Oct. 25 | Week 7 | Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks |
| *Sun. Nov. 1 | Week 8 | Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders |
| *Sun. Nov. 8 | Week 9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears |
| *Sun. Nov. 15 | Week 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals |
| # Sun. Nov. 22 | Week 11 | Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers |
| **Thurs. Nov. 26 | Week 12 | Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills |
| *Sun. Nov. 29 | Week 12 | New England Patriots at Los Angeles Chargers |
| *Sun. Dec. 6 | Week 13 | Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers |
| *Sun. Dec. 13 | Week 14 | Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers |
| *Sun. Dec. 20 | Week 15 | Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings |
| *Sun. Dec. 27 | Week 16 | Jacksonville Jaguars at Dallas Cowboys |
| Sat. Jan. 2 (4:30 p.m. ET) | Week 17 | From Saturday Pool |
| Sat. Jan. 2 | Week 17 | *PEACOCK EXCLUSIVE* From Sat. Pool |
| *Sun. Jan. 3 | Week 17 | Philadelphia Eagles at San Francisco 49ers |
| *Sun. Jan. 10 | Week 18 | NFL #Game272 – TBD |
# NFL International Game in Mexico City
*Flex Week
** Thanksgiving Night Game
Click here for more information on this year’s Sunday Night Football schedule.