How many games are in an MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL season?

MLB teams play 162 regular-season games, NBA teams play 82, NFL teams play 17 and NHL teams play 84. The NHL number is new: the league moved from 82 to 84 games starting with the 2026-27 season.

Key takeaways

  • MLB plays 162 games, the schedule since 1961 in the American League and 1962 in the National League.
  • The NBA plays 82 games, the schedule since 1967-68.
  • The NFL plays 17 games, the schedule since 2021.
  • The NHL plays 84 games from 2026-27, after 82 games since 1995-96.

How long is each league’s regular season?

Here are the four leagues side by side, with what a perfect season would be and the best real record in each.

Regular-season length by league
LeagueGamesSincePerfect seasonBest real record
MLB1621961 (AL), 1962 (NL)162-0116 wins (1906 Cubs, 2001 Mariners)
NBA821967-6882-073-9 (2015-16 Warriors)
NFL17202117-016-0 (2007 Patriots), 14-0 (1972 Dolphins)
NHL842026-2784-065 wins, 135 points (2022-23 Bruins)

How many games are in an MLB season?

162. The American League adopted 162 games in 1961, when it grew to ten teams, and the National League followed in 1962, when it added the Mets and the Colt .45s. Both leagues played 154 games before that, per the 1962 season record.

How many games are in an NBA season?

82. The NBA first played 82 games in 1967-68, when it grew to 12 teams, according to NBA.com’s season review. The 1998-99 lockout cut that season to 50 games.

How many games are in an NFL season?

17. NFL owners approved a 17th game on March 30, 2021. The league had played 16 games a season since 1978, and the preseason dropped from four games to three, as ESPN reported.

How many games are in an NHL season?

84, starting in 2026-27. The NHL’s new labor agreement extends the regular season from 82 games, the length since 1995-96, and caps the preseason at four games per team, according to NHL.com.

What would a perfect season look like in each sport?

Winning every game: 162-0, 82-0, 17-0 or 84-0. No team has done it in a full regular season at today’s lengths. DreamDraft’s draft games let you chase each one with an all-time roster, and the ceiling depends on the sport. Baseball tops out at 152-10, while basketball, football and hockey allow a perfect 82-0, 17-0 or 84-0.

The best DreamDraft rosters right now

Live

Time Machine leaders from the live leaderboard, one per sport. Each record is the game’s estimate for an all-time roster.

Baseball

Rank 1ScottyDucatiPro

125–37162-game record

Full baseball board

Basketball

Rank 1Anonymous

68–1482-game record

Full basketball board

Football

Rank 1jimPro

16–117-game record

Full football board

Hockey

Rank 1jimPro

74–1084-game record

Full hockey board

More questions

Which league has the longest season?

MLB, at 162 games. That’s almost twice the NBA’s 82 and nearly ten times the NFL’s 17.

Do playoff games count in these numbers?

No. These are regular-season games only. Playoff games come after.

Why does DreamDraft’s hockey game use 84 games?

Because the NHL plays 84 games starting in 2026-27. DreamDraft’s hockey record matches the current schedule, so a perfect season is 84-0.

  • Is there a 162-0 baseball game?

    Yes. DreamDraft’s baseball draft turns 13 picks from MLB seasons since 1876 into a 162-game record, and the best possible roster goes 152-10.

  • Can you go 82-0 in an NBA draft game?

    Yes, but almost no roster will. DreamDraft’s NBA draft turns eight players from any era into an 82-game record, and only a team grade of 84 projects to 82-0.

  • Is there a 17-0 football game?

    Yes. DreamDraft’s football draft gives you eight picks from NFL seasons since 1950, and a team rating of 90 or better earns a 17-0 season.

  • Is there an 82-0 game for hockey?

    Yes. DreamDraft’s hockey draft gives you seven skaters and a goalie from NHL seasons since 1917-18, and the perfect season is 84-0 now that the NHL plays 84 games.

All sports draft game questions

Draft your own roster

A solo draft is free in your browser and needs no account.

Choose your sport

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: 1962 Major League Baseball season
  2. NBA.com: Season review, 1967-68
  3. ESPN: NFL owners approve 17-game season
  4. NHL.com: What you need to know about the new NHL CBA

Records checked October 27, 2026. DreamDraft records are game estimates from real season stats.