Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Monday's compact 9x9 grid delivers a sports-heavy puzzle with Super Bowl references and pop culture nods.
Whether you're looking for a mid-length challenge or warming up for the full-size puzzle, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring an 8x10 or 9x11 grid with 15-20 Across and 15-20 Down clues.
It takes about 5-15 minutes to solve, making it perfect for a coffee break or commute. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime.
New puzzles drop daily. The Midi offers more complexity than the Mini while remaining accessible for solvers who want a quick but substantial challenge.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 9x9
Total Clues: 25 (15 Across, 10 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 3D. Buck ___, co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Gimme Clue: 13A. Clickable text in an email
Theme Spotted: Sports theme with Super Bowl reference
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Rough ocean waves, casually
Hint: Three-letter slang for choppy water conditions
5A. Shade of blond or gray
Hint: Tree-related color, three letters
8A. Top-notch
Hint: Highest grade, starts with A
9A. Sports org. that puts on the College Football Playoff
Hint: Four-letter college sports governing body
10A. Hardships
Hint: Troubles or difficulties, four letters
11A. Baby deer
Hint: Young animal, four letters
12A. Short satirical sketch
Hint: Comedy routine, four letters
13A. Clickable text in an email
Hint: Web navigation element, four letters
14A. Opposites of compulsive cleaners
Hint: Messy people, five letters
16A. "The Simpsons" bus driver with a palindromic name
Hint: Four-letter palindrome character
19A. 2026 Super Bowl champs ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters (and their shape!)
Hint: NFL team name, eight letters
23A. Tree-cutting expert
Hint: Professional who works with trees, eight letters
24A. What you need to go from E to F
Hint: Fuel for movement, three letters
25A. Rejections
Hint: Negative responses, three letters
Down Hints
1D. Crows' cries
Hint: Bird sounds, four letters
2D. "Hand-y" accessories for a pirate costume, perhaps
Hint: Captain Hook's replacements, five letters
3D. Buck ___, co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Hint: Baseball Hall of Famer's last name, five letters
4D. Green sauce
Hint: Italian basil sauce, five letters
5D. Berry touted as a superfood
Hint: Amazonian fruit, four letters
6D. Having been cut, as logs
Hint: Past participle of saw, four letters
7D. Walter's D.E.A. agent brother-in-law on "Breaking Bad"
Hint: Character name, four letters
9D. Gridiron standout
Hint: Football star, seven letters
15D. ___ chic (free-spirited fashion style)
Hint: Bohemian style prefix, four letters
17D. Mattress size smaller than a full
Hint: Bed size, four letters
18D. "And your point is ...?"
Hint: Casual transition phrase, four letters
19D. Droop
Hint: Lose firmness, three letters
20D. Reagan ___ (1981-89)
Hint: Presidential period, three letters
21D. Target of bird-dog exercises
Hint: Core muscles, three letters
22D. Rd. crossers
Hint: Street abbreviations, three letters
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Rough ocean waves, casually
Answer: CHOP
5A. Shade of blond or gray
Answer: ASH
8A. Top-notch
Answer: AONE
9A. Sports org. that puts on the College Football Playoff
Answer: NCAA
10A. Hardships
Answer: WOES
11A. Baby deer
Answer: FAWN
12A. Short satirical sketch
Answer: SKIT
13A. Clickable text in an email
Answer: LINK
14A. Opposites of compulsive cleaners
Answer: SLOBS
16A. "The Simpsons" bus driver with a palindromic name
Answer: OTTO
19A. 2026 Super Bowl champs ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters (and their shape!)
Answer: SEAHAWKS
23A. Tree-cutting expert
Answer: ARBORIST
24A. What you need to go from E to F
Answer: GAS
25A. Rejections
Answer: NOS
Down Answers
1D. Crows' cries
Answer: CAWS
2D. "Hand-y" accessories for a pirate costume, perhaps
Answer: HOOKS
3D. Buck ___, co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Answer: ONEIL
4D. Green sauce
Answer: PESTO
5D. Berry touted as a superfood
Answer: ACAI
6D. Having been cut, as logs
Answer: SAWN
7D. Walter's D.E.A. agent brother-in-law on "Breaking Bad"
Answer: HANK
9D. Gridiron standout
Answer: NFLSTAR
15D. ___ chic (free-spirited fashion style)
Answer: BOHO
17D. Mattress size smaller than a full
Answer: TWIN
18D. "And your point is ...?"
Answer: OKSO
19D. Droop
Answer: SAG
20D. Reagan ___ (1981-89)
Answer: ERA
21D. Target of bird-dog exercises
Answer: ABS
22D. Rd. crossers
Answer: STS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 19A for SEAHAWKS. The clue references the 2026 Super Bowl champions while hinting at circled letters forming the team's shape, creating a clever meta-puzzle element.
Wordplay Winner: 24A for GAS. The clue "What you need to go from E to F" works on both musical and automotive levels, requiring solvers to think about both scales and fuel.
Quick Fill: 13A for LINK. The email reference makes this immediately recognizable to anyone who uses digital communication.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Monday puzzles often include straightforward pop culture references. Spotting "The Simpsons" and "Breaking Bad" clues early gives you anchor points for crossing letters.
Sports terminology appears frequently in Monday grids. Recognizing abbreviations like NCAA and NFLSTAR helps fill longer answers quickly.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The SEAHAWKS theme clue and compact 9x9 layout made for a quick but satisfying solve.
Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one. See you at the next grid.
