diff --git a/src/display_controller.py b/src/display_controller.py
index 227c9cb5..5d82ddac 100644
--- a/src/display_controller.py
+++ b/src/display_controller.py
@@ -581,8 +581,16 @@ class DisplayController:
             # Defer sport manager updates that might do heavy API fetching
             if hasattr(self, 'ncaa_fb_live') and self.ncaa_fb_live:
                 self.display_manager.defer_update(self.ncaa_fb_live.update, priority=3)
+            if hasattr(self, 'ncaa_fb_recent') and self.ncaa_fb_recent:
+                self.display_manager.defer_update(self.ncaa_fb_recent.update, priority=3)
+            if hasattr(self, 'ncaa_fb_upcoming') and self.ncaa_fb_upcoming:
+                self.display_manager.defer_update(self.ncaa_fb_upcoming.update, priority=3)
             if hasattr(self, 'nfl_live') and self.nfl_live:
                 self.display_manager.defer_update(self.nfl_live.update, priority=3)
+            if hasattr(self, 'nfl_recent') and self.nfl_recent:
+                self.display_manager.defer_update(self.nfl_recent.update, priority=3)
+            if hasattr(self, 'nfl_upcoming') and self.nfl_upcoming:
+                self.display_manager.defer_update(self.nfl_upcoming.update, priority=3)
             # Continue with non-scrolling-sensitive updates
             if self.weather: self.weather.get_weather()
             if self.calendar: self.calendar.update(time.time())
diff --git a/src/ncaa_fb_managers.py b/src/ncaa_fb_managers.py
index 1c93af35..2ddefffa 100644
--- a/src/ncaa_fb_managers.py
+++ b/src/ncaa_fb_managers.py
@@ -1193,7 +1193,7 @@ class NCAAFBRecentManager(BaseNCAAFBManager): # Renamed class
         self.games_list = [] # Filtered list for display (favorite teams)
         self.current_game_index = 0
         self.last_update = 0
-        self.update_interval = 300 # Check for recent games every 5 mins
+        self.update_interval = self.ncaa_fb_config.get("recent_update_interval", 3600) # Check for recent games every hour
         self.last_game_switch = 0
         self.game_display_duration = 15 # Display each recent game for 15 seconds
         self.logger.info(f"Initialized NCAAFBRecentManager with {len(self.favorite_teams)} favorite teams") # Changed log prefix
@@ -1492,7 +1492,7 @@ class NCAAFBUpcomingManager(BaseNCAAFBManager): # Renamed class
         self.games_list = [] # Filtered list for display (favorite teams)
         self.current_game_index = 0
         self.last_update = 0
-        self.update_interval = 300 # Check for upcoming games every 5 mins
+        self.update_interval = self.ncaa_fb_config.get("upcoming_update_interval", 3600) # Check for upcoming games every hour
         self.last_log_time = 0
         self.log_interval = 300
         self.last_warning_time = 0
diff --git a/src/nfl_managers.py b/src/nfl_managers.py
index d53d25ae..71d95f20 100644
--- a/src/nfl_managers.py
+++ b/src/nfl_managers.py
@@ -313,11 +313,29 @@ class BaseNFLManager: # Renamed class
         
         return None
 
+    def _fetch_current_nfl_games(self) -> Optional[Dict]:
+        """Fetch only current NFL games for live updates (not entire season)."""
+        try:
+            # Fetch current week's games only
+            url = "https://site.api.espn.com/apis/site/v2/sports/football/nfl/scoreboard"
+            response = self.session.get(url, headers=self.headers, timeout=10)
+            response.raise_for_status()
+            data = response.json()
+            events = data.get('events', [])
+            
+            self.logger.info(f"[NFL Live] Fetched {len(events)} current games")
+            return {'events': events}
+        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
+            self.logger.error(f"[NFL Live] API error fetching current games: {e}")
+            return None
+
     def _fetch_data(self, date_str: str = None) -> Optional[Dict]:
         """Fetch data using shared data mechanism or direct fetch for live."""
         if isinstance(self, NFLLiveManager):
-            return self._fetch_nfl_api_data(use_cache=False)
+            # Live games should fetch only current games, not entire season
+            return self._fetch_current_nfl_games()
         else:
+            # Recent and Upcoming managers should use cached season data
             return self._fetch_nfl_api_data(use_cache=True)
 
     def _load_fonts(self):
@@ -1005,7 +1023,7 @@ class NFLRecentManager(BaseNFLManager): # Renamed class
         self.games_list = [] # Filtered list for display (favorite teams)
         self.current_game_index = 0
         self.last_update = 0
-        self.update_interval = 300 # Check for recent games every 5 mins
+        self.update_interval = self.nfl_config.get("recent_update_interval", 3600) # Check for recent games every hour
         self.last_game_switch = 0
         self.game_display_duration = 15 # Display each recent game for 15 seconds
         self.logger.info(f"Initialized NFLRecentManager with {len(self.favorite_teams)} favorite teams")
@@ -1245,7 +1263,7 @@ class NFLUpcomingManager(BaseNFLManager): # Renamed class
         self.games_list = [] # Filtered list for display (favorite teams)
         self.current_game_index = 0
         self.last_update = 0
-        self.update_interval = 300 # Check for upcoming games every 5 mins
+        self.update_interval = self.nfl_config.get("upcoming_update_interval", 3600) # Check for upcoming games every hour
         self.last_log_time = 0
         self.log_interval = 300
         self.last_warning_time = 0