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The college football regular season may have come to a close, but there are still a couple of postseason games to catch before the National Championship. Regular season games are spread across more than a dozen networks and streamers, and we've combed through them all to identify what you need to know when it comes to how to watch college football, with an emphasis on nationally broadcast games.
As is the case with the NFL, there's no one place where you can watch absolutely every game (even if you have cable, thanks to some ESPN+ exclusive games), but we've identified the services that can help you out the most. Plus, we've highlighted a couple of streaming options that are excellent cable alternatives if you're a cord-cutter looking for a comprehensive live TV option.
The National Championship is almost here, but first, the final four teams in the College Football Playoffs must duke it out in the semifinals. After bouncing the Georgia Bulldogs in the quarterfinals, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl on Thursday. On Friday, the Texas Longhorns will face off with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl. Neither game will stream on ESPN+, but the Sling TV and Fubo options we've outlined below will offer the games to those without cable.
Below, we've put together everything you need to know about watching college football this season. You can also check out our guide to the best sports streaming services for a detailed breakdown and comparison of each app.
How to watch College Football in the US
As with the NFL, college football is spread across several broadcasters and streaming services. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, NBC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, ABC, FS1, FOX, the Big 10 Network, and the CW are among some of the main ways to watch the games. Of course, you can also catch some games through regional sports networks and other means if you're local.
Select ABC and ESPN games will be available on ESPN+, which costs $12 a month. This isn't a guaranteed way to see all ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU games, but several will be available here. Some games will also only stream on ESPN+.
ESPN Plus is designed for sports, giving subscribers access to live MLB, NHL, NFL, soccer, golf, and UFC fights. You can pay $12 monthly or go for an annual deal, which saves you about $20 a year. There's also a bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus, which offers an even better discount.
If you're only looking to watch a game that's on NBC, you can subscribe to Peacock's Premium Plus tier for $14. Likewise, if you're only looking to watch a game on CBS or the Big 10 Network, you can subscribe to Paramount+. You'll need to opt for the Paramount+ with Showtime tier for $13 a month to access CBS live streaming options. Paramount+ offers one-week free trials for new users.
Peacock is a convenient streaming source for hit NBC TV shows, Universal movies, and select sports like Sunday Night Football. The service also carries its own slate of original programming.
Paramount Plus offers a huge library of on-demand content from Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, and MTV. The Premium Plan also includes Showtime and live CBS streaming. It costs $12.99 a month or $120 a year. More importantly, it removes ads from the on-demand streaming library.
If you don't have cable and you're looking for a way to see almost all nationally broadcast games, it's probably time to check out a live TV package. Sling TV and Fubo can both do the trick. When it comes to Sling, you'll need to subscribe to the Sling Orange + Blue plan for $61 per month to access ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and select local channels (like FOX, ABC, and NBC, but not CBS). You can also opt for some sports-centric add-ons, which add things like the SEC Network, the Big Ten Network, truTV, or ESPNU for an additional cost. The service also carries TNT, which will come in handy during the playoffs.
Sling TV offers some of the best cable channels for $61 or less. There are three different tiers to choose from, plus several sports and entertainment-specific add-ons, but the Orange + Blue combo is the best way to get the most major sports channels. Plus, you can usually get about half off your first month.
With a few exceptions, Fubo is the best live streaming option to catch most nationally broadcast games. It carries ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FS1, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, The CW, and more. Plans start at $80 per month, and new customers can get a one-week free trial. This is an especially sports-friendly service that will also help you out with many NFL games this season.
Fubo is the streaming service for sports fans. Its huge library of channels includes regional and international sports leagues, setting it apart from the competition. You can also tack on additional programming to your plan, but it'll cost you extra.
TNT doesn't host games during the regular season, but the network hosts a few games during the College Football Playoffs. If you're only interested in watching the TNT games or you're a Fubo subscriber looking to watch the network (Fubo doesn't have Warner Bros. channels), you can sign up for Max. Max subscriptions start at $10 per month and include access to TNT and TBS live streams via the B/R Sports Add-on. The add-on is currently included free with all subscriptions, but it will eventually cost an additional $10 per month.
Max is a premium service for fans of prestige television, iconic films, and unscripted programs like Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Succession, House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and more. The ad-supported tier is $9.99 a month, but you can upgrade to ad-free for $16.99 or view your programming in 4K for $20.99.
How to watch College Football from anywhere
If you'll be traveling away from home during any big games, you can still keep up with your subscriptions using a VPN (virtual private network). This is a handy tool that enables you to change your electronic device's virtual location so that you can use your usual websites and apps from anywhere. Since the services we've highlighted require US payment methods, this option will work best for Americans traveling abroad.
ExpressVPN is our go-to recommendation due to its easy-to-use interface and hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Check out our ExpressVPN review for additional details, and keep reading to learn how to use a VPN.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save more than 60% right now and get up to four months free.
How to watch College Football with a VPN
- Sign up for a VPN if you don't have one.
- Install it on the device you're using to watch.
- Turn it on and set it to a US location.
- Sign up for the streaming service you want using a US payment method.
- Enjoy the game.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
