
The stage is set for the College Football Playoffs and Bowl Games that will take place throughout the remainder of the year and bleed into 2026. With Indiana beating Ohio State, Georgia handling Bama, and Texas Tech looking like a real issue, this years playoffs are going to be one you won't want to miss!
In the evolving world of streaming, it can be hard to keep track of which games will be played on what channels and which services have those channels. If you are searching for a place to utilize live TV streaming to catch all the action, look no further, as this guide will help you catch every Friday and Saturday snap — from rivalry clashes to playoff-shaping showdowns.
College football fans require a baseline of channels, including ESPN, Fox, NBC, ABC, Fox Sports 1, and TNT. You'll also need that conference's network if your team is in the ACC, Big Ten or SEC. Here’s a look at which streaming services give you the options you need:
| Channel |
DIRECTV Streaming App |
Hulu + Live TV |
Sling TV |
Fubo |
YouTube TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ESPN |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Fox |
✓ |
✓ |
✓* |
✓ |
✓ |
|
ABC |
✓ |
✓ |
✓* |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Big Ten Network |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
ACC Network |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓* |
✓ |
|
SEC Network |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Fox Sports 1 |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
*Only available in select locations | |||||
The DIRECTV Streaming App is a solid choice for avid college football fans. You’ll want the Choice package if you’re a fan of a team playing in the ACC, SEC or Big Ten. You can also upgrade to the Ultimate package which includes almost all of the channels you’ll need for college football like ESPN, CBS Sports Network, Fox, ABC and Fox Sports 1. Take advantage of the 5-day free trial before committing and get a free week of football under your belt.
Hulu offers unique features with its live TV service that you won’t find with other providers. The live TV service is fantastic, offering ESPN, the Big Ten Network, the CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports 1, Fox, ABC and TNT. And if you opt for the plan that includes the Disney Bundle, you’ll also get Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
ESPN Plus is a must-have for college football fans, as it carries a plethora of exclusive college football games each week. ESPN Plus is also available as a standalone service, but getting it as part of Hulu + Live TV with the Disney Bundle unlocks the most value.
Sling TV is an affordable alternative to other streaming options. Depending on your favorite team, the Sling Orange plan might be a great fit. It has three ESPN channels and TNT, allowing you to stream every playoff game. Sling Blue carries Fox (in some areas) and Fox Sports 1.
However, if you want access to other networks, you’ll need some add-ons. Sling Orange customers receive the SEC and ACC Networks in the Sports Extra plan. The Sling Blue Sports Extra has Big Ten Network and Fox Sports 2.
A drawback of Sling TV is its inconsistent local channel availability. If you don’t live in a metro carrying local channels from Sling TV, you can get them with a digital antenna.
Fubo is a good option for football fans. The Pro package includes regional sports networks, your local broadcast affiliates, ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports 1, CBS Sports Network and the Big Ten Network. Note that a regional sports fee may apply depending on the area served.
If you want more conference-specific networks, you’ll need to bundle the Pro package with the Sports Lite add-on. The Sports Lite plan has the SEC Network, the ACC Network, ESPNU and NBA TV. Each Fubo plan has unlimited Cloud DVR recording space and up to 10 device streams on your home network.
YouTube TV offers college football fans an excellent choice of options. The base plan includes ESPN, Fox, ABC, Fox Sports 1, CBS Sports Network, Big Ten Network, ACC Network and SEC Network.
Furthermore, it features unlimited DVR. You can set up recordings easily by adding your favorite football team at setup. If you join a game midway through, you can stream key highlights before joining the game in progress. YouTube TV has the tools, value and channel offerings to appeal to the most avid college football fans.
First-round CFB playoff games begin on Friday, December 19th. The national championship game is on Monday, January 19th. Bowl Games will begin taking place in the next week or so so gear up for a great end to the season.
You can find a complete and detailed schedule of college football games on ESPN’s website.
Sign up for the free trials offered by streaming providers. You’ll receive a few days to a week to test out the platform. You can also purchase a digital antenna to stream games on local broadcast networks.
No, Amazon Prime doesn’t carry college football games. It does carry the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football.”
Yes, Peacock will broadcast select Notre Dame and Big Ten games. To see the broadcast schedule, visit Peacock’s website.