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College is finally back. The new season kicked off Aug. 24 with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic that saw Georgia Tech beat Florida State in Dublin, Ireland.
At a Glance: How to Watch College Football Online
- Stream: Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, fubo, Sling, ESPN+
- TV Channels: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FS1, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, and more
- Season Dates: Aug. 24, 2024 to January 20, 2025
Last season wrapped up with a CFP National Championship Game that saw Michigan beat Washington for their 12th national title. This season, programs like Georgia, Oregon, Texas, Ohio State, and Notre Dame are all top picks to dethrone the reigning champs.
However, for cord-cutters, streaming NCAA football games can feel almost as challenging as winning a title. Below is a full guide on the best ways to watch college football online without cable during the 2024-25 season.
How to Watch College Football Online Without Cable
College football broadcasts are spread out across many channels, including local stations (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC), national channels like ESPN, ESPNU, FS1, and CBS Sports Network, and conference-specific channels like SEC Network.
If you don’t have cable, the best option for watching NCAA football is a live TV streaming service that carries as many channels as possible. You’ll also want ESPN+, which has a few games that won’t be available to watch anywhere else. Below are some of our favorites, including details on which channels they carry and pricing information. Some (Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, and fubo) also offer free trials, which you can use to watch a few games without paying.
Stream College Football on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is our favorite way to watch NCAA football without cable — and it delivers some of the best value in streaming. For $76.99 a month (after a three-day trial), you get more than 95 channels including local networks, national sports channels, and even some conference channels like ACCN and SEC Network. Best of all? ESPN+ is included, which streams some college football games that regular TV channels won’t have.
Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV bundles together Hulu’s on-demand library and over 95 live TV channels, including local channels and almost all popular national channels. Subscriptions also include ESPN+ and Disney+ at no additional cost. Hulu + Live TV costs $76.99 a month after a three-day free trial.
Stream College Football on DirecTV Stream
One of the best live TV streaming services for sports (including college football) is DirecTV Stream. The service’s Choice package comes with over 125 channels, including local, national, and college sports channels. You get a five-day free trial to start, and then payment kicks in at $69.99 a month for three months — a limited-time discount from the regular $108.99 per month price.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream is one of the most comprehensive live TV streaming services with up to 160+ channels, including local channels, regional sports networks, and all popular national channels. Packages start at $79.99 a month and all subscriptions start with a five-day free trial.
Stream College Football on fubo
With access to over a dozen channels broadcasting live college football games — including local, national, and college networks — fubo is a great way to watch college football online. fubo’s most affordable subscription tier gets you most of these channels and costs $79.99 a month, but you’ll want the upgraded Elite plan ($99.99 a month) to get ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network as well. fubo also offers a seven-day free trial before you pay.
fubo
fubo’s massive streaming plans carry up to 275+ channels, and you can get even more depending on your location. Packages start at $79.99 a month, and you get seven days to try the service for free.
Stream College Football on Sling
Another great live TV streaming service is Sling, which offers live TV streaming at a cheaper price than the above (although you get fewer channels). Sling’s Orange + Blue package (currently starting at $30 a month your first month, $60 per month afterward) is your best bet for watching college football. For even more sports channels, you can also grab Sling’s Sports Extra add-on for $15 a month.
Sling
Sling is one of the most affordable live TV streaming services, with packages starting at $40 a month. You can get up to 46 channels in the Sling Orange + Blue plan, plus more with Sling’s add-ons.
Stream College Football on ESPN+
ESPN+ will be the exclusive broadcaster of some NCAA football games this season, so you’ll want to get this one in addition to a live TV streamer above (unless you get Hulu + Live TV, which has ESPN+ included). ESPN+ costs $10.99 a month, or $108.99 a year for an annual subscription.
ESPN+
ESPN+ offers extensive live and on-demand content across just about every sport. The service costs $10.99 a month or $109.99 a year for an annual plan.
Watch College Football With a Digital Antenna
Don’t want to pay for another streaming service every month? You can also watch some college football games using a digital antenna. These devices, available for less than $30 on Amazon, don’t require a monthly fee and get you free, unlimited access to local stations like ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox.
Digital Antenna
This digital antenna offers contract-free access to local channels and costs just $26 on Amazon. Plus, it boasts more than 35,000 reviews and a 4.6/5-star rating.
College Football Schedule 2024-25
The 2024 NCAA football season kicked off on Aug. 24 with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. Week 1 starts on Thursday, Aug. 29. This year’s championship game will be held on Jan. 20, 2025.
Where to Buy NCAA Football Merch Online
Once you’re set up with a way to watch the NCAA football championship, it’s time to get spirited with some of the best college football merch. Two of our favorite places to buy college football merch online are Nike and Fanatics.
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