The majority of NCAA College Football airs on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, FS1, FS2, FOX, NBC, ABC, CBS Sports Network, BTN, Pac-12 Network, ACC Network, and SEC Network. Those networks are offered through various online streaming services.
In this article, provide a way to watch all of those major NCAA networks and some lesser known networks airing NCAA football.
Best Way to Watch College Football Online
If you want to watch as many college games as you possibly can I recommend grabbing Sling TV. You can pick up both the Orange and the Blue package with the “Sports Extra” add-on for $45 per month. This will provide access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, FS1, FS2, Pac-12 Network, ACC Network, and SEC Network. You can sign up for a free trial to try it out.
This will also provide NBC and Fox in certain markets. In certain markets, an additional $5 for the Broadcast-plus package will provide access to ABC. However, most will find they can watch these networks using a much more cost effective TV antenna.
The only major College Football channels Sling is missing is BTN and CBS Sports Network, which airs Army Home games. You can watch CBSSN through FuboTV. I’ll explain what they have to offer in the section below.
Other Ways to Watch College Football without Cable
If you don’t need all those networks or don’t like Sling TV here are other services that offer channels airing NCAA football.
Hulu Live TV – ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN-U, FS1, FS2, SEC Network, BTN, and CBS Sports Network for $39.99 per month. This is very similar to what you would receive with Sling TV. You are just swapping access to PAC-12 for CBS Sports Network and BTN. You can try Hulu through this 1-week free trial.
FuboTV – Provides access to CBS Sports Network, FS1, FS2, PAC-12, and Big Ten Network (BTN). They Also provide access to local FOX, NBC, and CBS in certain markets. The service costs $34.99 per month and offers a 1-week free trial.
DIRECTV NOW – Their “Live a Little” package provides live streaming of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and FS1 for $35 per month. If you want to add BTN and SEC Network you will need to upgrade to their “Just Right” package for $50 per month. To add FS2 requires their “Go Big” package at $60 per month. They also offer a 1-week free trial. To watch ESPN3 you can use the WatchESPN app using DirecTV Now login credentials.
PlayStation Vue – With their $39.99 per month package you can watch ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and FS2. You can watch ESPN3 using the WatchESPN app with PlayStation Vue login credentials.
College Sports Live – If your team doesn’t air games on any of the services above give College Sports Live a try. It starts at $9.99 per month and they have deals with schools including Air Force, Baylor, Georgetown, Georgia, Minnesota, Navy, Oakland, Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rice, San Diego State, UConn, Villanova, Virginia, and more.
Other College Football Online
I’m currently researching other ways to watch college football around the country. If you have a verified way to catch NCAA football not mentioned in the article, let me know in the comments and I’ll get it added below.
Longhorn Network – If you live in Big 12 territory then you can watch LHN through the WatchESPN app. You will need credentials from a Sling TV Orange, or DIRECTV NOW (“Just Right” package)
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Ron nyberg says
Finally ready to cut the cord. As an avid sports fan your article has been very helpful. I’d like a little clarification if you can. If I sign up for the direct now $50 package it seems like I’d be able to watch college football (sec network and big ten network) plus have the espn’s. NFL on fox, cbs, NBC. It also seems like I’d be covered for the NCAA tournament with cbs,TNT,tbs,and tru. Am I missing something? I’m I not aware of potential blackouts? I live in the Atlanta ga area. Thank you.
Dennis Restauro says
You shouldn’t get blacked out if you are watching the game on the actual network that is airing the game.
Susan says
Just found your website and am so thankful! Definitely the most helpful, clearly stated, info packed I’ve found for helping us cut the cord. We love college football, big Ohio State fans. If a game airs on BTN and we aren’t home to watch it live, is there a way to watch it at a later time? Does the OTA DVR only allow you to watch the games that you can get through your TV antenna?
Thanks for your help!
Dennis Restauro says
Thank you, Susan. FuboTV has BTN and they have a cloud DVR that lets you record games. They offer a 7 day free trial (with I link in my FuboTV review.) Try the trial to make sure the DVR works with BTN (certain channels are weird about DVRs due to licensing.
Nicole says
Will nationally broadcasted games be blacked out on Hulu Live as well?
Thanks!
Dennis Restauro says
Not if you have access to the national channel through the service.
Michael Hammock says
We recently cut the cord, but when college football season arrived it has been a nightmare. I live in Conway.. just outside Myrtle Beach. Every program I have tried has told me I do not have most channels in the live network. Meaning no ABC, CBS, NBC, etc., in my town for Sling… Vue… DirectTvNow.. Hulu.. I’m at my wits end. Feel free to email me directly with help.
Dennis Restauro says
What about an antenna?
Larry Croft says
Dennis this is an awesome website. It is easy to navigate and it has articles that are easy to understand and so very helpful. We are huge college football fans and opted for the Hulu live package. The streaming has been good. As you know the great weakness of streaming vs cable or satellite (for reasons I don’t quite understand) is signal integrity can be interrupted at times. We have been very satisfied with the user interface of the Hulu Live on our Apple 4 TV also. I am now thinking about adding the College Sports Live for $9.99 per month because we have Roku also on 2 of our sets. I have not looked closely to see if in fact one can watch College Sports Live via Roku on 2 TV’s at the same time.
Dennis Restauro says
Thank you Larry! It really makes my day to get a comment like that. I will test College sports live when I get a chance. I can’t seem to find out how many streams it offers.
Dave says
I am a huge college football fan and PlayStation Vue has pretty much everything Spectrum had except CBSSN and PAC 12 networks. Even includes BTN which was a premium channel on cable.
Jesse says
I’ve had a lot of issues with sling tv blackouts on live sports (basically if anyone else owns streaming rights sling is blacked out). After some reading I’m starting to think YouTube tv is the new best way to go. Any updates to this information for YouTube tv?
Dennis Restauro says
If the games air nationally it will be blacked out. You can check out our review of YouTube TV
Chris says
Unfortunately, Sling has not added BTN. It was reported that they were going to, but it never happened and other sources (Cord Cutter News, et al) stated that Sling was not adding that channel after all. It’s a shame, because Sling would have been a no-brainer for me with BTN, but I have to seriously consider DirecTV Now instead. Not ideal, imo.
Dennis Restauro says
This is correct. I’ve adjusted the article.
Michael Crowe says
how can I record games to watch later, i.e. top 25 teams ncca football
Dennis Restauro says
Sling has a cloud DVR available. If you are using an antenna, you can use an OTA DVR.
judy says
I have an exterior antenna still standing that was used to pickup local Middle Alabama) TV stations before we choose to use Dish…is it possible for the antenna to be once again used to pick up the local Networks
Dennis Restauro says
Sure, check out this article on TV antennas. It will explain how to chose the best one for your location.
Ron Hobbs says
What is meant by “credentials” in the statement If you live in Big 12 territory then you can watch LHN through the WatchESPN app. You will need credentials from a Sling TV Orange
Dennis Restauro says
Your username and password for Sling TV.