College football season is a fun time of the year, and you don’t need an expensive cable contract to catch the action. There are many ways to watch college football without cable.
We tested the most popular video streaming services to determine how you can watch your favorite team while saving money. These are the top choices you can use to avoid missing any games.
Table of Contents
What Channels Do You Need to Stream College Football Games?
Knowing which networks carry the action is essential if you want to find the best way to watch live college football games.
Here are the channels you need to get live football games:
- ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC
- ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNU
- Fox Sports 1 (FS1), Fox Sports 2 (FS2)
- CW for some ACC games
- ACC Network (ACCN)
- Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Pac-12 Network
- SEC Network (SECN)
- The Longhorn Network (LHN)
An over-the-air antenna helps you get games on your local channels. It is an affordable way to watch games without a TV provider, but it limits you to your local TV market.
If you want more than that, live TV streaming services are your best choice when trying to determine how to watch college football without cable.
These platforms carry many, if not all, of the conference networks and other popular sports channels. This allows you to easily watch the season all the way up to the national championship game.
Which Streaming Service is Best for College Football?
The average cable bill is over $200. Fortunately, there’s no need to pay that much to watch your favorite college team.
As a preview, here are the best streaming services for college football fans.
| Service | Cost | Streams | DVR | Try |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fuboTV | $79.99+ | 10 | 1,000 hrs. | Try |
| Sling TV | $40+ | 1-4 | 50 hrs. | Try |
| DIRECTV STREAM | $79.99+ | 20 | Unlimited | Try |
| YouTube TV | $72.99+ | 3 | Unlimited | Try |
| Vidgo | $69.99+ | 3 | N/A | Try |
| Hulu Live | $76.99+ | 2 | Unlimited | Try |
| ESPN+ | $10.99 | 3 | N/A | Try |
| Paramount+ | $5.99+ | 3 | N/A | Try |
| Peacock | $7.99+ | 3 | N/A | Try |
All of these options have a wide variety of supported devices and are easy to operate.
1. fuboTV
FuboTV is the best way to get live college football without cable. It has over 140 channels in its base package, called Pro. This plan costs $79.99 per month plus RSN fees.
The streaming service is an excellent choice because it includes all your local broadcast affiliates. The Pro package also has:
- ESPN and ESPN2
- FS1 and FS2
- ACC, BTN, and SEC networks
- Bally Sports regional sports networks
You can get the Pac-12 (including all regional options) and ESPNU networks. Keep in mind that this requires the “Sports Plus” add-on for an additional $10.99 monthly.
If you like niche sports, fuboTV is worth considering since it offers various add-on packages to get access to live sports, including biking and tennis.
Its cloud-based DVR lets you record 1,000 hours of content. You also get ten simultaneous streams so that other members of your house can view something else while you watch football.
Read our review of the fuboTV packages to learn more.
Cost: $79.99+
Channels included: ESPN, ESPN2, Fox Sports, ACCN, BTN, SECN, and locals. The PAC-12 Network and ESPNU are available but require an add-on.
Free trial: Seven days
2. Sling TV
Sling TV is the most affordable way to watch your favorite college football team. It has two base packages – Orange and Blue. Each one costs $40 per month.
The difference between the two packages can be found in what each one offers. Orange carries ESPN networks, and Blue has FS1.
You can choose the combined Blue + Orange for $55 per month if you want access to both.
*For a limited time, save over $100 when you select Sling’s Season Pass offer, when you prepay for five months. This gives you Sling Orange + Blue plus their Sports Extra Add-on, which includes SEC, ACC, and PAC-12 Networks, ESPNU, NFL RedZone, and more*
Sling offers ABC, FOX, and NBC in the Blue package in select markets. However, it doesn’t offer CBS.
Here is where you can watch ABC on Sling.
| City | Station |
|---|---|
| Chicago | WLS |
| Fresno | KSFN |
| Houston | KTRK |
| Los Angeles | KABC |
| New York | WABC |
| Philadelphia | WPVI |
| Raleigh-Durham | WTVD |
| San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose | KGO |
This is where you can watch FOX on Sling.
| City | Station |
|---|---|
| New York | WNYW |
| Philadelphia | WTXF |
| Chicago | WFLD |
| Detroit | WJBK |
| Atlanta | WAGA |
| Washington, DC | WTTG |
| Houston | KRIV |
| Orlando/Daytona/Melbourne | WOFL |
| Tampa/St. Petersburg | WTVT |
| Gainesville | WOGX |
| Milwaukee | WITI |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | KMSP |
| Dallas/Ft. Worth | KDFW |
| Austin | KTBC |
| Phoenix | KSAZ |
| Seattle | KCPQ |
| Los Angeles | KTTV |
| San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose | KTVU |
Here is where you can watch NBC on Sling.
| City | Station |
|---|---|
| New York | WNBC |
| Philadelphia | WCAU |
| Chicago | WMAQ |
| Boston | WBTS |
| Washington, DC | WRC-TV |
| Miami/Ft. Lauderdale | WTVJ |
| Hartford/New Haven | WVIT |
| Dallas/Ft. Worth | KXAS |
| Los Angeles | KNBC |
| San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose | KNTV |
| San Diego | KNSD |
*Related: Read our guide on how to stream ABC without a contract to learn the best options to get your favorite network shows.
The provider offers the ACC, Pac-12, and SEC networks in addition to LHN. It’s important to note that you must purchase their sports add-on for an additional $11 a month to receive these.
A drawback to Sling TV is the DVR. The base DVR includes just 50 hours per month, but you can upgrade to 200 hours for an additional $5 per month.
Orange lets you stream on one device, while Blue offers three simultaneous streams. The combined offering allows you to stream on four devices at once.
Read our review of the Sling TV channels to learn more.
Cost: $40 for either Orange or Blue, or $55 for the combination
Channels included: ESPN family of channels, Fox Sports, FOX, and NBC in some locations. ACCN, Pac-12, SECN, and LHN when you purchase the sports add-on.
Free trial: None offered, but they often have money-saving promotions for new subscribers
3. DIRECTV STREAM
Formerly known as AT&T TV, DIRECTV STREAM is another way to watch college football games without a satellite TV provider.
The platform has four packages to choose from. Prices start at $79.99 for 70+ channels.
Unfortunately, spending even more is easy since the higher-end channel packages cost up to $164.99 per month.
If you want more than ESPN, ESPN2, and FS1, you must choose the “Choice” package, which costs $99.99 per month. Fortunately, this also includes a three months subscription to Max.
As a part of the “Choice” package, you get:
- FS2
- ACC, BTN, and SEC networks
- ESPN News
- ESPNU
Additionally, the Choice package carries regional sports networks (RSNs). DIRECTV STREAM is currently the leading provider in the live streaming service space for RSNs, with fuboTV coming in at a close second.
To offset the cost, DIRECTV STREAM includes an unlimited DVR and 20 simultaneous screens.
Read our review of DIRECTV STREAM to learn more.
Cost: $79.99+
Channels included: ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, and local networks.
Free trial: Five days
4. YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a terrific option to watch college football online. The streaming service has the full suite of ESPN channels, all the Fox Sports offerings, and includes local channels.
It also streams the ACCN, BTN, and SECN channels. The provider even carries all local networks, including the CW, and has an unlimited DVR that lets you keep content for nine months.
This is perfect for fans who want to watch college football games or record them.
However, the cost is the one significant drawback to YouTube TV. It has one package that costs $72.99 a month.
Despite the price, YouTube TV is our highest-rated live TV streaming service.
Read our review of YouTube TV to learn more.
Cost: $72.99 per month
Channels included: ESPN and Fox Sports family of networks, ACC, BTN, SEC networks, and all local channels.
Free trial: Seven days
5. Vidgo
Vidgo is a newer streaming service. Age aside, it’s a suitable choice if you want to stream college football games live.
The platform is in line with other premium options, with the base package costing $69.99 per month. This gives you access to:
- All of the ESPN Networks
- FS1 and FS2
- ACCN
- The Pac-12 Network
- LHN
- SECN
- The BTN
Although choosing Vidgo’s other package will increase the number of channels available to you to 150+, it comes at a cost.
The Premium package is $84.99 per month. It primarily offers additional entertainment and lifestyle networks.
There are two drawbacks to Vidgo:
- You only receive ABC and FOX
- There is no DVR
*Missing out on your local channels? Read our guide on how to stream FOX without cable to learn how to get your local station.
If you purchase an antenna, this will take care of local channels. However, not having a DVR may be an issue for you.
Nevertheless, it’s the only streaming service with all of the college football networks.
Read our Vidgo TV review to learn more.
Cost: $69.99 – $84.99
Channels included: ESPN family of networks, FS1, FS2, ABC (select locations), Fox (select locations), ACC, BTN, Pac-12, SEC, and LHN.
Free trial: Varies
6. Hulu with Live TV
Hulu with Live TV is a legitimate way to watch college football without a TV provider.
For $76.99 per month, you receive nearly 90 channels. It carries:
- The full suite of ESPN channels
- FS1 and FS2
- The ACC, BTN, and SEC networks
- CW
Additionally, the cable alternative includes local networks in its base plan.
Another unique feature is the inclusion of the Disney bundle in all plans. This gives subscribers access to ESPN+, which is a fantastic way to watch games from smaller conferences.
Hulu Live includes an unlimited DVR. The service also lets you stream on two devices at once. If you want to increase streams, you can add the unlimited feature for $10 a month.
Read our review of the Hulu Live channels to learn more.
Cost: $76.99 per month
Channels included: locals, ESPN family of channels, FS1, FS2, ACC Network, BTN, SEC, and ESPN+.
Free trial: N/A
7. ESPN+
ESPN+ offers an interesting way to stream college football live. The service costs $10.99 per month or $109.99 if you sign up for an annual plan.
While the app is not a way to stream ESPN live, it is a standalone service that provides live and on-demand content. This includes live NCAA football.
The platform shows games from lesser-known conferences.
During the 2022 season, the service aired games from several Power 5 schools, including:
- Baylor
- Kansas
- Kansas State
- Oklahoma State
- Syracuse
They also carry many Division II college football games.
The app is similar to what is typically available for streaming on ESPN3.
*Related: Love sports and want to cut the cord? Read our guide on how to watch ESPN without cable and save $100+ per month!*
In addition to games, ESPN+ has loads of content from other collegiate sports and niche sports. It even has a wealth of on-demand content, including the popular series 30 for 30.
Read our review of ESPN+ to learn more.
Cost: $10.99 per month
Channels included: N/A
Free trial: N/A
8. Paramount+
Paramount+, formerly known as CBS All Access, is a standalone service for fans of the network.
You can watch content on demand from CBS. Plus, you can live-stream shows with the service. This includes college football games airing on the network.
It has two plans:
- Essential: $5.99 a month
- Paramount+ with Showtime: $11.99 a month
Keep in mind that you must upgrade to the Premium to get your local CBS networks. This includes four of your local affiliates.
Opting for this upgrade makes Paramount+ an excellent choice if you also want to watch NFL games without cable.
It even provides you access to the CBS Sports Network.
*Related: Are you an avid NFL fan? Read our guide on the best services to stream NFL Network to get all the in-studio shows and original content.
The provider is good for people who may not want to deal with an antenna or just want locally-aired SEC games.
Both plans offer access to other CBS-owned networks like Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and the Smithsonian Channel.
Another benefit of the Premium plan is that it eliminates commercials for on-demand content.
Read our Paramount+ review to learn more.
Cost: $5.99 – $11.99 per month
Channels included: N/A
Free trial: Seven days
9. Peacock
The final way to watch college football networks without a satellite TV provider is Peacock.
This on-demand streaming service simulcasts all Notre Dame games airing on NBC. All you need is the base plan to stream games.
Furthermore, new for the 2023 season, Peacock is airing 21 select Big Ten games. This obviously isn’t every game, but could work for you in a pinch.
If you upgrade to the higher-priced tier, you get access to your local NBC livestream, so you can watch any live sports available in your local area.
This is similar to what you get with Paramount+ with Showtime for CBS content. Read our Peacock vs. Paramount+ analysis to learn more about how they compare.
Peacock doesn’t offer a free trial, but given it’s affordable cost it’s not cost prohibitive to try.
Read our Peacock review to learn more.
Cost: $7.99 – $13.99 per month
Channels included: N/A
Free trial: N/A
Can You Watch Live College Football on Amazon Prime?
While Prime Video is airing Thursday Night NFL games for the 2023 season, the service is not an option to watch college football.
Amazon is trying to carry more options for live sports, but its current offerings are measly.
The only way to access college football games through Amazon Prime is if you’re signed up for a streaming service through the retail giant.
FAQs
Determining how to watch your favorite team during the college football season can be challenging. Here are a few common questions we receive from readers.
Can I Watch College Football for Free?
An over-the-air antenna is the only way to watch college football games for free. After an affordable one-time cost, you can watch any game that is broadcast on your local networks.
We use the Mohu Leaf, and it has served us well. You can get ten percent off the purchase of one with the code FRUGALRULES10.
If an antenna won’t work where you live, many of the cable replacement services listed above will solve the problem.
Keep in mind that if you do an internet search on how to watch football games for free, you will find sites that promise the ability to do so. However, those sites are often full of spam or aren’t legal.
How Can I Stream Live College Football?
It is easy to stream live football games. All you need is an internet connection and a streaming service. All of the services carry live channels with sporting events.
A satellite or cable TV provider will tell you it will be difficult to watch your favorite teams, but that is not the case.
If you’re spending close to the average of $200 a month for cable, you can get rid of your contract and slash your costs by at least two-thirds.
The best part is that you won’t miss a catch.
Do Any of the Above Options Require a Contract?
None of the above services require a contract. Streaming services offer the benefit of having major cable channels without getting locked into a contract.
The best way to save money is to pick a service right before the season and cancel once it’s over. You can do this each season to ensure you only pay for it while you need it.
Does Roku Have College Football?
Roku is a fantastic streaming device. In addition to the Amazon Fire devices, it is a helpful tool to help cord-cutters watch content.
Unfortunately, you can’t stream FOX Sports or any other TV channels from a Roku. The devices let you access a streaming service with live TV channels.
You will need to sign up for sports streaming services to watch NCAA football games.
Bottom Line
It’s not difficult to stream college football games without cable. There’s no need to stay in an expensive contract to watch your favorite teams.
You can pick the platform you like best, use it for the season, and cancel when the season is over to maximize savings while catching all the action.
How do you watch sports live without cable?
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
