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topicnews · August 29, 2024

How to watch college football: Live stream the 2024 games

How to watch college football: Live stream the 2024 games

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College football is back for another year. Games will be broadcast across more than a dozen networks and streamers, and we’ve combed through them all to find out what you need to know if you want to watch college football, with a focus on nationally televised games.

The season kicked off last weekend with a few games, but this week teams are officially back in full force, with more than 100 games scheduled. As with the NFL, there’s no one place you can watch absolutely every game (even if you have cable, thanks to some exclusive games from ESPN+), but we’ve identified the services that can help you the most. Plus, we’ve highlighted a few streaming options that are excellent cable alternatives if you’re a cord cutter looking for a comprehensive live TV option.

Below, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about watching college football this season. We also have a guide to watching NFL games and the best sports streaming services to subscribe to this year.

How to watch college football in the USA

Like the NFL, college football is broadcast across multiple networks and streaming services. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, NBC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, ABC, FS1, FOX, the Big 10 Network, and CW are some of the main ways to watch the games. Of course, you can also watch some games through regional sports networks and other means if you’re in the area.

Select ABC and ESPN games will be available on ESPN+, which costs $11 per month. This is not a guarantee of seeing all ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU games, but some will be available here. Some games will also only stream on ESPN+.

ESPN Plus (Monthly Plan)

ESPN Plus is designed for sports, giving subscribers access to live fights from the MLB, NHL, NFL, soccer, golf and UFC. You can pay $11 monthly or opt for an annual plan that will save you about $22 per year. There’s also a bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus that offers an even better discount.

If you only want to watch one game on NBC, you can subscribe to Peacock’s Premium Plus tier for $14. If you only want to watch one 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 per month to access CBS’s live streaming options. Paramount+ offers new users a one-week free trial.

PeacockTV

Peacock Premium (Monthly Plan)

Peacock is a convenient streaming source for hit NBC TV shows, Universal movies, and select sports like Sunday Night Football. Prices start at $8 per month, with additional discounts on annual plans.

Paramount + Logo

Paramount Plus with Showtime monthly plan (ad-free)

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 streaming from CBS. It costs $12 per month or $120 per year

If you don’t have cable and are looking for a way to watch almost every nationally broadcast game, it’s probably time to look into a live TV package. Sling TV and Fubo can both do the trick. With Sling, you’ll need to subscribe to the Sling Orange + Blue plan for $55 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-focused add-ons that add things like the SEC Network, Big Ten Network, truTV, or ESPNU for an additional cost.

Sling TV logo

Sling TV Orange + Blue

Sling TV offers some of the best cable channels for $55 or less. There are three different plans to choose from, as well as several sports and entertainment-specific add-ons, but the Orange + Blue combo is the best way to get most of the major sports channels. Plus, you can usually save about half the price in your first month.

With a few exceptions, Fubo is the best live streaming option for watching most nationally broadcast games. It offers 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 try for free for a week. This is a particularly sports-friendly service that will also help you get plenty of NFL games this season.

FuboTv Showcase

Fubo Pro Plan

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 add additional programming to your plan, but this costs extra.

How to watch college football from anywhere

If you’re away from home during a big game, you can still maintain your subscriptions using a VPN (virtual private network). This is a handy tool that lets you change the virtual location of your electronic device so you can use your usual websites and apps from anywhere. Since the services we’ve highlighted require US payment methods, this option is best for Americans traveling abroad.

ExpressVPN is our top choice because of its user-friendly interface and hassle-free 30-day money-back guarantee. For more details, check out our ExpressVPN review. Read on to learn how to use a VPN.

ExpressVPN logo

ExpressVPN Plan

With its consistent performance, reliable security, and comprehensive global streaming capabilities, ExpressVPN is the best VPN on the market. It exceeds all specs and offers many advanced features that make it exceptional. And even better, you can save up to 49% and get three extra months free today.

How to Watch College Football with a VPN

  • Sign up for a VPN if you don’t already have one.
  • Install it on the device you use to watch.
  • Turn it on and set the location of your desired streaming service.
  • Sign up for your desired streaming service using a US payment method.
  • Have fun playing.

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content may violate the terms of service of certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

<span>Lillian Brown is an associate editor of streaming for Business Insider. She joined the company as a fellow in early 2024 before joining full-time a few months later. She focuses on guides for watching streaming services and live events for the Reviews team. She also covers VPN usage.</span><span>Her entertainment writing has appeared in various publications, including Vulture, TV Guide, Time, Esquire, and The Daily Beast. She specializes in writing about film and television. She previously worked in the Living/Arts department of the Boston Globe.</span><span>When Lillian isn’t teaching people how to stream the best live sports and TV shows, you can find her long-distance running, watching the latest season of For All Mankind, or replaying The Last of Us Part II on her PS4.</span>“/></p> <p> <noscript><br /> <img decoding=

Lillian Brown

Co-editor of Streaming

Lillian Brown is an associate editor of streaming for Business Insider. She joined the company as a fellow in early 2024 before joining full-time a few months later. She focuses on guides for watching streaming services and live events for the Reviews team. She also covers VPN usage.Her entertainment writing has appeared in various publications, including Vulture, TV Guide, Time, Esquire, and The Daily Beast. She specializes in writing about film and television. She previously worked in the Living/Arts department of the Boston Globe.When Lillian isn’t teaching people how to stream the best live sporting events and TV shows, you can find her long-distance running, watching the latest season of For All Mankind, or replaying The Last of Us Part II on her PS4.