How to Stream College Football with Cable & without Cable

College football still dominates weekend television, drawing millions of viewers and igniting fierce rivalries across the country. With the increasing shift away from traditional TV, fans now turn to streaming services to catch their favorite teams in action. If you're wondering how to stream college football in 2025, whether you're cutting the cord or sticking with cable, this guide covers all your options.

Part 1: How to Stream College Football with Cable

Do you still prefer sticking with cable? Here are the best platforms for watching college football with your cable subscription:

1. CBS Sports

Price: Included with most cable packages

Channels: CBS, CBS Sports Network

Games You Can Watch:

• Weekly SEC Games of the Week
• Some Mountain West Conference Matchups
• College Football Playoff Games (rotating years)

2. NBC Sports

Price: Included with cable

Channels: NBC, USA Network,CNBC

Games You Can Watch:

• Big Ten Saturday Night Games like Michigan vs. Minnesota
• Notre Dame Home Games like Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M, Notre Dame vs. USC, Notre Dame vs. Navy

3. ESPN

Price: Cable subscription required

Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPNU, SEC Network, etc.

Games You Can Watch:

• National Championship
• ACC Conference Games
• SEC Conference Games
• College Football Playoff and New Year's Six Bowl Games

4. Fox Sports

Price: Cable subscription required

Channels: FOX, BTN, FS1, FS2

Games You Can Watch:

• Big 12 Conference Games
• Big Ten Conference Games
• Pac-12 Conference Games, including marquee matchups and weekend showdowns
• Featured matchups like Ohio State vs Michigan

5. Big Ten Network (BTN)

Price: Included in many cable sports packages

Channels: BTN, BTN Alternate

Games You Can Watch:

• Exclusive Coverage of Big Ten Football
• Oregon Ducks Football in 2025

6. ACC Network

Price: With a cable sports package

Channels: ACCN, ACCNX, The CW

Games You Can Watch:

• Regular Season Games featuring Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) teams

• Thursday and Friday Night Matchups between ACC schools not picked up by ABC/ESPN

• Non-Conference Home Games hosted by ACC teams

Part 2: How to Stream College Football without Cable

If you're cutting the cord, you still have plenty of choices. Here is how to watch college football without cable using various streaming platforms:

1. FuboTV

Price: $64.99/month (first month) and then $84.99/month

Channels: ESPNU, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ABC, ACC Network, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, etc.

Games You Can Watch:

• SEC Games, including Georgia, Alabama, and LSU
• ACC Games like Clemson vs Florida State
• PAC-12 Matchups

2. Sling TV

Price: Starting at $99.99 for 3 Months

Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, FOX (select markets), FS1, NBC (select markets), etc.

Games You Can Watch:

• National Championship Games

• Big Ten Conference Games like Ohio vs. Rutgers

• Big 12 Conference Games like Iowa State vs. Kansas

• Mountain West Conference Games like Boise State vs. South Florida

3. Roku Sports Zone

Price: Free access to sports hub; requires subscriptions to linked services

Channels: Depends on integrated services like ESPN+, FuboTV, Sling, etc.

Games You Can Watch:

• Key Rivalry Games like Michigan vs. Ohio State
• Red River Showdown
• Big Ten Conference Games
• Other Power Five Conference Matchups

4. ESPN+

Price: $11.99/month

Channels: ESPN+ exclusive streams

Games You Can Watch:

• Mid-American Conference Games
• C-USA (Conference USA) Games
• Sun Belt Conference Games
• Big 12 Games
• Plus Team-Specific content like Alabama football behind-the-scenes and replays

5. YouTube TV

Price: $82.99/month

Channels: ABC, ESPN, CBS, ESPN2, ESPNU, FOX, NBC, FS1, FS2, ACC Network, SEC Network, etc.

Games You Can Watch:

• Most Power Five Conference Games
• Aer Lingus College Football Classic
• Additional regular season and bowl games aired on major networks

6. DIRECTV Stream

Price: Starting at $79.99/month (Choice package recommended)

Channels: ESPN networks, FOX, ABC, CBS, FS1, SEC Network, ACC Network, etc.

Games You Can Watch:

• College Football Playoff National Championship
• National Championship Games

7. Hulu + Live TV

Price: $82.99/month (includes Disney+ and ESPN+)

Channels: CBS, ABC, FOX, NBC, SEC Network, ESPN Networks, Big Ten Network, etc.

Games You Can Watch:

• Regular Season Power 5 Conference Games
• Pre-Season Kickoff Classics like Aer Lingus Classic, Aflac Kickoff
• Other Bowl Games like the Gator Bowl, the Outback Bowl

8. Paramount+

Price: Essential plan costs $7.99/month with ads, and the Premium ad-free plan is $12.99/month

Channels: CBS and CBS Sports

Games You Can Watch:

• Big Ten Conference Games
• SEC Matchups broadcast on CBS, like Georgia vs Alabama
• Some College Football Playoff Games

9. Peacock

Price: Premium plan costs $7.99/month with ads, Premium Plus ad-free plan is $13.99/month, and student discount is $2.99/month for 12 months

Channels: NBC Sports, BTN, USA Network

Games You Can Watch:

• Big Ten Conference, like Miami OH vs Rutgers, Towson vs Maryland, Ohio vs Ohio State
• Other Big Ten Season Games

Part 3: FAQs About How to Stream College Football

1. What is the best way to stream college football?

The best way depends on your preferences. If you want a full lineup with sports and entertainment, go for YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. If you're budget-conscious, Sling TV or ESPN+ work great.

2. Is college football free on the ESPN app?

Only if you have a cable subscription, otherwise, you'll need ESPN+, which is a separate paid service.

3. How do I stream college football for free?

You can try free trials on services like FuboTV, YouTube TV, or use Roku Sports Zone to track games from free or trial-based integrations.

4. How to stream college football without cable?

Use platforms like Hulu + Live TV, FuboTV, Sling TV, or ESPN+. Each gives access to major college football games without requiring a traditional cable subscription.

Conclusion

Whether you are a die-hard fan of every game or simply a casual viewer catching top matchups, knowing how to stream college football makes all the difference in 2025. From cable-free options like FuboTV and Hulu Live to traditional networks like ESPN and FOX, there is a streaming strategy for everyone. So, pick your platform, grab your snacks, and enjoy a season filled with rivalries, touchdowns, and unforgettable plays.