How to Watch College Football: Live Stream 2024 Games

by Junna Base November 8, 2024

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The college football regular season is less than a month long and there are tons of games to choose from this weekend. The games are spread across more than a dozen networks and streamers, and we’ve scoured them all to find out what you need to know when it comes to watching college football, with an emphasis on nationally televised games.

Like the NFL, there’s no place where you can watch absolutely every game (even on cable, thanks to some exclusive ESPN+ games), but we’ve identified the services that can help you the most. Additionally, we’ve highlighted some streaming options that are great cable alternatives if you’re looking for a comprehensive live TV option and no longer need cable.

This weekend brings some exciting matchups on television, including Florida vs. Texas, Georgia vs. Ole Miss and Alabama vs. LSU. Penn State University’s White Out game also takes place this weekend. The team will face Washington in a game that will only be available as a live stream on Peacock and not as a traditional national broadcast.

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 spread 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 among the main ways to watch the games. Of course, you can also watch some games via regional sports networks and other means when you’re local.

Select ABC and ESPN games will be available on ESPN+, which costs $12 per month. This is not a guaranteed way to watch all ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU games, but some will be available here. Some games will also only be streamed on ESPN+.

ESPN Plus (monthly plan)

ESPN Plus is designed for sports, giving subscribers access to live fights in MLB, NHL, NFL, soccer, golf and UFC. You can pay $12 monthly or opt for an annual contract, saving you about $24 per year. There’s also a bundle with Hulu and Disney Plus that offers an even better discount.

If you just want to watch a game that’s on NBC, you can subscribe to Peacock’s Premium Plus tier for $14. If you just want to watch a game on CBS or the Big 10 Network, you can subscribe to Paramount+. You’ll need to opt for the Paramount+ with Showtime tier at $13 per month to access CBS’ live streaming options. Paramount+ offers one-week free trials for new users.

Peacock TV

Peacock Premium (monthly plan)

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

Paramount + logo

Paramount Plus with Showtime (monthly plan)

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 CBS streaming. It costs $12.99 per month or $120 per year.

If you don’t have cable and are looking for a way to watch almost all nationally televised games, it’s probably time to consider a live TV package. Sling TV and Fubo can both do the trick. When it comes to 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, the 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 tiers to choose from, as well as several sports and entertainment-specific add-ons, but the Orange + Blue combination is the best way to receive most major sports channels. Plus, you typically get about half off the first month.

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

FuboTv Showcase

Fubo Pro plan

Fubo is the streaming service for sports fans. Its huge channel library includes regional and international sports leagues, setting it apart from the competition. You can also add additional programming to your plan, but this will cost you additional money.

How to watch college football from anywhere

If you’re away from home during a big game, you can manage your subscriptions using a VPN (Virtual Private Network). This is a handy tool that allows you to change the virtual location of your electronic device so you can use your usual websites and apps from anywhere. Because the services we highlight 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 information, see our ExpressVPN review. Read on to learn how to use a VPN.

ExpressVPN logo

ExpressVPN plan

With its consistent performance, reliable security and extensive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN on the market that excels in every way and offers many advanced features that make it exceptional. Better yet, you can save up to 49% and get three additional 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 it to the location of your desired streaming service.
Sign up for your desired streaming service using a US payment method.
Enjoy the game.

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content could violate the terms of service for certain services. Insider neither advocates nor condones the illegal use of VPNs.

Lillian Brown

Co-publisher of Streaming

Lillian Brown is an associate editor of streaming on Business Insider’s reviews team. A lifelong entertainment and media fanatic, she specializes in helping you figure out how to watch your favorite shows, movies, and sporting events.ExperienceLillian has been writing about entertainment, sports, television and film for over six years and began her career in the Living/Arts department of The Boston Globe. She then wrote entertainment features and summaries and conducted celebrity interviews for publications such as vulture, TV guide, esquire, TimeAnd The Daily Beast before joining Business Insider as a streaming specialist. In her current role, she writes about everything from finding the right VPN to watch football matches abroad to choosing between the endless number of streaming services. When she’s not writing, she’s editing stories from freelancers or other members of the reviews team. Lillian is also an expert at finding bargains. She loves the thrill of sharing a great discount with readers, whether it’s on her favorite streaming services or products she knows our team loves and recommends. She plays an active role in writing about sales and proposals for the valuation team.Why you can trust LillianWhether she’s testing streaming platform interfaces or actively comparing channel offerings from different services, Lillian always has her finger on the pulse of what’s new in the entertainment industry. She has tested almost every streaming service and is an expert when it comes to VPNs. She’s the first to know when a streaming service has changed its price and whether it’s still worth paying for. As a sports fan, she also knows exactly where the next big playoff game will be streamed, when it starts and where it takes place. expertise

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Outside of workMost of the time, Lillian can be found watching a horror movie, a WNBA game (Go Liberty!), or a long-distance run. It is located in Boston.