College football is officially back, and Week 1 is absolutely action-packed. The streaming options get a bit complicated, but we've combed through everything so that you don't have to. Keep reading to learn where to watch college football Week 1.
If you don't want to read any further, your best bet for watching most games in the US is a live TV streaming service (such as YouTube TV or Fubo), but other services might be necessary for select games. ESPN Unlimited also carries tons of matchups throughout the season. International fans will need a DAZN NCAA College Sports subscription.
Where to watch college football in the US
College football games are spread far and wide in the US. Relevant channels and streaming platforms for Week 1 include ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, FOX, FS1, NBC, CBSSN, The CW, USA Network, Peacock, ESPN+, and SECN+, among a few others.
The best way to watch the most college football games in one place is through a live TV streaming service. YouTube TV and Fubo are two of our top recommendations right now.
YouTube TV carries pretty much every channel you'll need (outside of streaming exclusives) in both its Main and Sports plans. YouTube TV's Main Plan (100+ channels) costs $83 a month, but new users can get $15 a month off their first five months after a free trial. The platform's Sports Plan (30+ channels) is also on sale. Subscriptions typically cost $65 a month, but first-time customers can get $20 off their first six months after a free trial. Subscribers can also access ESPN Unlimited content.
Fubo offers a similar selection of college football-friendly channels across its Pro, Elite, and Sports + News packages. The budget-friendly Sports + News plan costs $65 a month, but new users can get $10 off their first month after a free trial. The pricier Pro and Elite plans also come with introductory offers and free trials. All three plans also unlock ESPN Unlimited (more on that below).
ESPN will come into play for several games this weekend. For games that aren't nationally broadcast and instead appear on ESPN+, you'll be covered by signing up for the cheaper ESPN Select tier. For those seeking access to full live streams from ESPN networks (including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network), the pricier ESPN Unlimited tier will be necessary. ESPN Unlimited costs $32 a month and also unlocks access to ESPN+ and SECN+ streaming-exclusive content.
If you're only looking to live stream NBC games, you'll be able to do so with a Peacock Premium Plus subscription, which costs $20 a month. Peacock will also have some exclusive games this weekend. If you're only interested in games that air on CBS, you can live stream these matchups with a $14 a month Paramount Plus Premium subscription. Likewise, if you only want to live stream a FOX or FS1 game, you can do so through the $20 a month FOX One streaming service. For some savings, you can also bundle ESPN Unlimited and FOX One together for $40 a month.
Additional one-off services will be required for certain games this weekend. Webber International vs. Stetson will be shown directly on YouTube TV, Coastal Carolina vs. West Virginia will be shown on TNT and HBO Max, and Edward Waters vs. Jackson State will be available via HBCU GO. Other games this weekend will be available through FloSports.
Where to watch college football in the UK and other regions
DAZN holds the broadcast rights for college football games in many countries outside the US, including the UK. A DAZN NCAA College Sports subscription will offer up to 25 college football games each week, including some free coverage. Subscription prices vary by region and contract details.
How to watch college football from anywhere
College football fans traveling abroad can keep up with their usual streaming options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are apps that let people temporarily change their virtual locations. This way, their favorite websites and apps work from anywhere in the world exactly as they would back home. A VPN is also a strong way to boost cybersecurity.
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs on the market. It's reliable, user-friendly, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- See also: Where to watch FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup | ESPN streaming service | How to watch NFL games
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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