How to watch the College Football Playoff and bowl games with a VPN
Whether your school or favorite team is in the top 12 playing for the National Championship or in a regular bowl game, you shouldnβt have to miss a single snap. Streaming blocks at your school or office are no match for ExpressVPN.
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server location that matches the broadcaster you want to watch. For example, American sports fans can connect to a server in the U.S. to watch the coverage on Sling TV, Fubo, YouTube TV, and other streamers.Β
- Touchdown!
Why you need a VPN to watch college football online
Donβt let your internet provider bench your game-day excitement with selective slowdowns. When your ISP detects streaming activity, it may throttle your speed, causing lag and buffering at the worst moments. A VPN tackles this issue by encrypting your traffic, preventing your ISP from snooping on your activity, and keeping your connection as smooth as a winning touchdown drive.
Stuck at work or on campus on a network that blocks streaming? A VPN helps you break through those barriers. Secure VPN encryption allows you to unblock streaming platforms with ease, and catch every game-changing play without missing a single moment.
The Best VPN to watch college football live
ExpressVPN is the ultimate pick for streaming live sports. It has a global network of servers that include 12 U.S. states and Washington DC, making it easy to watch college football games wherever you are. It works effortlessly with streaming platforms, such as ESPN, Hulu, and YouTube TV, so you can watch every big game, from rivalry games to the College Football Playoff. With 10-Gbps servers, youβll enjoy lightning-fast speeds for smooth streaming, even in 4K, ensuring you donβt miss a single game-changing moment.
ExpressVPN gives you up to 8 simultaneous device connections, so you can watch college football on your smart TV while others in your home stream their favorite shows on their devices. Try it today risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
How to stream NCAA football for free
There are 36 college bowl games in 2024-25 starting with the Celebration Bowl on December 14 until the National Championship Bowl game on January 20.Β
Each platform listed below offers a free trial for new subscribers. If you add all the trials together, that gives you free access to most of the Playoff and bowl games. The channels listed below are all available in the streaming serviceβs basic/cheapest package.
| Service | Channels | Free trial length |
| DirecTV Stream | ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox, FS1, NBC, TruTV, The CW, select regional sports networks | 5 days |
| Fubo | ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, SEC Network, The CW, select regional sports networks | 7 days |
| Hulu + Live TV | ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, TruTV | 3 days |
| Paramount Plus | CBS, CBS Sports Network | 7 days |
| YouTube TV | ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, SEC Network, TruTV, and The CW | Varies |
Prefer to watch on the big screen? Learn about all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your TV.
When does the College Football Playoff start?
The current season is the first to feature the expanded playoff format, jumping from just four teams to twelve. This means that conference championship games and some bowl games are now extremely important in deciding the National Champion.Β
Hereβs the updated format: The top four conference champions, based on their rankings, are awarded a first-round bye. The remaining teams, seeded 5 through 12 will face off in the first round, with games hosted at the home field of the higher-seeded team. The first game kicks off December 20, 2024.
2024-25 NCAA Football schedule
First Round
| Date and time | Start time | TV channel |
| Friday, December 20, 2024 | Kickoff at 8:00 p.m. ET | ABC and ESPN |
| Saturday, December 21, 2024 | Kickoff at 12:00 p.m. ET | TNT |
| Saturday, December 21, 2024 | Kickoff at 4:00 p.m. ET | TNT |
| Saturday, December 21, 2024 | Kickoff at 8:00 p.m. ET | ABC and ESPN |
Quarterfinals
| Date and time | Bowl Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Tuesday, December 31, 2024 | Fiesta Bowl | Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Wednesday, January 1, 2025 | Peach Bowl | Kickoff at 1:00 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Wednesday, January 1, 2025 | Rose Bowl | Kickoff at 5:00 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Wednesday, January 1, 2025 | Sugar Bowl | Kickoff at 8:45 p.m. ET | ESPN |
Semifinals
| Date and time | Bowl Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Thursday, January 9, 2025 | Orange Bowl | Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Friday, January 10, 2025 | Cotton Bowl | Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN |
College Football Playoff National Championship
| Date and time | Bowl Game | Start time | TV channel |
| Thursday, January 20, 2025 | National Championship Game | Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN |
How to live stream college football games on all your streaming devices
Sports fans can live stream every college football game on a plethora of devices from smartphones and tablets to gaming consoles and smart TVs.
ExpressVPN is a VPN service not intended to be used as a means of copyright circumvention. Please read the ExpressVPN Terms of Service and your content providerβs Terms of Use for more details.
FAQ: About watching college football online
Can I use a VPN to watch college football games from another country?
Some users might watch college football games by connecting to a VPN server in a country other than their own, but doing so may violate copyright or the streaming serviceβs terms of use. ExpressVPN is a privacy and security tool, and using it to circumvent copyright is against our Terms of Service. We cannot see or control what you do while connected to our VPN, so you are responsible for ensuring that your use complies with all relevant terms and laws.
Should I use a free VPN to watch college football games?
Free VPNs canβt usually access streaming services, and are generally ill-equipped for streaming in general. With small networks, you may struggle to find one with a server where you need one. Theyβre also known to be slow, causing buffering and lag. ExpressVPN works seamlessly with streaming platforms and has high-speed servers in 105 countries. Try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Is there a streaming service for NCAA football?
The NCAA doesnβt have a dedicated app that live streams football games, like the NFL, NBA, and MLB do. You need a streaming platform with live TV channels that include ESPN, FOX, CBS, and conference channels like the Big Ten Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, and others. Some good options are DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV, which all offer free trials.
How to watch NCAA football in Australia?
Kayo Sports offers live and on-demand streaming of NCAA college football, featuring games from ESPN’s coverage. If youβre visiting Australia during the holiday season, install ExpressVPN on your streaming device and connect to a server location back in the U.S. and stream the games on your usual platform as if you never left home.
How to watch college football in the UK?
Sky Sports holds the broadcasting rights for NCAA college football in the UK. You can watch:
- Live Games: Up to three live games each week during the regular season.
- Bowl Games: Coverage of all bowl games.
- College GameDay Live: ESPN’s pre-game show aired every Saturday.
You can access Sky Sports through a Sky TV subscription or via the NOW streaming service, which provides flexible, contract-free access to Sky Sports channels.
How to watch college football in Europe?
ESPN Player provides live and on-demand coverage of NCAA games in many European countries, with flexible subscription options available for streaming on various devices. In the UK, you can stream multiple games per week including bowl games, on NOW with the Sky Sports Pass.
Can I watch the Rose Bowl on Hulu?
The Rose Bowl is on ESPN. As long as you have Hulu + Live TV, you can live stream the game. New subscribers can get a 3-day free trial, which would allow you to stream the game for free.
How can I watch NCAA football on ESPN online?
If you have a cable subscription, you can login to the ESPN app with your TV provider credentials. To watch NCAA football on ESPN without cable, youβll need a streaming platform with live TV channels, such as DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV.
Hi Penny,
Please try watching through Hulu and YouTube TV. You can use the free trial for these services to catch all of the New Year’s Eve and Day games. If you have problems accessing these services with connected to the VPN, please contact Support via https://www.expressvpn.com/support/#open-chat
All I want is to be able to watch the college bowl games broadcast New Year’s Eve and New Years Day. I live in Mexico and am connected to ExpressVPN through Dallas with a US ISP. I don’t have TV. Only my laptop. What can I do to see my games? Thanks
Hi Antonio,
Yes. You can use ExpressVPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee to watch college football games on YouTube TV.
If you’re watching via a web browser, make sure to use the ExpressVPN browser extension: https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/expressvpn-browser-extension/
Hello!
I live in Mexico, would the Youtube TV VPN work for me?
Hi Joey,
For live college football streams, YouTube TV should be your best bet. YouTube TV has the core ESPN channels as well as the Big Ten Network. Between these two networks, you should be able to watch all B10 football games.
How are you feeling about the upcoming Big Ten season? Is this the season Michigan finally returns to the big time? We have a few Michigan fans here in the office who are hoping so!
All i have is a desk top computer windows 10,, NO TV or SUBSCRIPTION.. I was told i could watch the COLLEGE BTN FOOTBALL games on my computer,, Do i need any other hookups> I already paid $$$$ to another site than found out i could only watch REPLAYS,, So if i join can i watch the college games live in the big 10 ? Thanks
Hi Phillip,
Please try accessing YouTube TV from your web browser (with the ExpressVPN browser extension installed). If you’re still having issues, please contact Support: https://www.expressvpn.com/support/#open-chat
You may also try one of the other services mentioned above. They each offer a free trial.
I am an american living in Germany. I have an ExpressVPN account. I signed up for Youtube TV and it worked for one day. I guess Youtube figured out I was logging in with a VPN because I got a pop-up box telling me there was a VPN proxy and I needed to turn it off. I’m really disappointed because I thought I had finally found a solution to the German cable service (Kabel Deutschland/Vodafone) where they advertise a sports package only to remove the entire sport (ex. NFL) when the price is not cheap enough to carry out the entire season. That just happened this year with NCAA football. We got two or three games each weekend up until the Bowl season and playoffs. I missed both games (Alabama vs Oklahoma and Clemson vs Notre Dame). Needless to say the final will not be broadcast. Does anyone out there know if there is a way to get Youtube TV in a reliable fashion? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Johnny,
For the best experience, you should enter a Zip code that matches the VPN location you’re connected to.
For example, if you’re connected to New York, try googling “New York zip code” and enter what you see. (e.g. 10001, 10005, etc.)
Hi Sling requires me to submit an US Zipcode when registering.
Any way to get around this problem?
Johnny
Hi Patti,
ExpressVPN can help you watch national championship game streams no matter where you are.
Just fire up the ExpressVPN app then head to ESPN, YouTube TV, or Sling (you may need a subscription for these services but many offer free trials) and you’ll be able to watch in HD, with no throttling or blackouts!
If you run into a problem, please contact Support at https://www.expressvpn.com/support/#open-chat
We live in Australia and do not have cable. My husband ants to watch the Georgia Alabama game. Ho would we do that?
Hi Don,
You should have no problem using ExpressVPN to watch streams in NTSC or PAL since the VPN does not discriminate between the video standards you use. Rather, ExpressVPN helps you encrypt your traffic and avoid ISP throttling. If you run into any issues, please contact Support at https://www.expressvpn.com/support for assistance.
p.s. Congrats on that Tennessee win. Brutal!
Hi,
I am ex Military living in Germany and would love to watch some SEC Football here online. Is there going to be a problem with the Germany NTSC signal and the USA PAL system with streaming here in Germany??
Roll Tide!
Hi Ross,
Sling provides a comprehensive package of channels, including ESPN. Sling TV customers get ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 with the Sling Orange service. If you get the Sports Extra, you’ll get SEC Network, ESPNU, ESPNEWS and ESPN Buzzer Beater.
You’ll need a U.S. IP address to access Sling (including its free trial). For that, you can use a VPN. If you run into issues setting up, feel free to contact Support at https://www.expressvpn.com/support
Hi
I live in Australia, have FOXTEL but get very few College Games or ESPNU. I have not heard of SLING; will it allow me to watch the games that are not televised on FOXTEL and will I get access to ESPNU?
Many thanks
Ross
Hi Jack,
Not to worry. Just contact Support at https://www.expressvpn.com/support and they’ll get you sorted π
A person living in the UK. Can NOT log-in using his dadβs AT&T universe account but canβt watch anything. Could this be due to his IP address being in the UK? And if so, the VPN would be able to bypass that problem?
My comment: I though you were hidden and therefore no one would know where your at. Does any website know my current IP address?
Hi Michael,
Please get touch with Support here: https://www.expressvpn.com/support π
Hello,
I am from the US but am currently living in the UK. I have the log-in info for my dad’s AT&T uverse account but can’t successfully watch anything. Could this be due to my IP address being in the UK? And if so, the VPN would be able to bypass that problem?
Hi Theresa,
With ExpressVPN, you can connect to a U.S. server address and access Sling as if you were a U.S. resident. For any issues when setting up the VPN, feel free to contact the Support team at https://www.expressvpn.com/support π
Hi there,
My husband is a HUGE NCAA college football fan, as he went to high school in the states. For 5 years we have tried countless ways to try and stream Oregon Ducks games live, with no success, and unfortunately a few computer viruses that resulted from sketchy sites. We live in Edmonton, Alberta – Canada. I have researched and found that Sling TV offers the Pac-12 Network with their package, and you don not require to have a cable subscription to their provider which is Dish – but it’s only available to US residents. My question: If we get the VPN service, will this allow us to subscribe to Sling TV and finally get to watch the games?!
Hi Darrell,
You can try ExpressVPN for 30 days free. So do give the app a try, bowl season is coming and there’s going to be a ton of football to watch!
I am traveling in France and want to watch the OU/OSU game tomorrow (11:30 CST) that is being aired on FOX. Can i do this on your system? If I use your product, can I buy it for just the game I want or do I need to buy and month and then just cancel after I use the service?
Hi Mike,
Yep! No matter where you are, simply connect to one of ExpressVPN’s U.S. server locations and you’re set to enjoy college football games on your streaming subscription!
Will your VPN allow me to view college football games directly on my Lenova tablet here in Germany?
Hi there,
That depends on who has the broadcast rights to Clemson’s games but Sling does cover ESPN. So far, only the Florida State game has been announced but you can view the full schedule here: https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/228/clemson-tigers. We’re hoping for a Tigers win (and playoff spot) too!
With ExpressVPN, you’ll have no problem downloading more anonymously and securely π
Hi Sandy,
A VPN is needed because Sling subscriptions only work for U.S. IP addresses. By using a VPN, you’ll be able to stream on Sling and access any other online media site you want!
So: to view a game on espn in Australia, I need to have a VPN and connect with Sling (another subscription?) in order to stream?
Can I watch Clemson University football games on ESPN via your service. I have Time Warner internet, but no cable service.
Also, can I download torrents and seed torrents?