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 shouldn’t 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.
- Touchdown!
Why you need a VPN to watch college football online
Don’t 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, you’ll enjoy lightning-fast speeds for smooth streaming, even in 4K, ensuring you don’t 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.
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 service’s 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.
Here’s 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 provider’s 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 service’s 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 can’t 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. They’re 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 doesn’t 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 you’re 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, you’ll need a streaming platform with live TV channels, such as DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV.
