Welcome to college football’s bowl season! The 2023-24 college football season features 43 bowl games, including the National Championship Game on January 8, 2024. No. 1 Michigan and No. 4 Alabama will face off in the Rose Bowl on January 1, hours before No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas clash in the Sugar Bowl. The winners of each game will meet in the National Championship, held this year at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, a week later.
Even if you can’t make it to your alma mater’s stadium this season, ExpressVPN has you covered on how to safely and securely stream every NCAA college football game throughout the 2023 season.
| Start | August 26, 2023 |
| Number of teams | 133 |
| Bowl games | 43 |
| Streaming services | ESPN+, YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Paramount Plus, Peacock |
How to watch 2023 college football games with a VPN
No matter your allegiance, we know you want to watch your team in blazing-fast HD, free of buffering or throttling from your ISP, school, or office network. To stream college football securely with ExpressVPN, just follow these easy steps:
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server location that matches the broadcaster you want to watch. For example, American sports fans can connect to a U.S. server to securely watch the coverage carried by U.S. streaming services.
- Head to your preferred streaming platform, such as Sling TV, Hulu, Fubo, YouTube TV, ESPN+, or DirecTV Stream.
- Tune in to the action!
Can I use a VPN to watch college football games from another country?
ExpressVPN is a privacy and security service and should not be used as a means of copyright circumvention. We cannot see or control what you do while connected to our VPN, so you are responsible for complying with our Terms of Service, your content provider’s terms, and any applicable laws.
Why do you need a VPN to watch college football online?
Early morning tailgates and singing the fight song aren’t the only ways to root on your favorite team during the 2023 college football season. You’ll want to add ExpressVPN to your football-viewing palate this summer. Not only does ExpressVPN offer servers in 105 countries across the globe, all of which are optimized for speed and security, but you can stream every college football game live on computers, smartphones, and even smart TVs and gaming consoles. You can have up to eight simultaneous connections, allowing you to watch every game, including the College Football Playoff, in blazing-fast HD.
Best VPN for watching college football games in 2023
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for safely and securely streaming the 2023 college football season. Our high-speed servers allow you to enjoy every touchdown without missing a single second regardless of your device. ExpressVPN offers easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms that other VPN companies may not support, like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers, plus browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. If you need help along the way, ExpressVPN offers 24/7 live chat support and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee!
Key Features:
- High-speed servers in 105 countries across the globe, all optimized for speed and security
- Up to 8 simultaneous connections
- 5-star customer service with 24/7 live chat support
- Strict privacy policy: No activity logs and no connection logs
- Comprehensive support site filled with DIY troubleshooting articles, handy video tutorials, and more
- The industry’s most advanced VPN server technology, TrustedServer, wipes data on every reboot
- Our innovative Threat Manager protects your phone from malware and other suspicious tracking apps
- Next-gen Lightway protocol offers greater speeds, security, and reliability, especially on mobile
Best ways to watch college football without cable for all NCAA conferences
An ExpressVPN subscription allows you to safely and securely stream every college football game even if you don’t have cable. Use our complete guide below to figure out which streaming service is best for you this season!
Note: The channels listed below are all available in the streaming services basic/cheapest package. Some services may offer extra channels in pricier tiers.
Stream college football games on services with free trials
YouTube TV
Price: 73 USD/month and up
Channels: ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, SEC Network, and The CW
Country: U.S.
YouTube TV offers a variety of channels that carry college football games and the subscription costs 73 USD/month. You may need to submit a U.S. zip code (e.g., 10022, 48104, etc.), but it accepts a wide array of payment options. If you don’t feel like committing to YouTube TV, use the free trial.
Note: You may need a valid U.S. credit/debit card or PayPal to subscribe to YouTube TV. You can still subscribe to YouTube TV via Google Play, even if you don’t have a U.S. credit/debit card.
Want it on the big screen? Learn about all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your TV.
Fubo
Price: 75 USD/month
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
Country: U.S.
How about another way to catch NCAA college football games? Use the seven-day free trial on Fubo to watch your favorite schools live, including nationally televised games on ABC, NBC, and ESPN.
Note: You will need a U.S. credit/debit card to subscribe. The billing address used may determine which local channels are available, and you may be unable to change your location.
Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, be sure to use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
Paramount+
Price: 6 USD/month
Channels: CBS
Paramount Plus streams college football games airing on CBS and CBS Sports Network, including nationally-televised SEC and Big 10 showdowns. If you don’t feel like committing to Paramount+ or only want to watch a specific game, there’s a seven-day free trial.
DirecTV Stream
Price: 65 USD/month and up
Channels: ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox, FS1, NBC, and The CW
DirecTV Stream is on the pricier side but if you prefer a cord-cutting service over an additional streaming app, it’s a great option. DirecTV’s lowest package starts at 65 USD/month (before jumping to its normal price of 75 USD/month after three months), and the service offers a five-day free trial.
Streaming options for select college football games
Several streaming services offer exclusive college football coverage throughout the 2023 season, though some don’t offer free trials. Learn more about those options below.
ESPN+
Price: 11 USD/month
ESPN+ will carry college football at all levels, from the SEC and Big 12 to Division II and Division III. However, it is important to note there are two types of college football games that air on ESPN+.
ESPN+ simulcasts: These games will air on other ESPN platforms, including ESPN, ESPN 2, and ABC, and can be streamed via simulcast on ESPN+. Bowl games and the College Football Playoff fall into this category, as do games airing on conference-specific networks such as the ACC Network and SEC Network. Note that proof of subscription to another service, such as YouTube TV or Fubo, may be required to stream these games.
ESPN+ exclusives: These games, as implied, will air exclusively on ESPN+. For example, Appalachian State will host Gardner-Webb on Saturday, September 3, and ESPN+ is the only way you can watch this game on TV. You won’t need proof of subscription to another service to watch ESPN+ exclusives.
Reminder: ESPN+ does not offer a free trial.
Peacock
Price: 6 USD/month
Peacock will stream every college football game airing on NBC throughout the 2023 season. Additionally, Peacock will offer exclusive broadcasts of 10 college football games, including the October 14 showdown between Notre Dame and Southern California. Peacock costs 6 USD/month.
Other ways to watch college football games
Hulu + Live TV
Price: 70 USD/month and up
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, and The CW
Country: U.S.
Hulu+Live TV is another way to catch live college football games, although it doesn’t come with a free trial. Games shown are subject to regional availability and blackout restrictions. You may need to supply a valid U.S. postal code (e.g., 10012, 48104) and credit card.
Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, be sure to use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
Sling TV
Price: Varies
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and the SEC Network
Sling TV provides access to most channels airing college football games except for CBS. ABC is also available in select markets. Please note that Sling no longer offers a free trial.
Want it on the big screen? Learn about all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your TV.
2024 College Football National Championship odds
Will Alabama win another national championship? Here are the latest odds according to the FanDuel Sportsbook.
| Team | Odds |
| Michigan | +175 |
| Alabama | +210 |
| Texas | +260 |
| Washington | +800 |
College football conference channels
Which channels and streaming services will air your favorite conference’s games in 2023? Find out with our complete guide.
| Conference | Channels |
| American Athletic Conference (AAC) | ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+ |
| Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) | ABC, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, The CW |
| Big 12 | ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, Fox, FS1, Longhorn Network (Texas only) |
| Big Ten | Big Ten Network, CBS, Fox, FS1, NBC, Peacock |
| Conference USA | CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+ |
| FBS independents | CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN+, NBC, Peacock |
| Mid-American Conference (MAC) | CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+ |
| Mountain West Conference (MW) | CBS, CBS Sports Network, Fox, FS1 |
| Pac-12 Conference | ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, Fox, FS1, Pac-12 Network |
| Southeastern Conference (SEC) | CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, SEC Network, SEC+ |
| Sun Belt Conference | ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+ |
2023–2024 NCAA college football bowl game schedule
The 2023-24 college football bowl schedule features games everywhere from Boca Raton and Boston to Shreveport and San Diego. You can find a complete schedule of all 43 bowl games on the NCAA’s official website. Below, you can track the New Year’s Six bowl games, including the College Football Playoff semifinals and championship game.
| Bowl game | Date and time | Network |
| Cotton Bowl: No. 7 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Missouri | December 29, 8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. GMT | ESPN |
| Peach Bowl: No. 10 Penn State vs No. 11 Ole Miss | December 30, 12 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. GMT | ESPN |
| Orange Bowl: No. 5 Florida State vs. No. 6 Georgia | December 30, 4 p.m. ET / 9 p.m. GMT | ESPN |
| Fiesta Bowl: No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 23 Liberty | January 1, 1 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. GMT | ESPN |
| Rose Bowl: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama | January 1, 5 p.m. ET / 10 p.m. GMT | ESPN |
| Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas | January 1, 8:45 p.m. ET / 1:45 a.m. GMT | ESPN |
| National Championship Game: No. 1 Michigan/No. 4 Alabama vs. No 2 Washington/No. 3 Texas | January 8, 7:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 a.m. GMT | ESPN |
*bolded text denotes College Football Playoff game
Top 25 college football rankings
The Associated Press Top 25 releases each Sunday during the college football season. Here is the latest AP Top 25.
| Ranking |
| No. 1 Georgia 12-0) [52 first-place votes] |
| No. 2 Michigan (12-0) [10 first-place votes] |
| No. 3 Washington (12-0) |
| No. 4 Florida State (12-0) |
| No. 5 Oregon (11-1) |
| No. 6 Ohio State (11-1) |
| No. 7 Texas (11-1) |
| No. 8 Alabama (11-1) |
| No. 9 Missouri (10-2) |
| No. 10 Penn State (10-2) |
| No. 11 Ole Miss (10-2) |
| No. 12 Oklahoma (10-2) |
| No. 13 LSU (9-3) |
| No. 14 Arizona (9-3) |
| No. 15 Louisville (10-2) |
| No. 16 Notre Dame (9-3) |
| No. 17 Tulane (11-1) |
| No. 18 Iowa (10-2) |
| No. 19 Oklahoma State (9-3) |
| No. 20 Liberty (12-0) |
| No. 21 NC State (9-3) [NC State and Oregon each had 269 points] |
| No. 21 Oregon State (8-4) [NC State and Oregon each had 269 points] |
| No. 23 Toledo (11-1) |
| No. 24 James Madison (11-1) |
| No. 25 SMU (10-2) |
The following teams also received votes: Tennessee (98), Clemson (57), Kansas State (41), Utah (40), Troy (7), Kansas (6), New Mexico State (5), Kentucky (4), Memphis (1), North Carolina (1), Miami-Ohio (1).
2023 College Football Playoff rankings
Beginning in November, the College Football Playoff releases its own Top 25 each Tuesday. Unlike the other polls, a committee meets and ranks the best teams through December. Although the CFP Rankings typically feature the same teams as the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll, the order below determines which teams will compete in the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2024.
Here are the December 3 CFP rankings.
| Ranking |
| No. 1 Michigan (13-0) |
| No. 2 Washington (13-0) |
| No. 3 Texas (12-1) |
| No. 4 Alabama (12-1) |
| No. 5 Florida State (13-0) |
| No. 6 Georgia (12-1) |
| No. 7 Ohio State (11-1) |
| No. 8 Oregon (11-2) |
| No. 9 Missouri (10-2) |
| No. 10 Penn State (10-2) |
| No. 11 Ole Miss (10-2) |
| No. 12 Oklahoma (10-2) |
| No. 13 LSU (9-3) |
| No. 14 Arizona (9-3) |
| No. 15 Louisville (10-3) |
| No. 16 Notre Dame (9-3) |
| No. 17 Iowa (10-3) |
| No. 18 NC State (9-3) |
| No. 19 Oregon State (8-4) |
| No. 20 Oklahoma State (9-3) |
| No. 21 Tennessee (8-4) |
| No. 22 Clemson (8-4) |
| No. 23 Liberty (13-0) |
| No. 24 SMU (11-2) |
| No. 25 Kansas State (8-4) |
2023 Heisman Trophy winner odds
Will USC quarterback Caleb Williams become the first player since former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin to win the Heisman Trophy twice? Here are the latest odds according to the FanDuel Sportsbook.
| Player | Odds |
| Bo Nix, QB, Oregon | -180 |
| Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU | +140 |
| Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington | +1600 |
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 for streaming sports
Can I stream sports on my computer?
Can I stream sports on my phone or tablet?
Yes. ExpressVPN has apps for every major mobile device, including iOS and Android.
How can I stream on my TV with a VPN?
In brief there are five different ways to stream sports on your TV with ExpressVPN:
- With the native app for a smart TV or streaming device
- By streaming on your computer and connecting to the TV with an HDMI cable
- By mirroring or casting wirelessly to your TV or streaming device from your computer or mobile device
- By connecting to an ExpressVPN-enabled router, which allows for unlimited devices and makes it super simple to connect to different server locations simultaneously
- With MediaStreamer, ExpressVPN’s solution for devices that cannot install a VPN, such as some streaming consoles and gaming consoles. MediaStreamer only needs to be set up once, although it does not provide the full security benefits of a VPN.
For more information on all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your big-screen TV, click here or contact a 24/7 Support agent for step-by-step instructions.
I connected to the suggested VPN server location but I can’t log in to the streaming service!
No worries! Server load changes rapidly (especially when lots of people are trying to watch certain events), but that’s exactly why ExpressVPN has high-speed servers all over the world. If you’re trying to access a site in the U.S. or Germany, for instance, try connecting to a different server location in those countries.
If you’re trying to connect to a country with one server location, the first step is to check your location settings. If you’re on a mobile device, disconnect from the VPN, turn off location services, then connect to the VPN again. On both Windows and Mac computers, you can turn off Location Services within the Privacy & Security settings menu.
For more help, you can always talk to a member of our Support Team, available 24/7 by live chat.
I connected to the VPN but my internet speed is slow
If your internet speed is slow or your streaming seems to lag, there are a few possible reasons:
-The distance of your selected VPN server location from your physical location
-Your connection type (wired connections are more reliable than wireless connections)
-Suboptimal interconnectivity between the VPN and your ISP
-Slow internet connection speed at your location
-Your device type and processing power
Try each of the following steps to troubleshoot:
-Download the latest version of ExpressVPN
-Connect to a different VPN server location
-Change your VPN protocol
If you try each of the above and are still experiencing issues with your streaming speed, contact the ExpressVPN Support Team 24/7 and someone will be with you in seconds.
What other streaming services can I watch with ExpressVPN?
ExpressVPN works seamlessly with all the most popular streaming apps from around the world. Using a VPN for streaming ensures you watch securely in blazing-fast HD with unlimited bandwidth, free from ISP throttling (which can sometimes slow down speeds). If you want to watch your favorite team from anywhere—even while traveling or on unsecured networks like public Wi-Fi—ExpressVPN is a great way to enhance your sports streaming experience.
