How to watch the College Football Playoff: Live stream the first round in 2025
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The college football regular season might have come to a close, but the postseason is only just getting started. We've put together everything you need to know about how to watch the College Football Playoffs, including live streaming options for cord-cutters.
Following stellar regular seasons, Ohio State, Texas Tech, Indiana, and Georgia have all earned their spots in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, which will take place on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. However, their opponents have yet to be determined. Alabama and Oklahoma kicked off the first round of the College Football Playoff last night as they duked it out for a shot at the Rose Bowl, while Miami (Fla.), Texas A&M, Tulane, Ole Miss, James Madison, and Oregon are fighting for the final three spots.
While ESPN will be the one-stop shop for the later rounds, the first round of the College Football Playoff is spread across a couple of networks. Keep reading to learn some of the best ways to live stream the games.
What channel is the College Football Playoff on?
The first round of the College Football Playoff is spread across ABC/ESPN and TNT. The Alabama vs. Oklahoma game aired on ABC and ESPN, and the Miami vs. Texas A&M game will also air on those networks. TNT will air the Tulane vs. Ole Miss and James Madison vs. Oregon games. All quarterfinal and semifinal games (and the national championship) will air on ESPN.
How to watch the College Football Playoff in the US
If you're a cord-cutter looking to watch every game of the College Football Playoff in one place, then you'll need a live TV streaming service. DirecTV and Sling TV are two of the best live TV streaming services we've tested that offer both ESPN and TNT.
The DirecTV MySports pack carries ESPN, TNT, and around 20 other popular sports channels in its lineup. These plans also unlock access to ESPN Unlimited. Subscriptions cost $70 a month, but new users can get $10 a month off their first two months of service after a five-day free trial.
Sling TV is a slightly cheaper option, with ESPN and TNT-friendly plans starting at $46 a month. Sling's Orange plan carries ESPN, TNT, and 30+ other live channels. There are also cheaper, short-term Sling Orange plans for those who are only looking to watch a game or two (ranging from single-day to weeklong options). If you're hoping to watch the entirety of the College Football Playoff from start to finish, we recommend a monthly plan, since the national championship isn't until January 19.
If you don't care about the two early-round games that air on TNT, then ESPN Unlimited will do the trick. The streaming service offers full live streams of ESPN, ABC on ESPN games, and tons of other ESPN properties. Subscriptions cost $30 a month, but users have the option to bundle ESPN Unlimited with Disney Plus and Hulu for that same price — $30 a month — for 12 months. This limited-time deal effectively grants you free Disney Plus and Hulu access for a year.
On the flip side, if you only care about the games that air on TNT, then HBO Max will be able to help you out. You'll need to opt for one of the ad-free plans, which start at $18.49 a month, to unlock B/R Sports live-streaming. The ad-free designation applies to on-demand content.
How to watch the College Football Playoff from anywhere
College football fans traveling away from home can still access their usual viewing options with the aid of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are handy cybersecurity tools that let people change their virtual locations. This way, their favorite websites and apps can work from almost anywhere. A VPN is also a quick and easy way to improve online privacy and security. The services we've highlighted require US methods of payment, so this option will work best for Americans who are just traveling abroad at the moment.
NordVPN is our top VPN recommendation at the moment. It's user-friendly (even for beginners), includes an impressive suite of cybersecurity perks, and comes with a handy 30-day money-back guarantee. To learn more, check out our official NordVPN review.
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.