How to live stream 2024-25 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, such as Sling TV, Hulu, Fubo, YouTube TV, ESPN+, or DirecTV Stream.
- Touchdown!
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Why you need a VPN to watch college football games
Your internet service provider (ISP) might slow your connection if it thinks you’re streaming too much, causing laggy streams and buffering that could mean you miss a one-handed catch or an amazing overtime finish. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, keeping your online activity private from your ISP, so you can bypass this type of throttling and watch college football games without any issues.
If you’re working at night and the Wi-Fi at your job blocks streaming services, you could miss out on watching some games. VPN encryption hides your activity from the network, allowing you to unblock streaming platforms with ease.
Best VPN for watching college football live streams in 2024
ExpressVPN has a global network of servers in 105 countries (and 12 U.S. states and Washington D.C.), making it easy to find one in your preferred location. Our service works seamlessly with sports streaming platforms that broadcast college football games, such as ESPN+, Peacock, and DirecTV Stream. Our 10-Gbps servers give you a blazing-fast VPN connection, so you never have to worry about buffering or lag during those exhilarating finishes.
You can connect up to 8 devices to the VPN at once with a single account, which allows you to watch the games on your smart TV while your roommates or family stream movies and shows on their phones, gaming consoles, and other devices. Try ExpressVPN now with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
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.
| 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, select regional sports networks | 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 |
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Streaming options for select college football games
Several streaming services offer exclusive college football coverage throughout the 2024-25 season, though some don’t offer free trials. Learn more about those options below.
ESPN+
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, Florida Atlantic will host Florida International on Saturday, September 14, 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
Peacock will stream every college football game airing on NBC throughout the 2024-25 season. Additionally, Peacock will offer exclusive broadcasts of select college football games. Peacock costs 8 USD/month.
Other ways to watch college football games
Sling TV
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, TruTV, and the SEC Network
Sling TV provides access to most channels airing college football games except for CBS and CBS Sports Network. ABC is also available in select markets. Please note that Sling no longer offers a free trial.
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Max
College football fans can live stream select Mountain West games on Max. Previously called HBO Max before a 2023 merger with Discovery Plus, Max brings together 10,000 hours of content from companies under WarnerMedia, including Warner Bros., CNN, Adult Swim, TBS, Cartoon Network, HBO, and TNT.
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.
Best VPN for watching college football games in 2024
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for college football fans who want to safely stream games in 2024. With next-gen 10-Gbps servers in locations around the world, you can enjoy the full privacy protections of a VPN without ever missing a second of the action. ExpressVPN has easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, not to mention a range of ways to stream on your big-screen TV. If you need help along the way, ExpressVPN offers 24/7 live chat support and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee!
Want it on the big screen? Learn about all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your TV.
College football conference channels
Which channels and streaming services will air your favorite conference’s games during the 2024-25 season? 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 |
| 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, TruTV, Max |
| Pac-12 Conference | Fox, The CW |
| Southeastern Conference (SEC) | ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, SEC Network, SEC+ |
| Sun Belt Conference | ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, 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.
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 Oregon (62 first-place votes) |
| No. 2 Ohio State |
| No. 3 Texas |
| No. 4 Penn State |
| No. 5 Indiana |
| No. 6 Tennessee |
| No. 7 BYU |
| No. 8 Notre Dame |
| No. 9 Alabama |
| No. 10 Ole Miss |
| No. 11 Georgia |
| No. 12 Miami |
| No. 13 Boise State |
| No. 14 SMU |
| No. 15 Texas A&M |
| No. 16 Army |
| No. 17 Clemson |
| No. 18 Colorado |
| No. 19 Washington State |
| No. 20 Kansas State |
| No. 21 LSU |
| No. 22 Louisville |
| No. 23 South Carolina |
| No. 24 Missouri |
| No. 25 Tulane |
The following teams also received votes: Iowa State 92, Arizona State 35, Pittsburgh 18, Louisiana 14, UNLV 10.
2024 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 12-team playoff.
Check back later in the year for the CFP rankings.
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 college football live streams
Should I use a free VPN to watch college football games?
ExpressVPN offers premium features that free VPN services may not include, such as high-speed servers in 105 countries. An ExpressVPN subscription allows you to live stream college football games without buffering or stuttering. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free with your 30-day money-back guarantee!
Can I stream college football games for free?
Yes, you can live stream some college football games for free, although there’s a catch. Division I schools such as Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan do not air their games for free. However, schools at lower levels, including Division III, junior colleges, and the NAIA, may live stream select games on YouTube for free.
What TV channel are college football games on in 2024?
College football games will air on various channels during the 2024-24 season, including ABC, CBS, ESPN, Fox, NBC, and the SEC Network, among other networks.
Can I watch college football games live with an app?
Yes, you can watch college football games live on various apps, including YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Paramount Plus, Peacock, and ESPN+.
Can I watch college football games live on YouTube?
Yes, select college football games at lower levels such as Division III and the NAIA may air live on YouTube. However, you cannot live stream most college football games, specifically those at the FBS level (i.e. Alabama vs. Auburn or Ohio State vs. Michigan) on YouTube. With that said, many of those games will air on channels available via YouTube TV, and free trials are available!
Can I watch college football in Canada?
Yes, you can watch college football in Canada. TSN will air select games throughout the 2024-25 season.
Can I watch college football in the United Kingdom?
You may have trouble watching college football in the United Kingdom, as streaming services there (i.e. BBC iPlayer and ITVX) typically do not air American college football games.
Can I watch college football in Europe?
No, you cannot watch college football in Europe.
Can I stream college football games on my computer?
Definitely. If you’re accessing the streaming service from a web browser, be sure to also install the ExpressVPN extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. The extension has a few features under the hood that can smooth out common streaming issues.
Can I watch college football games on my phone or tablet?
Yes. ExpressVPN has apps for every major mobile device, including iOS and Android.
How can I watch college football games 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 Apple TV or gaming consoles. MediaStreamer only needs to be set up once, although it does not provide the full security benefits of a VPN. (Note that by connecting your Apple TV or gaming console to a router, you can get the best of both worlds!)
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 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.
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.
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.
