College football is one of the most popular sports in the United States, with millions of fans tuning in every week during the regular season. The college football playoff system was introduced in 2014, providing a four-team playoff to determine the national champion. For true college football fans, watching the playoffs live is a must. Here are some options for watching the college football playoffs live.
Watch on TV
The easiest way to watch the college football playoffs live is on TV through one of the major networks that broadcast the games. The TV broadcast rights rotate between ESPN and ABC each year. All of the New Year’s Six bowl games leading up to the National Championship game air on these networks. This includes the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl semi-final games. Simply turn your TV to the appropriate channel showing the game you want to watch. If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, you can also watch these channels through live TV streaming services such as YouTube TV, Hulu Live, DirecTV Stream, or FuboTV.
Playoff schedule on TV
Here is the TV schedule for the 2023 College Football Playoff:
- Cotton Bowl Classic (semifinal game 1) – December 31 on ESPN
- Orange Bowl (semifinal game 2) – December 31 on ESPN
- National Championship Game – January 9 on ESPN
Stream online
Don’t have access to watch the games on TV? You can also stream the college football playoffs live online through the ESPN app or website. As long as you have a valid TV provider login, you can access the ESPN live streams for free. This allows you to watch the games on your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or any device with internet access. The ESPN app is available for both iOS and Android devices. Here are some tips for streaming the playoffs online:
- Download the ESPN app before the games start. This will make it easier to access the live streams.
- Make sure you have your TV provider username and password ready. You will need to input these in the ESPN app to unlock the streams.
- Check for any app or system updates. Having the latest version will help ensure smooth streaming.
- If possible, connect your device to the internet via ethernet rather than WiFi. This will provide faster, more reliable connectivity for streaming.
- Test the streams ahead of time. Try watching some live content on the ESPN app prior to the games to make sure your login works.
Other online streaming options
Don’t have a TV provider login for ESPN? There are some other ways to watch the college football playoff games online:
- Use a live TV streaming service such as YouTube TV, Hulu Live, DirecTV Stream or FuboTV. These provide live access to ESPN and ABC without a traditional TV subscription.
- Consider signing up for a free trial of a live TV service to watch the games. Just be sure to cancel before the trial period ends.
- Check out TV streaming sites like Sling TV which offer special deals for college football and access to ESPN channels.
- Visit the NCAA website or NCAA March Madness Live site. Official live streams are sometimes provided here.
Listen on satellite radio
Can’t watch the games on TV or online? Don’t worry, you can listen live on satellite radio. SiriusXM radio provides live play-by-play coverage of all the New Year’s Six bowl games and the National Championship on their College Sports Nation channel (channel 84). Simply tune your satellite radio to the channel to listen. You can listen in your car, or stream SiriusXM through their app or website. This requires a paid subscription.
Attend the game in person
The most exciting option – go to the game in person! Here are some tips on attending one of the college football playoff games live:
- Get tickets early – games sell out fast. Check ticket resale sites like VividSeats or StubHub.
- Be prepared to pay a premium – ticket prices will be higher due to huge demand.
- Look into travel packages if the game is far from where you live. May be cheaper than buying individual tickets and booking separate hotels.
- Check stadium policies ahead of time so you know what you can/cannot bring.
- Arrive early – big crowds mean delays getting into the stadium.
- Bundle up – games are usually played in cold weather locales in late December and early January.
Where are the 2023 playoffs?
The 2023 College Football Playoff semifinal games will take place at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona and the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on December 31, 2023. The National Championship Game will be January 9, 2023 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Game | Date | Location |
---|---|---|
Fiesta Bowl (semifinal) | December 31 | Glendale, AZ |
Peach Bowl (semifinal) | December 31 | Atlanta, GA |
National Championship | January 9 | Los Angeles, CA |
Conclusion
College football playoffs are thrilling to watch live. With games broadcast on TV, streamed online, aired on the radio, and able to attend in person, there are ample viewing options for fans. Be sure to tune into the New Year’s Six bowl games for exciting play leading up to the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship!