Guide for watching college football without subscription TV service this fall
2025 College Football Season Preview
The 2025 college football season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with a host of changes and continuities across various conferences. Here's a rundown of where you can catch your favourite teams in action, as well as some notable updates for the upcoming season.
Broadcast Partners
The Big Ten Conference will once again partner with the Big Ten Network, CBS, Fox, Fox Sports 1, NBC, and Peacock for game broadcasts. The FBS independents will air on CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN+, NBC, and Peacock. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will be shown on ABC, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, and The CW. The American Athletic Conference (AAC) will air on ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN+, and The CW.
The Big 12 Conference will be available on ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, Fox, Fox Sports 1, and TNT. Conference USA will be shown on CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, and ESPN. The Mountain West Conference (MW) will air on CBS, CBS Sports Network, Fox, Fox Sports 1, truTV, and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) on ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, SEC Network, and SEC. The Sun Belt Conference games will be available on ABC, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, and ESPN. Lastly, the Pac-12 Conference games will be shown on CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, ESPN+, and The CW.
Season Kickoff and Playoff Format
The 2025 season kicks off on August 23 with a matchup between Iowa State and Kansas State in Dublin for Week 0. The 12-team playoff format remains in place for the 2025 season. However, the seeding of the teams for the playoff will differ from the previous year.
Streaming Services and Pricing
ESPN's direct-to-consumer subscription now encompasses the full suite of ESPN networks and services for $29.99 per month. Fox One, a streaming service offering access to the entirety of the Fox TV portfolio, is available for $19.99 per month. In addition, as of Oct. 2, ESPN and Fox One can be bundled together for a discounted rate.
For Big Ten matchups and other games broadcast by CBS Sports, access is available via streaming on Paramount+ (with the Premium plan). A newly launched ESPN streaming service provides access to ESPN channels, including coverage of college football.
Rule Changes
Minor rule changes have been implemented for the 2025-2026 NCAA football season to combat faking of injuries and timeouts in overtime. These changes aim to ensure a fair and exciting game experience for all fans.
Stay tuned for more updates and coverage as the 2025 college football season approaches!
