How to Watch College Football Playoff Games Online Without Cable

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

The 2025-26 College Football Playoff is here, pitting 12 of the best NCAAF programs against each other for the national title. Four exciting games kick things off in the first round, including regular-season rematches in No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 11 Tulane vs. No. 6 Ole Miss. Texas Tech, Indian, Georgia, and Ohio State secured first-round byes.

Don’t have a way to watch College Playoff games? Read on. Ahead is a quick guide on the best way to live stream CFP games this year, including every bowl game and the championship game on Jan. 19.

Most games in the 2025-26 College Football Playoff are airing on ESPN or ESPN on ABC, but two games are being broadcast by TNT. If you don’t have cable, you’ll want to get a live TV streaming service that carries ESPN, ABC, and TNT to watch College Football Playoff games online.*

Our favorite cable streamer with these channels — and favorite overall — is DIRECTV. The trusted company now has several streaming plans for different budgets and viewing needs, including a few with ESPN, ABC, and TNT coverage included. Best of all, DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial.

DirecTV

➤ Five-day free trial
➤ Up to 185+ channels

All three channels are available in DIRECTV’s MySports™ Genre Pack, ™ which delivers more than 20 key sports channels for just $59.99 a month for your first two months after the free trial ends.*

*ABC not available in select markets. New customers only. Includes free trial, followed by 2-mo. promo; thereafter svc auto-renews monthly at then-prevailing rate (currently $69.99) unless you cancel. Cancel anytime. Restr’s apply. For more information, please visit directv.com/affiliates/stream.

If you want more channels, consider one of DIRECTV’s larger streaming packages. These carry up to 185+ channels, and all of them come with access to other streaming services like ESPN Unlimited.**

**Actual number of channels varies based on package selection.
This will not replace any existing ESPN or Disney bundle subscription you may already have. All other accounts must be managed separately. You must remain on an eligible plan to retain your offer.

Here’s the full schedule for the 2025-26 College Football Playoff, starting on Dec. 19 (all times in ET):

First round (Dec. 19-20)

Friday, Dec. 19
No. 8 Oklahoma vs. No. 9 Alabama: 8 p.m. on ABC, ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 20
No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami — noon on ABC, ESPN
No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 11 Tulane — 3:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV
No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 James Madison — 7:30 p.m. on TNT, truTV

Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)

Wednesday, Dec. 31
Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Texas A&M/No. 10 Miami winner — 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

Thursday, Jan. 1
Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. No. 5 Oregon/No. 12 James Madison winner — 12 p.m. on ESPN
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Oklahoma/No. 9 Alabama winner — 4 p.m. on ESPN
Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Ole Miss/No. 11 Tulane winner — 8 p.m. on ESPN

Semifinals (Jan. 8-9)

Thursday, Jan. 8
Fiesta Bowl — 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

Friday, Jan. 9
Peach Bowl — 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Monday, Jan. 19
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens — 7:30 p.m. on ESPN