TOUCHDOWN! Here's How to Watch College Football Playoffs This Season

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It's official: 12 college football teams will compete for this season's national championship, but only one will exit the fray victorious. Indiana, Notre Dame, SMU, Penn State, Clemson, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio State, Boise State, Arizona State, Oregon, and Georgia will each have an opportunity to make history. This year's college football playoff dates begin on Dec. 20 and end with the national title game on Jan. 20, 2025. It'll be a month of drama, ecstasy, rage, and all the other emotions that make up the football-watching experience.

But who has the best shot at going all the way? And how many subscriptions do you need to see all these games? Here's everything you need to know about where and how to watch college football playoffs.  

Perhaps the most notable player in this year's playoffs is one who may not even take the field. No. 2 Georgia's star quarterback Carson Beck injured his elbow during the SEC championship game, leaving his status for the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl against either Notre Dame or Indiana unclear. Can Georgia still prevail with backup QB Gunner Stockton? Is the program good enough to overcome the loss of one its most impactful starters? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, No. 1 Oregon poses a serious threat as they chase after an elusive national championship. They've come close before, in 2010 and 2014, but couldn't seal the deal. Will this finally be the year that the school with the flashiest uniform in college football adds a national title to its record book?

Of course, everyone loves a good Cinderella story, and this year, Boise State and Arizona State are the leading contenders to wear the glass slipper. Can they bring down Georgia and Oregon to win it all? Or will a team like Notre Dame, Ohio State, or Tennessee have better odds of an upset after not having to play in conference championship games? 

To find out the answers to all these questions and more, you'll need access to the three channels broadcasting the playoffs: ABC, ESPN, and TNT. Luckily, there are several streaming services that carry all three. You can also catch the TNT games on Max. So if you don't already have these networks, now's the time to solve that problem and get some live football playoff action sent directly to your favorite screen ASAP. 

College Football Playoff Schedule

First Round 

• Friday, Dec. 20: No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame | 8 p.m. ET | ABC/ESPN
• Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State | 12 p.m. ET | TNT/MAX
• Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas | 4 p.m. ET | TNT/MAX
• Saturday, Dec. 21: No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State | 8 p.m. ET | ABC/ESPN

Quarterfinals

• Tuesday, Dec. 31: Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 6 Penn State/No. 11 SMU winner | 7:30 p.m. ET  | ESPN
• Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025: Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. No. 5 Texas/No. 12 Clemson winner | 1 p.m. ET | ESPN
• Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025: Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. No. 8 Ohio State/No. 9 Tennessee winner | 5 p.m. ET | ESPN
• Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025: Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame/No. 10 Indiana winner | 8:45 p.m. ET | ESPN

Semifinals

• Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025: Orange Bowl: 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
• Friday, Jan. 10, 2025: Cotton Bowl: 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
• Monday, Jan. 20, 2025:  CFP National Championship: 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

How to Watch the College Football Playoffs on Max

Max will be broadcasting the two TNT college football playoff games this year on Dec. 21: SMU vs. Penn State and Clemson vs. Texas. Subscription plans start at $10/month and will allow you to watch live sports games and browse the impressive HBO/Discovery content library that includes everything from The Sopranosto 90 Day Fiance. You can also bundle Max with subscriptions with Disney+ and Hulu (those plans start at $17/month) for an even larger all-in-one entertainment package. 

How to Watch the College Football Playoffs on Hulu + Live TV

A subscription to Hulu + Live TV will allow you to watch all of the college football playoff games on ABC, ESPN, and TNT. You can sign up for Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads) for $83/month after a 3-day free trial. Or, you can get Hulu + Live TV (ad-free), Disney+ (ad-free), and ESPN+ (with ads) for $96/month. Whatever package you choose, not only will you be able to watch the college football playoffs, but you'll also have plenty of live and on-demand entertainment options available 24/7.

How to Watch the College Football Playoffs on DIRECTV STREAM

Another way to watch this year's college football playoff games is with a subscription to DIRECTV STREAM, which offers TNT, ABC (in some regions), and ESPN. Plans cost around $90/month for the Entertainment + Sports Pack, $120/month for the Choice + Sports Pack, and $150/month for the Ultimate + Sports Pack, though DIRECTV STREAM also offers a number of deals that cut the cost for the first couple of months. Prices may differ depending on regional sports fees and other factors, and as noted, ABC might not be available in your region. 

How to Watch the College Football Playoffs on Fubo

Fubo is a great streaming option for catching the college football playoffs, with easy access to ESPN and ABC for all the big games. The Essential Plan, Fubo's entry-level tier, costs just $45 for the first month and $80/month after that, offering access to 200+ channels, unlimited DVR storage, and streaming on up to 10 devices at once. However, it's worth noting that Fubo does not include TNT, which could be a dealbreaker if you're looking to watch other sports or events on that channel. Still, for college football fans, Fubo delivers a robust lineup that makes it a solid choice for the playoffs.

How to Watch the College Football Playoffs on Sling TV

To watch the College Football Playoffs on Sling TV, the Orange + Blue Plan is your best bet. This combined plan includes ESPN and TNT (on the Orange Plan) and ABC (on the Blue Plan), covering all the key channels for the playoff action. Priced at around $60/month, it's an even better deal for new subscribers, who can snag the first month for half off. With the Orange + Blue Plan, you'll get access to 46 channels plus 22 exclusive ones. It's a versatile and affordable option for staying in the loop this playoff season. The pricing for this also varies depending on where you are, so check accurate pricing below.

How to Watch the College Football Playoffs with a VPN

If you're trying to watch the College Football Playoffs but don't have access to ESPN, ABC, or TNT in your area, a VPN could be your game-day solution. A reliable VPN, like ExpressVPN or Private Internet Access, helps you bypass location restrictions so you can stream the playoff games live no matter where you are. Both services are built for smooth streaming — ExpressVPN even offers discounts on annual plans, while Private Internet Access starts at just $2/month. With an easy setup and secure connection, you'll be ready to catch every touchdown and game-changing play without missing a beat.

• Sign up for ExpressVPN
• Sign up for Private Internet Access

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