How to Watch College Football in 2026-27

The college football season is right around the corner, and it promises to be another thrilling one. For the first time in history, Indiana is going into the season hoping to defend its National Championship. Arch Manning is looking to lead the Texas Longhorns back to the College Football Playoff before he heads to the pros, and more than a dozen teams are looking to spoil the dreams of both teams in their quest to finish as the nation’s top team.

Here’s your ultimate preseason guide to the 2026-2027 college football season. Find out college football schedules, how to watch and more right here.

Where to Watch College Football in 2026-2027

Finding your favorite college football games can be a challenge when there are so many different telecasts to choose from and games happening at the same time.

Catching all the action is easy with DIRECTV makes it easy. With the CHOICE™ Signature TV Package and above or the MySports® Genre Pack®, you’ll get the BIG Ten Network, SEC Network and alongside staples like FOX and FS1. This ensures you’ll enjoy more live sports year-round than with any other TV provider.

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What Channels Show College Football?

NCAA college football is televised across numerous channels, depending on what conference your favorite team falls under. Where you’ll be able to watch games also depends on where you live.

These are the major networks that will be carrying the action all season:

• ABC (Find your local affiliate)
• FOX (Find your local affiliate)
• CBS (Find your local affiliate)
• NBC (Find your local affiliate)
• ESPN (Ch. 206)
• ESPN2 (Ch. 209)
• ESPNU (Ch. 208)
• FS1 (Ch. 219)

Where to Watch College Football by Conference

Here’s a complete channel guide per conference:

*Certain streaming platforms airing college football are not included in DIRECTV packages and must be subscribed to separately.

What’s the Best Way to Watch College Football Without Cable?

For those who want to want college football without cable, streaming is often the best choice. You’ll find subscription packages that fit any fanbase and budget, and you won’t have to fiddle with antennas or deal with blackout dates. Here are some of the top streaming services for watching college football without cable:

• DIRECTV carries more live sports networks than any other streaming TV provider. Depending on the package you choose, you’ll get access to ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FOX and FS1, plus the SEC Network, Big Ten Network and ACC Network.
• Choose from four signature packages with 100+ channels to get all your sports and entertainment content, or…
• Try MySports Genre Pack for free! MySports has 20+ of the sports channels airing college football games, plus access to ESPN Unlimited for no additional cost.
• ESPN Unlimited is a streaming app that is a separate service from ESPN. Some, but not all, college football games that air on ESPN are available on ESPN Unlimited. You can get ESPN Unlimited now included in MySports Genre Pack from DIRECTV at no extra charge!
• Fox One is a new streaming service that bundles a variety of FOX networks into one package, some of which air college football. That being said, you get Fox, FS1, FS2 and Big Ten Network included in the DIRECTV packages described above.
• Hulu+Live TV, Sling TV, Paramount+ have a variety of channels that air college football games. Some packages may be better than others, depending on what conferences you care about most.

Where to Find Today’s College Football Games

For the latest matchups, kickoff times, TV channels and viewing information, check out our College Football Games on TV Today guide. It’s your go-to resource for finding out which college football games are on and where to watch them.

2026-27 College Football Preseason Top 25

Heading into week one, here are the power rankings for the top college football teams in the country.

1. Ohio State
2. Texas
3. Notre Dame
4. Oregon
5. Georgia
6. Indiana
7. Miami
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. Texas Tech
11. Texas A&M
12. Oklahoma
13. USC
14. Ole Miss
15. Michigan
16. Tennessee
17. Penn State
18. Florida
19. Clemson
20. BYU
21. Missouri
22. Auburn
23. South Carolina
24. SMU
25. Iowa

Check out when these top teams are facing off with their rivals in 2026-27 right here.

2026-27 Heisman Trophy Watch

These are some of the top players to watch in this year’s Heisman Trophy race:

Arch Manning – Texas Longhorns QB

In one of the most anticipated first seasons of any player in recent memory, last year Manning led the Longhorns to a 10-3 record and a Citrus Bowl win over Michigan. Manning did not have a mind-boggling statistical season like many expected, but he led Texas to key wins over rivals Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Had he gone into the NFL draft, he likely would have been a top pick.

This season will likely be his last in Austin, and Texas is going all in with national championship expectations. For Manning individually, this could be the last chance for a Manning dynasty Heisman.

NFL scouts will be paying particular attention to Manning’s performance against top defenses. Against Ohio State and Texas A&M, two of the top units in the country, Manning struggled with accuracy and pushing the ball down the field. Adding Cam Cameron at wideout will help open things up.

Dante Moore – Oregon Ducks QB

Dante Moore was at the top of just about every 2026 mock draft, but he ultimately decided to return to Eugene for his redshirt junior season. In 2025, his first full season with the Ducks, he led them to a 13-2 record and a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, throwing 30 passing touchdowns.

Moore was rumored to be the number two pick but instead opted for another shot at a national title. It will also be another year of development after his play took a considerable step back in the quarterfinals and semifinals. If he puts together an even stronger season, he will once again be one of the most hyped draft prospects and might even get some run as a potential pick over Arch Manning in next year’s draft.

CJ Carr – Notre Dame QB

Carr does not have the same name recognition as Arch Manning, Dante Moore or even Trinidad Chambliss, but he will be behind center for an exceptionally strong Notre Dame team. As a redshirt freshman a year ago, Carr threw for 2,700 yards and 24 touchdowns, averaging nearly 9.5 yards per attempt.

Jordan Faison will be his top target on the outside, with Aneyas Williams carrying the unenviable task of leading a backfield that lost Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. The true test for Carr might not come until early November, when the Fighting Irish host the Miami Hurricanes, one of the nation’s top teams entering the season. By that point, the Heisman Trophy will be awarded in just a month, and it will be Carr’s chance to make his best case for it.

Darian Mensah – Miami Hurricanes QB

Mensah is on his third team in three seasons and last year at Duke he led the ACC in passing attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns and average yards per attempt. Now he gets a chance to lead last year’s national championship runner up, the Miami Hurricanes.

He inherits two of the nation’s best playmakers in Malachi Toney at wide receiver and Mark Fletcher Jr. at running back. Toney, Cooper Barkate and Cam Vaughn form one of the best wide receiver trios in the country. Mensah was brought in for one thing and one thing only, to help Miami take the next step and win its first national championship in over 20 years.

Trinidad Chambliss – Ole Miss Rebels QB

Chambliss is back for his second season as the Ole Miss Rebels quarterback. Last year he led the SEC in passing yards and brought the Rebels all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinal, where they suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Miami Hurricanes.

In his first season of FBS action, Chambliss was sensational even in defeat. In the lone regular-season loss to Georgia, he threw for 263 yards and a touchdown while rushing for two more scores in a one-score loss. He then beat the Bulldogs with an even better game in the quarterfinal, throwing for 362 yards and two touchdowns.

Chambliss and Ole Miss are starting a new chapter with former head coach Lane Kiffin firmly in the rearview. But back with him is his running mate in the backfield, Kewan Lacy, arguably the best running back in the country. He, Deuce Alexander and Johntay Cook II will be the primary playmakers for the Rebels offense.

Jeremiah Smith – Ohio State WR

Smith is a dark horse candidate for the Heisman, as every non-quarterback is, but he enters as the nation’s number one wide receiver, a top pick in next year’s NFL draft and maybe the most dangerous player with the ball in his hands. Sorry, he has to make the list.

Smith has led the Big Ten in receiving yards in two straight seasons and has averaged 80 receptions, 1,215 yards and 13 touchdowns in two years with the Buckeyes. In what should be his last collegiate season, the All American has all the ability needed to upset the field and take home the Heisman.

Curious how much these players are making with NIL? Find out here!

How Does the College Football Playoff Work?

The NCAA College Football Playoff (CFP) is a 12-team, single-elimination tournament featuring the best teams in the country.

The five highest-ranked conference champions earn automatic bids to the CFP, then the next seven highest-ranked teams claim the remaining spots. Usually, the champs from the Big 12, ACC, SEC, and Big 10 conferences end up in the playoffs.

The 13-member College Football Playoff Selection Committee, made up of college football experts including former coaches, players and administrators, ranks the teams and determines the final playoff field based on performance criteria.

The CFP features six bowl games as part of the tournament. The quarterfinals will be played at the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl Classic and Peach Bowl. The semifinals will be played at the Orange Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.

Get a deeper dive into how the NCAA College Football Playoff works right here.

What Are the College Football Conferences?

Stream College Football on DIRECTV

Interested in a service that lets you access live sports, and only live sports? Try MySports Genre Pack today for free to kick off the 2026-27 college football season.