When you’re serious about NCAA football, it’s important that you never miss your favorite college football games. Beginning Week Zero through the bowl season, including all the Power 5 and other conferences, culminating in New Year’s Eve national semifinals and the national championship, there’s almost always a live game to watch. But how do you ensure you enjoy access to the most games possible? Discover when the season starts, find college football schedules, how to watch and more with this go-to college football guide.
When Does the College Football Season Start?
The college football season kicks off with some Week Zero games on August 27, and everyone gets into the action with Week One action between Sept. 1 and Sept. 5. Then it’s a heavy dose of weekly games all the way through the end of November and Conference Championship Games Dec. 2-3. Bowl season gets underway Dec. 16 with near-daily action until the two national semifinals on New Year’s Eve, feature bowl games on Jan. 2 and CFP National Championship on Monday, Jan. 9.
How to Watch College Football
Finding your favorite college football games can be a challenge when there’s so many different telecasts, often at the same time. That’s why DIRECTV makes it easy. With the CHOICE™ Package or above and you’ll get the Big Ten Network and SEC Network, ACC Network alongside staples like ABC, ESPN, FOX and FS1. This ensures you’ll enjoy more live sports year-round than with any other TV provider.
Check out all the college football options worth exploring with DIRECTV STREAM.
Where to Watch College Football
NCAA college football is televised across numerous channels and varies based on region. Explore some of the networks that carry the most major college football games below.
Local ABC affiliates (ACC, American, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12)
Local FOX affiliates (Big 12, Big Ten, Mountain West, Pac-12)
CBS affiliates (SEC#, Mountain West, Army-Navy)
ESPN (ACC, American, Big 12, Big Ten, BYU, C-USA, Liberty, MAC, Pac-12, SEC, Sun Belt)
FS1 (Big 12, Big Ten, Mountain West, Pac-12)
ESPN2 (ACC, American, Big 12, Big Ten, BYU, C-USA, Liberty, MAC, Pac-12, SEC, Sun Belt)
ESPNU (ACC, American, Big 12, Big Ten, BYU, C-USA, Liberty, MAC, Pac-12, SEC, Sun Belt)
NBC affiliates (Notre Dame home games)
CBS Sports Network
The Longhorn Network (Texas Longhorns only)
BYUtv (Brigham Young only)
When is NCAA Football Championship?
The 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship Game will be played on January 9, 2023.
How Does the NCAA Football Championship Work?
Unlike in most pro sports, the NCAA football championship’s four teams are chosen by a 13-member selection committee made up of administrators, former coaches and players. This year’s top four teams will meet in either the Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl or Vrbo Fiesta Bowl with the winners advancing to the CFB National Championship.
Where is the NCAA Football Championship Game in January 2023?
The 2023 CFB National Championship will be played in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Jan. 9.
How to Stream College Football?
The best way to stream college football games is with DIRECTV STREAM, which offers access to the most networks, cloud DVR and additional features. Find out how to get DIRECTV STREAM so you never miss a second of your favorite games.
What are the College Football Conferences?
| FBS (Division I-A Conferences) | FCS (Division I-AA Conferences) |
| American | ASUN-WAC |
| ACC | ASUN |
| Big 12 | Big Sky |
| Big Ten | Big South |
| Conference USA | CAA |
| FBS Independents | FCS Independents |
| Mid-American | Great West |
| Mountain West | Ivy |
| Pac-12 | MEAC |
| SEC | Missouri Valley |
| Sun Belt | Northeast |
| Ohio Valley | |
| Patriot League | |
| Pioneer | |
| Southern | |
| Southland | |
| SWAC |
When Are the College Football Bowls?
Dec. 16 – Cure – Orlando, Fla.
Dec. 16 – Bahamas – Nassau, Bahamas
Dec. 17 – Frisco – Frisco, Tex.
Dec. 17 – Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nev.
Dec. 17 – LendingTree – Mobile, Ala.
Dec. 17 – Jimmy Kimmel L.A. – Inglewood, Calif.
Dec. 17 – New Mexico – Albuquerque, N.M.
Dec. 17 – Fenway – Boston, Mass.
Dec. 19 – Myrtle Beach – Conway, S.C.
Dec. 20 – Boca Raton – Boca Raton, Fla.
Dec. 20 – Famous Idaho Potato – Boise, Idaho
Dec. 21 – New Orleans – New Orleans, La.
Dec. 22 – Armed Forces – Fort Worth, Tex.
Dec. 23 – Gasparilla – Tampa, Fla.
Dec. 23 – Independence – Shreveport, La.
Dec. 24 – Hawai’i – Honolulu, Hawai’i
Dec. 26 – Quick Lane – Detroit, Mich.
Dec. 27 – Guaranteed Rate – Phoenix, Ariz.
Dec. 27 – Birmingham – Birmingham, Ala.
Dec. 27 – First Responder –University Park, Tex.
Dec. 27 – Camellia – Montgomery, Ala.
Dec. 28 – Texas – Houston, Tex.
Dec. 28 – Liberty – Memphis
Dec. 28 – Military – Annapolis, Md.
Dec. 29 – Alamo – San Antonio
Dec. 29 – Cheez-It – Orlando, Fla.
Dec. 29 – Pinstripe – New York
Dec. 30 – Duke’s Mayo – Charlotte
Dec. 30 – Arizona – Tucson, Ariz.
Dec. 30 – Tony the Tiger – El Paso, Tex.
Dec. 30 – Orange – Miami, Fla.
Dec. 31 – Peach semifinal – Atlanta, Ga.
Dec. 31 – Fiesta semifinal – Glendale, Ariz.
Dec. 31 – Sugar – New Orleans, La..
Dec. 31 – Music City – Nashville, Tenn.
Dec. 31 – TaxSlayer – Jacksonville, Fla.
Jan. 2 – Rose – Pasadena, Calif.
Jan. 2 – Cotton – Arlington, Texas
TBA – Holiday – San Diego, Calif.
Jan. 2 – Citrus – Orlando, Fla.
Jan. 2 – Tampa Bay – Tampa, Fla.
Jan. 9 – National Championship – Inglewood, Calif.
College Football Schedule
There are often numerous games played simultaneously every Game Day weekend. Find out which are available right now, kicking off soon, or the best remaining matchup through the end the season. Explore the DIRECTV sports schedule below which includes both college football and NFL.
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Make sure you keep up with your favorite college football teams with the provider who has the most sports available in one place, DIRECTV.
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