What Channel Is College Football On Today? (Oct 2025)

By Sarah Miller · April 23, 2044

If you're wondering what channel is college football on today, the answer depends on the date, teams playing, and conference affiliations. As of October 2025, major college football games are primarily broadcast on ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, NBC, and the Big Ten Network (BTN). Streaming options include ESPN+, Peacock, Paramount+, and FuboTV. Always check your local listings or use a live TV guide for real-time updates.

How to Find Today's College Football Games by Channel

Finding the right channel for college football can be confusing due to rotating schedules and regional broadcasts. However, most games fall into predictable patterns based on conference partnerships and national TV deals.

Major Networks Broadcasting College Football in 2025

ABC: Home to many top-ranked matchups, including Saturday Night Football and key SEC and Big Ten games.
CBS: Primarily airs SEC games, especially marquee afternoon contests like the SEC on CBS.
FOX: Features Big Ten and Big 12 matchups, with high-profile noon and early afternoon games.
ESPN/ESPN2: Broadcasts ACC, Big 12, and select SEC games; also hosts weekday and late-night matchups.
FS1: Covers secondary Big 12, Big Ten, and Conference USA games.
NBC: Exclusively airs Notre Dame home games during the regular season.
Big Ten Network (BTN): Dedicated to Big Ten Conference content, including midweek games.
Peacock: Streams select NBC Sports college football games exclusively online.
ESPN+: Offers exclusive streaming-only games from smaller conferences and non-Power 4 schools.

Today’s Key College Football Broadcasts (October 2025)

The following table lists confirmed national television broadcasts for major college football games airing on Saturday, October 18, 2025 — one of the busiest weekends of the season.

Game	Kickoff (ET)	Network	Streaming Option	Notes
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin	12:00 PM	FOX	FuboTV, Sling Orange	Big Ten East showdown
Alabama vs. Tennessee	3:30 PM	CBS	Paramount+, Pluto TV	SEC rivalry game
Oregon vs. UCLA	7:30 PM	ABC	Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV	Nationally ranked matchup
Notre Dame vs. USC	7:30 PM	NBC	Peacock, fuboTV	Prime-time rivalry
Texas Tech vs. Kansas State	11:00 AM	ESPN+	ESPN App (subscription required)	Streaming exclusive
Iowa vs. Purdue	12:00 PM	BTN	Max (via BTN+), DirecTV Stream	Midwest conference battle

Table data source:ESPN, NCAA, SportsMedia Watch

The data shows that ABC, CBS, and FOX dominate weekend afternoon slots with Power 4 conference games, while ESPN and its platforms cover both early and late windows. Notably, Peacock continues to grow as a streaming-exclusive platform for Notre Dame games, and ESPN+ hosts an increasing number of mid-major matchups.

How Conference Deals Determine What Channel College Football Is On

Each NCAA Division I FBS conference has exclusive media rights agreements that determine where their games appear:

SEC: Split between CBS (afternoon) and ESPN/ABC (evening).
Big Ten: Shared among FOX, CBS, NBC, and BTN; expanded deal starting 2023 includes Peacock exclusives.
ACC: Primarily on ESPN networks, with some games on ABC.
Big 12: Broadcast across ESPN, FOX, and FS1.
Notre Dame (Independent): Home games aired on NBC; other games on ABC/ESPN.

This structure means fans of specific teams often need multiple services to watch all games.

Streaming Options for Watching College Football Online

If you don’t have cable, several legal streaming platforms offer access to major college football channels:

FuboTV: Carries ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, FS1, BTN, and offers Peacock integration.
Hulu + Live TV: Includes ABC, CBS, ESPN, FS1, and BTN.
YouTube TV: Full access to ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, BTN, and more.
Paramount+: Required for streaming CBS college football games.
ESPN App: Access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN+ content with login or subscription.
Peacock: Exclusive home for select Notre Dame games and Big Ten matchups.

Many of these services offer free trials, making it easier to catch big games without long-term commitments.

Common Questions About What Channel College Football Is On Today

What channel is college football on today if I’m watching a top-10 matchup?

High-profile matchups involving top-10 teams are typically aired on ABC or ESPN in prime time (7:30 PM ET), especially if they involve SEC, Big Ten, or ACC powerhouses. Check the weekly schedule released every Sunday night for upcoming broadcasts.

Is any college football game on network TV today?

Yes, most Saturdays feature multiple games on major networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. These are usually conference headliners such as SEC on CBS or Big Ten on FOX. Use a live TV guide or visit ESPN.com for up-to-the-minute listings.

Can I stream college football for free today?

Limited free options exist. Some games on CBS or NBC may be streamed free via their apps with authentication. Peacock offers select free Notre Dame games, but most require a subscription. Services like FuboTV and Hulu + Live TV offer free trials that allow temporary access.

Why is my team’s game not on national TV?

Only a limited number of games are selected for national broadcasts each week. Most matchups air regionally or on conference-specific networks like BTN or ACC Network. Lower-profile teams or non-conference games often appear on ESPN+ or FS1 instead of major networks.

Does ESPN+ have live college football today?

Yes, ESPN+ streams hundreds of college football games annually, particularly from Group of Five conferences, FCS programs, and non-Power 4 schools. While not all games are on the main ESPN channel, ESPN+ provides exclusive coverage of many matchups not available elsewhere.