See all the wacky sports of the ninth annual ESPN8: The Ocho
See all the wacky sports of the ninth annual ESPN8: The Ocho
The programming event will see 30 sports make their debut, from Soap Hockey to Outhouse Racing.
Mailman boat jumping? Robot fighting? Savannah Bananas baseball? There’s only one place to find all of these events: ESPN8: The Ocho. The quirky sports programming marathon is coming to ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU, as well as ESPN Deportes, starting on Thursday, July 31 at 7 p.m. ET. We’ll give you a full selection of the programming you can watch below, and explain why we recommend watching it with a subscription to DIRECTV.
How to watch ESPN8: The Ocho 2025
- When: Starting Thursday, July 31 at 7 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes
- Stream: Watch with a subscription to DIRECTV.
- From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a VPN.
Everything you need to know about ESPN8: The Ocho 2025
What is the schedule of ESPN8: The Ocho 2025 events?
Thursday, July 31 Schedule
| Time (ET) | Event | Outlet |
|---|---|---|
| 7 p.m. | Red Bull Flugtag Cincinnati | ESPN2 |
| 7:30 p.m. | Ludwig’s Streamer Games | ESPN2 |
| 8 p.m. | 2025 Blackbird Cup – Alberta Pro Roller Hockey League | ESPN2 |
| 9 p.m. | National Ball Hockey League | ESPN2 |
| 10 p.m. | National Putting Tour American Dream’s Super Roll of Putting | ESPN2 |
| 10:30 p.m. | NuLu Bock Fest Goat Racing Championships | ESPN2 |
| 11 p.m. | T-Rex World Championship Races | ESPN2 |
| 11:30 p.m. | 2025 Corgi Races at Emerald Downs | ESPN2 |
Friday, Aug. 1 Schedule
| Time (ET) | Event | Outlet |
|---|---|---|
| 12 midnight | 2025 World Dog Surfing Championships Best Waves | ESPN2 |
| 12:30 a.m. | Roofball – 2025 RFA Cup | ESPN2 |
| 1 a.m. | The 2024 Onewheel World Championship – Race For The Rail | ESPN2 |
| 1:30 a.m. | 2025 NESSBIC Finals | ESPN2 |
| 2 a.m. | 2025 Golden Tee Golf World Championships | ESPN2 |
| 2:30 a.m. | 2023 FTA World Championship (Freestyle Trampoline) | ESPN2 |
| 3 a.m. | 2023 Wisconsin Auctioneers Championship | ESPN2 |
| 3:30 a.m. | 2020 USA Mullet Championships | ESPN2 |
| 4 a.m. | Battle of the Buoy 2 | ESPN2 |
| 4:30 a.m. | SXY National Beach Tennis Invitational | ESPN2 |
| 5 a.m. | IWL WRESTBALL 3×3 | ESPN2 |
| 6 a.m. | Battle Court Jai-Alai Championship VII | ESPN2 |
| 7 a.m. | 11th Annual Outhouse Races | ESPN2 |
| 7:30 a.m. | Swiss Stone Tossing | ESPN2 |
| 8 a.m. | Mailboat Jumping | ESPN2 |
| 8:30 a.m. | 2025 National Bubble Gum Blowing Championship | ESPN2 |
| 9 a.m. | FlingGolf: LFC-5 Longest FlingShot Championship | ESPN2 |
| 9:30 a.m. | The Goodyear Blimp Sky Race of the Century | ESPN2 |
| 10 a.m. | Major League Paintball, 3v3 World Championship | ESPN2 |
| 11 a.m. | NWLA All-Star Game | ESPN2 |
| 12 noon | OmegaBall World Invitational | ESPN2 |
| 1 p.m. | Turf Wars Adult Kickball Tournament – LIVE on ESPN8 | ESPN2 |
| 2 p.m. | ACL World Championship: Trickshot Challenge | ESPN2 |
| 3 p.m. | The 4th Annual BullShooter Invitational Shootout | ESPN2 |
| 4 p.m. | The Ocho Show | ESPN2 |
| 5 p.m. | The Popdarts Championship | ESPN2 |
| 6 p.m. | 2025 Slippery Stairs | ESPN2 |
| 7 p.m. | Banana Ball: The Firefighters vs. Savannah Bananas | ESPN |
| 7 p.m. | 2025 Extreme Archery Championship | ESPN2 |
| 8 p.m. | The National Dodgeball League Championship Games | ESPN2 |
| 8 p.m. | ACL World Championship: Women, Senior, Junior Championships | ESPN2 |
| 8:30 p.m. | The National Dodgeball League Championship Games | ESPN2 |
| 9 p.m. | Pop-A-Shot 2025 National Championship | ESPN2 |
| 10 p.m. | Pillow Fight Championship | ESPN2 |
| 11:30 p.m. | Carjitsu Champ | ESPN2 |
Saturday, Aug. 2 Schedule
| Time (ET) | Event | Outlet |
|---|---|---|
| 12 midnight | Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story | ESPN2 |
| 2 a.m. | Diving Chess: Duel in the Depths | ESPN2 |
| 2:30 a.m. | Freestyle Chess | ESPN2 |
| 3 a.m. | Microsoft Excel World Championship Finals | ESPN2 |
| 3:30 a.m. | NHRL Teams: Robot Fighting Championship | ESPN2 |
| 4 a.m. | Viii Sports 2024 National Championship | ESPN2 |
| 5 a.m. | 2022 Speed Chess Championship Final | ESPN2 |
| 5:30 a.m. | ProSayulita SUP OPEN | ESPN2 |
| 6 a.m. | 2023 FootGolf World Cup | ESPN2 |
| 6:30 a.m. | World Series of Armwrestling Finals Season 3 | ESPN2 |
| 7 a.m. | NHRL Prime Time Robot Fighting | ESPN2 |
| 7:30 a.m. | 360 Hoops Championship | ESPN2 |
| 8 a.m. | Padel Ping Pong Championship | ESPN2 |
| 8:30 a.m. | Bottlesbee | ESPN2 |
| 9 a.m. | Bike Polo | ESPN2 |
| 9:30 a.m. | 2023 World Table Hockey Championships | ESPN2 |
| 11 a.m. | World Axe & Knife Throwing Championship 2025 | ESPN2 |
| 12 noon | ACL World Championship: Pro Doubles Final | ESPN2 |
| 2:30 p.m. | ACL World Championship: Superhole | ESPNU |
| 6:30 p.m. | Banana Ball: The Firefighters vs. Savannah Bananas | ESPN2 |
| 9 p.m. | T-Rex World Championship Races (re-air) | ESPN2 |
| 9:30 p.m. | Coffin Wars, Grapple to the Grave | ESPN2 |
| 10 p.m. | Tire Wrestling: No Ropes. Just Rubber | ESPN2 |
| 10:30 p.m. | The 2025 Big Boy Soap Hockey Tournament | ESPN2 |
| 11 p.m. | Donk Toss World Championship | ESPN2 |
| 11:30 p.m. | World Premiere: BBA Bubbleball | ESPN2 |
Sunday, Aug. 3 Schedule
| Time (ET) | Event | Outlet |
|---|---|---|
| 12 midnight | Tractor Pulling | ESPN2 |
| 12:30 a.m. | 2025 Corgi Races at Emerald Downs (re-air) | ESPN2 |
| 1 a.m. | TBA Ocho Programming | ESPN2 |
| 5 a.m. | The 2025 Ultimate Ninja World Series Finals | ESPN2 |
| 5:30 a.m. | Buoy Cup | ESPN2 |
| 6 a.m. | Microsoft Excel World Championship 2024 Finals | ESPN2 |
| 6:30 a.m. | The Goodyear Blimp Sky Race of the Century (re-air) | ESPN2 |
| 7 a.m. | Never Tell Me The Odds Ocho Special | ESPN2 |
| 11:30 a.m. | 2025 US Open Ultimate Championships: Mixed Finals | ESPN2 |
| 12 p.m. | ACL World Championship: Pro Singles Final | ESPN |
| 1:30 p.m. | 2025 US Open Ultimate Championships: Women’s Finals | ESPN2 |
Why do we recommend watching ESPN8: The Ocho 2025 on DIRECTV?
We love DIRECTV for watching ESPN8: The Ocho this year, specifically on the service’s MySports Genre Pack. This package allows viewers to watch exclusively sports channels, without having to pay more for entertainment networks they’ll never end up watching anyway.
MySports comes with ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU in its base channel package, which also includes a five-day free trial. Once that trial ends, the package costs $70 per month — far less than services like Fubo or YouTube TV charge to watch these channels, alongside other sports networks like FS1 and TNT, and even local affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC in some markets.
New customers will be able to watch ESPN8: The Ocho with DIRECTV’s free trial, and will continue to get a great selection of sports-themed channels as the fall season gets closer. The MySports Genre Pack delivers these channels at a great price, and all you’ll need to watch is your own home internet connection.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.
Can you watch ESPN8: The Ocho 2025 for free?
There are several other services that come with the channels you’ll need to watch ESPN8: The Ocho, and include a free trial.
Hulu + Live TV offers all new customers the same three-day free trial. After that trial, its plans start at $83 per month if you want the Disney Bundle included for free.
Fubo’s free trial can last between one day and seven, depending on variables like what time of month you subscribe. After the trial, plans start at $85 per month, not including fees.
YouTube TV also has a trial that can vary in length, from two days up to 14. After the trial, its plans start at $83 per month.
What are all the services you can use to watch ESPN8: The Ocho 2025
We obviously recommend watching ESPN8: The Ocho on DIRECTV most highly this year, but you can also stream it on Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. In addition, you can watch the event on Sling TV, though you’ll need the Orange package and the Sports Extra add-on to get every necessary channel.
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| ESPN | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| ESPN Deportes | + $4 | + $20 | + $0 | - | - | - | + $6 | - | - | |
| ESPN2 | + $24 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | |
| ESPNU | + $24 | + $11 | + $61 | - | - | - | + $11 | - | ✓ | |
About ESPN8: The Ocho 2025
ESPN promises that ESPN8: The Ocho 2025 will be the most adrenaline-filled year of the event ever. More than 65 hours of programming will be presented, including a record-breaking 30 new competitions, in addition to the return of fan favorites like Ultimate Frisby and Slippery Stairs.
Eleven competitions will be presented live from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, and the Savannah Bananas will bring their unique take on baseball to the proceedings again as well. No matter what time of day you want to watch, ESPN8: The Ocho will have something entertaining to enjoy.
How to watch ESPN8: The Ocho 2025 from anywhere
If you’ll be away from home and can’t watch the ESPN8: The Ocho as you normally would, you can still catch all of the action no matter where you are in the world with a VPN. A VPN can be used on your phone, tablet, or computer and make you appear to be back home — even when you’re not — making sure you feel at home no matter where you are. A VPN is a safe and secure way to stay protected online while streaming your favorite sports, movies, and shows on the go. Keep in mind that you will still need to be subscribed to a live TV streaming service like DIRECTV in order to stream the event with a VPN.
NordVPN is one of the best providers around, at one of the best prices. Currently, you can get two full years of protection for just $3.59 per month — plus you’ll get three extra months FREE. A high-speed VPN with best-in-class security that can be used on up to 10 devices at once — what more could you ask for? Simply sign up, install the software on your device of choice, and start streaming just as you would back home. It couldn’t be easier!
While NordVPN is our recommendation for the best VPN to use while you are traveling, there are a number of other high-quality options available depending on what you are looking for.
- Best Features: ExpressVPN | Starting at $5 per month
- Best Budget Option: Surfshark | Starting at $2.50 per month
- Best Free Option: Proton VPN | Free plan available