For those of us who consider ourselves college football sickos, today is something akin to Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, July 3, Feb. 13, and the day before Arbor Day all rolled up into one. That’s because after months of pouring over preseason magazines, obsessing over recruiting, analyzing everything coming out of our favorite team’s training camp, and working ourselves up into a tizzy of anticipation, we gobbled up the amuse-bouche that was Week 0 and are ready for the main course.

Fortunately, the 2026-27 college football season kicks off in earnest this weekend. And, since this is Labor Day Weekend, we will get four days of games through Monday, Sept. 7.

However, thanks to the ongoing proliferation of college sports rights, there are dozens of channels and streamers that will carry college football this season, and it can be tough to keep up. So to make your first weekend of viewing simple, we have pulled together all of the information you need to stream and channel surf as seamlessly as possible.

Everything you need to know about Week 1 of college football

What is the best streamer to watch college football?

In the expert opinion of the staff here at The Streamable, we think that the best option to stream college football in 2026 is DIRECTV. When it comes to offering the most channels in streaming, every live TV streaming service is chasing DIRECTV. To start, the streamer has the industry’s best guaranteed free trial. While others can roll out longer options depending on what time of year it is and what qualifications you meet as a customer, DIRECTV offers a five-day trial to all new users. So, if you want to give the platform a go before figuring out if you are ready to commit, you can watch the full weekend of action before paying a penny.

Of course, one of the things any fan needs to factor in when putting together streaming plans is what channels will be carrying their favorite team and conference’s games. Fortunately, the platform offers more of The Streamable’s top 35 cable channels than any other streamer, so if you are looking for a breadth of programming options, DIRECTV is a surefire hit.

What channels carry each conference’s games?

But what really makes DIRECTV stand out is its ability to offer a variety of compelling packages for football fans. DIRECTV offers a handful of skinny bundle Genre Packs that allow people to pick curated channel lineups around central themes and genres, and for sports fans, that means the MySports Pack.

The MySports plan runs $65 a month after the aforementioned five-day free trial, which gives you a way to check out everything that it has to offer before having to pay a penny. However, currently, you can also save an additional $15 off your first month, so you will only pay $50 for the first 30 days of the season.

Related: How to watch the 2026-27 college football season

You’ll also get a bunch of great sports channels with MySports, including ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, FS1, FS2, Golf Channel, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NHL Network, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, and USA Network, and depending on your market, ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.

These channels bring you an incredible selection of games from across pro and college sports, and MySports also comes with a free ESPN Unlimited subscription. Pretty solid. All these channels and features are available for just $65, which is why it’s our favorite way to watch.

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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.

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Following the launch of several genre-specific Genre Packs, there are now even more flexible ways to watch DIRECTV. Options like MySports, MyEntertainment, MyNews, and MiEspañol provide affordable, targeted alternatives to larger bundles, allowing viewers to subscribe to a specific set of channels that match their interests without the cost of a full lineup.

DIRECTV starts at $59.99 / month for its Entertainment package. You can access your local regional sports network with the Choice package, which begins at $64.99 / month, as well as the MySports Pack $44.99 / month. At the top end, they also have an Ultimate ($94.99) for 218 channels. Slimmer Genre Packs for entertainment and news are MyEntertainment for $42.99 / month and MyNews $39.99 / month. There is no contract or broadcast TV fees with this DIRECTV streaming option.

The service was previously called DIRECTV STREAM, preceded by AT&T TV.

How much does DIRECTV cost in 2026?

DIRECTV now offers flexible entry points starting at $19.99/month for the MyKids Genre Pack, while full Signature Packages like Entertainment start at $84.99/month. See the full list: DIRECTV Pricing & Plans

Does DIRECTV have a free trial?

Yes, DIRECTV offers a 5-Day Free Trial for new customers, which includes access to your chosen package and any added Genre Packs.

What are DIRECTV Genre Packs?

Genre Packs are targeted, contract-free plans introduced in 2025. They include MySports ($69.99/mo), MyEntertainment ($34.99/mo), MyNews ($39.99/mo), and MiEspañol ($34.99/mo), often bundling apps like Max, Disney+, or Hulu.

How many channels does DIRECTV have?

The channel count varies by plan: the Entertainment package starts with 90+ channels, while the Premier package offers over 185+ channels. See the full list: DIRECTV Channels.

How many streams are allowed at once on DIRECTV?

DIRECTV allows for unlimited simultaneous streams on your home network and up to 3 streams while on the go. See more details: DIRECTV Simultaneous Streams

Does DIRECTV include local channels?

Yes, local affiliates like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC are included in all Signature Packages and the MySports Genre Pack in most markets. See the full list: DIRECTV Local Channels.

Does DIRECTV have live sports?

DIRECTV is a leader in sports, offering ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, and MLB Network, plus Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) in the Choice plan and above. See the full list: DIRECTV Sports Channels.

Does DIRECTV offer premium channels?

Yes, you can add Max, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, STARZ, and Cinemax. Many 2026 Genre Packs now include these services as part of the base price. See the full list: DIRECTV Premium Channels.

Does DIRECTV offer 4K streaming?

DIRECTV provides dedicated 4K channels (104-106) for live sports and special events at no extra cost, provided you have a compatible 4K device.

Does DIRECTV have a DVR?

Every DIRECTV plan includes Unlimited Cloud DVR storage, allowing you to record and save shows for up to 9 months.

Is there a Regional Sports Network (RSN) fee on DIRECTV?

An RSN fee of up to $15.99/month applies to the Choice package and above, as these plans include local sports coverage. This fee is determined by your zip code and the number of Regional Sports Networks available in your area.

Can I avoid the RSN fee on DIRECTV?

Yes. To avoid the RSN fee, you can subscribe to the Entertainment package or the MySports Genre Pack ($69.99/mo), which bundles sports content without a separate itemized RSN charge. See the breakdown: DIRECTV RSN Fees & Locations.

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Watch a full Week 1 preview

What is the top 25 Week 1 schedule?

All 25 ranked teams will be in action this week, beginning with No. 25 Missouri hosting Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. ET on the SEC Network, and concluding on Monday, Sept. 7 with the No. 19 SMU visiting the Florida State. Here is the complete schedule of Week 1 games featured ranked teams and how you can watch them.

What is the ACC Week 1 schedule?

Every team in the ACC will be in action during Week 1, except for the North Carolina Tar Heels, who opened their season in Week 0 with a win over TCU in Dublin, Ireland. The action will start on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. ET as the Wake Forest host the Akron Zips out of the MAC.

What is the Big 12 Week 1 schedule?

Similar to the ACC, every Big 12 team will take to the field this weekend, except for TCU. The UCF Knights will welcome [Bethune-Cookman] to the Bounce House on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. ET, and the Arizona State Sun Devils will wrap up the conference’s Week 1 slate by hosting [Morgan State] on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 10 p.m.

What is the Big Ten Week 1 schedule?

All 18 teams in college football’s most dominant conference will take to the field in Week 1, headlined by the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, No. 2 Oregon, and defending national champion No. 6 Indiana. Fittingly, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights — who played in the first-ever college football game against the Princeton Tigers in 1869 will get Week 1 underway when they host UMass at 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 3. The B1G’s weekend will wrap up on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m., when the Wisconsin Badgers and No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish kick off on the not-yet frozen tundra of Lambeau Field.

What is the SEC Week 1 schedule?

While the SEC was in court on Thursday, fighting to stop one of its member institutions from rostering NFL players, the aforementioned Mizzou Tigers will kick off the conference’s Week 1 slate. The weekend will wrap up for the SEC on Sunday, Sept. 6, at 7:30 p.m. with the only ranked-vs.-ranked matchup of the weekend, as the No. 24 Louisville Cardinals take on the No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels in Nashville.

Other noteable Week 1 games

Outside of the Power 4 conferences, there are a handful of compelling matchups that you might want to keep an eye on this weekend. With at least one spot in the College Football Playoff guaranteed for a Group of 6 team, getting to know the major players early will be important for all diehard fans.

What channels and streamers carry college football?

With each college conference divvying up their broadcast rights for the highest bidders, it can be incredibly convoluted to try and figure out what channels carry college football, and what streamers carry what channels. So, while our recommendation is to go with DIRECTV, when you are making your streaming selection, make sure that the platform you go with provides access to all of the channels you will need to catch the games you want to see.

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