After becoming America’s darlings by pulling off a last-second road upset of the Michigan Wolverines last Saturday, the No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes will return home in hopes of continuing their momentum as the No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes visit Kinnick Stadium. That is one of three top-25 matchups set for Week 5 of the 2025-26 college football season.

In addition to the Big Ten matchup that will air on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET, No. 7 Alabama will head to Starkville to take on No. 16 Mississippi State at 12 noon on ABC. That will be followed by another ranked-vs.-ranked SEC battle as No. 8 Florida will take on No. 25 Missouri on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET. Get your popcorn and multiview ready, and don’t forget to hydrate; this week’s schedule has all the makings of an absolute banger of a college football weekend.

Everything you need to know about Week 5 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 5 preview

What is the top-25 Week 5 schedule?

There are three ranked-vs.-ranked games on the Week 5 schedule, and two of them will kick off before much of the country has even figured out what it wants for lunch. No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide will visit undefeated No. 16 Mississippi State Bulldogs on ABC at 12 noon ET, before No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes head to Kinnick Stadium to face No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET. Also in that afternoon window, No. 8 Florida Gators will put their unbeaten record on the line at No. 25 Missouri Tigers on ABC.

What is the ACC Week 5 schedule?

The ACC gets an early start on Friday when undefeated [Pitt Panthers] and Virginia Tech Hokies meet in Blacksburg on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET. Saturday’s slate includes No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish visiting the North Carolina Tar Heels at 12 noon ET on ESPN, but the conference’s marquee game comes in primetime when No. 4 Miami Hurricanes travel to Death Valley to face the Clemson Tigers on ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET.

What is the Big 12 Week 5 schedule?

Three ranked Big 12 teams are in action Saturday, beginning with No. 20 Houston Cougars hosting the UCF Knights on ESPN2 at 12 noon ET. In primetime, unbeaten No. 10 BYU Cougars visit the TCU Horned Frogs on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, while No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders take their perfect record on the road to face the Colorado Buffaloes on Fox at 7:30 p.m. ET.

What is the Big Ten Week 5 schedule?

The Big Ten’s biggest game is also one of the biggest games anywhere in the country this weekend. No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes head to Iowa City to face undefeated No. 14 Iowa Hawkeyes on CBS at 3:30 p.m. ET, one week after the Hawkeyes knocked off Michigan in Ann Arbor. The conference weekend begins Friday night when Penn State Nittany Lions visit the Northwestern Wildcats on Fox at 8 p.m. ET, while No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers will try to remain perfect when they visit the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Big Ten Network at 8 p.m. ET Saturday.

What is the SEC Week 5 schedule?

The SEC has two ranked matchups on Saturday, beginning with a battle of unbeaten teams when No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide visit No. 16 Mississippi State Bulldogs on ABC at 12 noon ET. Then at 3:30 p.m. ET, No. 8 Florida Gators — fresh off their statement win over Ole Miss — head to Columbia to take on No. 25 Missouri Tigers, also on ABC. No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers will look to bounce back from their narrow loss to Texas when they host the Auburn Tigers on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Other noteable Week 5 games

The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy race gets underway Saturday when the Navy Midshipmen visit the Air Force Falcons on CBS at 12 noon ET. Another undefeated team worth watching is North Dakota State Bison, which hosts the Wyoming Cowboys on The CW at 3:30 p.m. ET, while 4-0 James Madison Dukes welcome the Marshall Thundering Herd for a Sun Belt matchup on ESPNU at 3:45 p.m. ET. Thursday night’s North Texas Mean Green-Tulsa Golden Hurricane game also gives the weekend an early nationally televised kickoff on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.

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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