Get ready, college football fans, because Week 8 gives us two ranked-vs.-ranked matchups with very different kinds of stakes. In Austin, No. 7 Ole Miss will visit No. 19 Texas on ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET, as the Longhorns try to steady themselves after a rough stretch against one of the SEC’s hottest teams. Then, the late-night spotlight shifts to Salt Lake City, where No. 14 Houston will take on undefeated No. 10 Utah in a huge Big 12 matchup on ESPN at 10:15 p.m. ET.

While those two games will take place after the sun goes down, there is plenty to keep an eye on in the afternoon windows as well. No. 6 Indiana heads to the Big House for a noon showdown with the Michigan Wolverines on Fox, while No. 13 Alabama hosts Texas A&M on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET. And if you like your football rivalries fought over a random big trophy, No. 15 Iowa will battle the Minnesota Golden Gophers for Floyd of Rosedale on FS1 at 3:30 p.m. ET. This weekend promises more than enough college football action to keep the remote busy from noon until well after midnight.

Everything you need to know about Week 8 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 $64.99 / month for its Entertainment package. You can access your local regional sports network with the Choice package, which begins at $69.99 / month, as well as the MySports Pack $44.99 / month. At the top end, they also have an Ultimate ($99.99) for 218 channels. Slimmer Genre Packs for entertainment and news are MyEntertainment for $34.99 / 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 8 preview

What is the top-25 Week 8 schedule?

After last weekend’s chaos turned the AP poll upside down, Week 8 offers the country’s best teams an opportunity to prove that the new rankings are more than just temporary assignments. The two ranked-vs.-ranked games both come late Saturday, beginning when No. 7 Ole Miss visits No. 19 Texas on ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET. Then, No. 14 Houston heads to Salt Lake City for a Big 12 showdown with undefeated No. 10 Utah on ESPN at 10:15 p.m. ET.

But there is plenty to watch before then. No. 6 Indiana will try to bounce back from its first loss in nearly two years when it visits Michigan on Fox at 12 noon ET, while No. 18 LSU heads to Auburn at the same time on ABC. The afternoon slate also features No. 2 BYU at UCF and Texas A&M at No. 13 Alabama.

What is the ACC Week 8 schedule?

The top-ranked team in the country will be back in action Saturday as No. 1 Miami hosts Pitt at 12 noon ET on ESPN. The Hurricanes survived Florida State in double overtime last week and now have the No. 1 ranking for the first time this season, meaning every opponent from here on out gets an opportunity to take its best shot at Mario Cristobal’s team.

Elsewhere, No. 23 SMU hosts Cal on The CW at 12 noon ET, while Virginia Tech heads to Death Valley to take on Clemson on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET. The conference weekend actually begins Friday, with Duke visiting Virginia at 7 p.m. ET before NC State and Stanford take over the late shift at 10:30 p.m. ET.

What is the Big 12 Week 8 schedule?

Every Big 12 team is in action this weekend, and the conference saved its biggest matchup for the very end of Saturday’s schedule. No. 14 Houston heads to Salt Lake City to take on undefeated No. 10 Utah on ESPN at 10:15 p.m. ET, with the winner putting itself in excellent position in an increasingly crowded conference race.

Before that, No. 8 Texas Tech will take its unbeaten record on the road against Cincinnati on FS1 at 12 noon ET, while No. 2 BYU visits UCF on Fox at 3:30 p.m. ET. Saturday also gives No. 25 Arizona its first game as a ranked team this season when Iowa State comes to Tucson at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

What is the Big Ten Week 8 schedule?

The Big Ten’s biggest game comes right at the beginning of the day, as defending national champion No. 6 Indiana travels to the Big House to take on Michigan on Fox at 12 noon ET. The Hoosiers finally saw their 28-game winning streak snapped by Ohio State last week, so Saturday will provide an immediate test of how Curt Cignetti’s team responds to something it hasn’t experienced in a very long time: a loss.

Later, No. 15 Iowa and Minnesota battle for Floyd of Rosedale on FS1 at 3:30 p.m. ET, while Michigan State heads west to take on undefeated No. 9 UCLA at the same time on CBS. No. 16 USC closes out the conference slate with a tricky trip to Madison to face the Wisconsin on NBC at 7:30 p.m. ET.

What is the SEC Week 8 schedule?

The SEC once again has the biggest ranked-vs.-ranked game in the afternoon window, as No. 7 Ole Miss visits No. 19 Texas on ABC at 7:30 p.m. ET. Texas desperately needs to steady itself after consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida, while Ole Miss enters the weekend squarely in the College Football Playoff discussion following last week’s win over Missouri.

Saturday begins with No. 18 LSU visiting an Auburn team that just knocked Georgia out of the No. 1 spot, with kickoff set for 12 noon ET on ABC. Then Texas A&M heads to Tuscaloosa to face No. 13 Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, while No. 11 Tennessee visits South Carolina on ESPN in the same window.

Other notable Week 8 games

Outside of the Power Four, the weekend starts early with James Madison visiting App State on ESPNU at 7 p.m. ET Thursday. JMU is still receiving votes in the AP poll, so the Dukes have an opportunity to keep pushing toward the Top 25 with a road victory in one of the Sun Belt’s most difficult environments.

Friday features Army visiting Tulsa on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. ET and Air Force traveling to Wyoming on The CW at 9 p.m. ET. On Saturday, keep an eye on North Texas at Navy at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network, while North Dakota State takes its latest FBS road trip to face New Mexico on The CW at 10 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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