College Football TV Rights by Conference: Where to Watch in 2026

Keeping up with college football can sometimes be tough. With so many networks carrying games and teams often playing on different channels every week, fans can find themselves searching for the right channel or streaming service shortly before kickoff.

That’s where we come in. At LiveSportsOnTV.com, we’ve got you covered. Our college football TV schedule shows upcoming games with kickoff times, TV channels and streaming information as broadcast details are confirmed. Our guide below explains how the college football TV landscape works in 2026 and which networks and streaming services you may need to follow your team.

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How college football TV rights work

In the US, the top level of college football, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), has 138 teams in 2026. Most compete in one of 10 conferences, while Notre Dame and UConn remain football independents.

Each conference has its own media-rights arrangements, with conferences such as the SEC, Big Ten and ACC having dedicated networks alongside coverage on major national broadcasters.

These conference agreements are important because, for most regular-season games played on campus, the home team’s media-rights package determines which group of broadcasters can carry the game. Networks within that package then select games and broadcast windows. That’s why the same team can appear on very different networks from one week to the next, particularly when playing on the road.

Much of the biggest action also appears on national television through channels such as ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC and ESPN.

For instance, if an SEC team like Alabama plays an ACC opponent on the road, the game may fall under the ACC team’s home television package rather than the SEC’s. The exact channel will then depend on the relevant broadcaster’s game selection.

Listed below are the main FBS conferences and the TV and streaming platforms you’re most likely to need in 2026:

The 2026 arrangements above reflect current conference and broadcaster announcements and can differ for road non-conference games. 

While many kickoff times and channel assignments are selected well in advance, others are confirmed during the season using 12- or 6-day selection windows. This means the time or network for a particular game may not be known until relatively close to game day. 

Below, we’ll go through the conferences one by one and explain which networks and streaming platforms are most relevant for each one.

SEC

The SEC (Southeastern Conference) is one of the Power Four conferences of FBS, with schools including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Texas and Oklahoma. SEC-controlled games are distributed across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network and digital ESPN platforms.

The SEC Network is available through a range of traditional and live-TV packages and is also included in ESPN Unlimited, ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming plan. ESPN Unlimited costs $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year. Subscription prices can change, so it is worth checking the latest price before signing up.

ESPN Unlimited includes ESPN’s main linear networks as well as SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN+, SEC Network+ and ACC Network Extra.

Some SEC events are carried on SEC Network+, which isn’t a traditional TV channel but a digital-only companion service available through the ESPN App. Viewers with qualifying access can use it for events that aren’t carried on the main SEC Network.

You can check our SEC Network live sports schedule or ESPN Unlimited sports schedule for upcoming coverage on those platforms.

Throughout the year, SEC teams will also play road games against teams from other conferences. On those occasions, the game may be shown through the home team’s television package rather than the usual SEC networks.

Big Ten

Big Ten football is distributed across several major broadcast partners rather than one primary network. FOX, CBS and NBC all carry Big Ten games, alongside FS1 and the Big Ten Network. FOX’s coverage includes its regular “Big Noon” window, while CBS features prominent afternoon games and NBC presents Big Ten Saturday Night. FOX will also carry the 2026 Big Ten Football Championship Game on December 5.

There are several streaming options as well. Peacock carries both NBC-related coverage and exclusive Big Ten games that are not shown on NBC. CBS college football broadcasts can be streamed on Paramount+ with the Premium plan, while games on FOX, FS1 and Big Ten Network are also available through FOX One.

For network-specific listings, see our Big Ten Network live sports schedule and Peacock sports schedule.

Big 12

Unlike the SEC and Big Ten, the Big 12 doesn’t have a single conference channel carrying games throughout the year. If you’re looking to watch Texas Tech, Kansas or any of the other teams in the conference, ESPN and FOX are two of the main broadcasters for Big 12 football, with games appearing across ABC, ESPN networks, FOX and FS1.

TNT Sports is also part of the Big 12 television package, with selected games carried across TNT and related Warner Bros. Discovery platforms, including HBO Max.

The 2026 Big 12 Football Championship Game takes place on December 4 and will be shown on ABC.

As with other conferences, when Big 12 teams play road games, those games may be shown on networks that don’t traditionally carry Big 12 football because the home team’s media agreement generally determines the available broadcast package.

ACC

For home games involving teams from the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference), coverage is spread across a wide range of networks. The ACC’s 2026 television package includes games across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ACC Network, while selected games also appear on The CW, FOX and FS1.

The CW is an over-the-air broadcast network in many U.S. markets, although local availability varies. CW Sports events can also be streamed through the ESPN App as part of ESPN Unlimited.

Much like the SEC, the ACC also has a digital companion service. ACC Network Extra carries selected events through the ESPN App and is included with qualifying access to ACC Network or ESPN Unlimited.

For upcoming coverage on the conference channel itself, see the ACC Network live sports schedule.

Pac-12

The new-look Pac-12 begins a new era in 2026, with six new football members joining Oregon State and Washington State to create an eight-team football conference.

For league-controlled home games, the Pac-12’s new media agreements place games across CBS, CBS Sports Network, The CW and USA Network. The conference has announced that its entire 2026 home slate will receive national linear television coverage.

Pac-12 games shown nationally on CBS will also be available through Paramount+, while games broadcast on The CW can be streamed through the ESPN App as part of ESPN Unlimited.

The 2026 Pac-12 Championship Game will be played on December 4 and shown on CBS, with streaming available on Paramount+.

Pac-12 teams will also play road non-conference games covered by other conferences’ rights agreements, so those games can appear on networks including ESPN, FOX, NBC, Big Ten Network and TNT Sports.

Mountain West

For fans of teams in the Mountain West, the conference begins a new media-rights package in 2026 involving CBS Sports, FOX Sports, The CW and Kiswe.

National television coverage is split across outlets including CBS, CBS Sports Network, FOX, FS1, FS2 and The CW.

The conference has also launched the subscription-based MW App, a digital platform powered by Kiswe. The MW App is used for selected conference events that aren’t distributed through the Mountain West’s national television partners.

Games shown on CBS can also be available through Paramount+, while FOX channels are available through FOX One. CW Sports broadcasts are also available through the ESPN App with ESPN Unlimited.

You can use our CBS Sports Network live sports schedule to check upcoming events on one of the conference’s main national outlets.

American Conference

For games involving teams in the American Conference, ESPN remains the conference’s principal media-rights partner. Games appear across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN’s streaming platforms.

CBS Sports also carries specific American Conference inventory, particularly involving Army and Navy. In 2026, for example, all three Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy games are scheduled for CBS, while a number of Army and Navy conference home games appear on CBS Sports Network.

The 2026 American Conference Football Championship Game will be shown on ABC on December 5, while the Army-Navy Game will be shown on CBS on December 12.

Non-conference road games can appear on other networks, depending on the television package of the home team.

Sun Belt Conference

Sun Belt Conference football is closely tied to ESPN. The conference’s long-term media agreement means Sun Belt home games are carried across ESPN platforms, including national linear channels such as ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU as well as streaming coverage through ESPN+.

For the 2026 season, every Sun Belt home football game is scheduled to appear on an ESPN platform or another national linear network. Games played on the road against teams from other conferences can, as usual, appear under the home team’s television agreement.

Mid-American Conference (MAC)

Games in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) are primarily carried across ESPN networks, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN+, with selected games also appearing on CBS Sports Network during the 2026 season.

The conference is particularly known for its midweek “MACtion” schedule later in the season, when a number of conference games move away from the traditional Saturday windows and receive national television coverage during the week.

The 2026 MAC Football Championship Game will be shown on ESPN on December 5.

Conference USA

Conference USA football is primarily distributed through CBS Sports Network and ESPN under the conference’s current media-rights agreement.

Games can appear on CBS Sports Network as well as ESPN’s linear and streaming platforms. Conference USA has also made regular use of midweek football windows, giving the league nationally televised games outside the busiest Saturday periods.

As with every conference, non-conference road games may be shown by other broadcasters when the opposing team’s television package controls the rights.

Notre Dame and other independents

Notre Dame famously does not belong to a football conference. Its home television arrangement is separate from the conference deals discussed above, with NBC and Peacock continuing to carry Fighting Irish home coverage. For 2026, Notre Dame’s home schedule and its Shamrock Series game are being carried across NBC and Peacock.

As with other teams, however, Notre Dame road games are generally shown through the home opponent’s television package, which means the network can vary considerably depending on the opponent.

The other FBS independent in 2026 is UConn. Six UConn home games have been selected for CBS Sports Network, while the September 5 home opener against Lafayette is being carried locally in Connecticut on WFSB Channel 3. UConn road games can again appear on a range of other networks depending on the opponent.

Where to watch FCS Football

College football extends well beyond the FBS, and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) also features a large number of games throughout the season.

FCS television rights are more fragmented because conferences and schools have different broadcast arrangements. Games can appear across ESPN platforms, national and regional broadcasters, conference-specific services and other streaming platforms. The opening 2026 FCS schedule alone includes games on outlets such as ESPNU and FloSports, illustrating why there isn’t one single network or service that covers the entire subdivision.

For that reason, checking the current broadcast listing for a particular FCS matchup is often the simplest way to find out where it is available.

College Football Playoff TV rights

At the end of the season, 12 teams will compete in the College Football Playoff (CFP) for the national championship.

For the 2026–27 playoff, coverage is split between ESPN/ABC and TNT Sports. The first round begins on December 18, with games continuing on December 19. ESPN and ABC will carry two first-round games, while TNT, truTV and HBO Max will carry the other two.

The quarterfinals are also split between the two broadcast groups, with TNT Sports carrying two quarterfinal games and ESPN/ABC carrying two. TNT, truTV and HBO Max will then show one semifinal, while ABC and ESPN carry the other.

The 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship takes place in Las Vegas on January 25 and will be shown on ABC and ESPN.

How to find the channel for a specific game

As we’ve explained, college football coverage can move between a wide range of networks and streaming services depending on the conference, the home team and the broadcaster’s game selections.

Many kickoff times and television assignments are also finalized during the season using 12- or 6-day selection windows. In addition, some games are simulcast across a television network and streaming platform.

It is also important to remember that no single TV network or streaming service carries every college football game.

As a result, the best way to find the confirmed channel for a particular matchup is to check our upcoming college football games on TV and streaming. The schedule is updated as broadcast information becomes available and shows where and when upcoming college football games are being televised or streamed.