How to Watch NCAA College Football Securely — 2024 Guide
Reading time: 17 min
Updated on December 30, 2023
You can’t watch the most anticipated NCAA college football matches outside the US due to broadcasting restrictions. Theoretically, a VPN can provide an IP address in the US but accessing NCAA outside the country can infringe copyrights, which I don’t condone.
If you’re in the US, you can use a VPN to stream NCAA college football. Unfortunately, most VPNs are too slow or lack robust security. I tested 25 industry-leading VPNs extensively and picked the best ones to watch NCAA college football when you’re abroad.
ExpressVPN is the best overall VPN for streaming NCAA college football. It offers blazing-fast speeds for streaming and protects you from snoopers on open networks. You can confidently try ExpressVPN as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Stream without buffering with ExpressVPN
Disclaimer: Using a VPN to change your location and access NCAA college football outside the US violates copyrights and terms of service. I don’t condone any unfair use of VPNs.
Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Watch NCAA College Football With a VPN
- Download a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN for watching NCAA college football if you’re in the US because it provides the best speeds for lag-free streaming.
- Connect to a US server. This will change your current US IP address with another one, so you can stream NCAA college football even on restricted networks.
- That’s it! Now, you can watch NCAA college football in the US.
Where to Watch NCAA College Football
DirecTV Stream
Formerly known as AT&T TV Now, DirecTV Stream includes ESPN, Fox Sports 1, BTN, ACC, CBS, and SEC Network. This lineup ensures you can catch most NCAA football matches while traveling abroad.
It works on most popular devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, iOS, and Chromecast, and has 4 subscription tiers — Entertainment, Choice, Ultimate, and Premier. I recommend Choice as it has 105+ channels. You can use its 5-day free trial to see if it suits your needs.
Sling TV
With Sling TV, you get access to CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, BTN, FS1, ACC, and more. The Orange plan offers 30+ channels with streaming available on 1 device. Upgrading to Blue provides access to 40+ channels with 3 simultaneous streaming connections.
Subscribe to Sling Orange & Blue + Sports Extra to get the best channel availability. This gives you access to the SEC, PAC-12, and Longhorn networks. However, it’s a bit more expensive than the individual plans, and Sling TV doesn’t offer a free trial.
Paramount+
Previously called CBS All Access, this platform has been rebranded to Paramount+. It includes channels such as CBSN, CBS Sports HQ, and the coveted SEC Network. With this selection, it’s hard to miss exciting NCAA football moments if you’re in the US but on restricted networks like those at work or school.
You can choose from 2 main subscription options — Paramount+ Essential and Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. Subscribe to Paramount+ with SHOWTIME to livestream NCAA college football on a CBS station. Fortunately, Paramount+ offers a 7-day free trial.
ESPN+
ESPN+ is a platform made for sports fans. Besides NCAA football, it broadcasts college basketball, lacrosse, soccer, golf, baseball, and more. To sign up, go to the ESPN+ website, buy a subscription, log in to your account, and start live streaming.
You can get an individual subscription or a bundled plan comprising ESPN+, Disney+, and Hulu. The price difference is reasonable, considering you’ll get extra content. It doesn’t include a free trial, so you’ll have to commit based on your love for the sports it covers.
FOX Sports
With the FOX Sports app, you can access FS1, FS2, and Fox Sports Radio Network. The app is free, but you’ll need a DirecTV, Dish, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, or VIDGO subscription to stream NCAA college football matches.
Even if you’ve paid for a TV subscription, you must be in a location where live college football matches are aired. To see if FOX Sports fits your needs, try it risk-free for 7 days with DirecTV Stream or Fubo.
YouTube TV
With a YouTube TV subscription, you get access to CBS, FOX, NBC, NFL Network, ESPN, ESPNU, and BTN. For NCAA football fans, this is a valuable selection. YouTube TV lets you explore its extensive channel list by offering a 14-day free trial.
The Base Plan is the one to buy as it has content ranging from over 100 live channels for seamless NCAA college football streaming access. You also get 6 household accounts and 3 simultaneous streams with a single subscription.
FuboTV
FuboTV includes CBS, FOX Network, NBC, ESPN, BTN, and FS1. It works on Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, and any device with an Amazon Fire TV interface. Just download the Fubo TV app on your device, log in to your account, and start streaming.
The platform offers a 7-day free trial to test it before committing. The Pro package is enticing among its subscription tiers (Pro, Elite, and Premier) as it has over 165 channels, covering all essential NCAA football broadcasts.
Hulu + Live TV
With Hulu + Live TV, you’re getting more than just your regular TV shows. It includes CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, BTN, FS1, and SEC Network, so you can catch most NCAA college football matches, if not all.
Unfortunately, Hulu + Live TV doesn’t offer a free trial. However, it’s worth getting because it includes live TV streaming with Hulu, ESPN+, and Disney+. You can pay via credit card or PayPal, log in to your account, and start streaming NCAA college football immediately.
Why You Need a VPN to Watch NCAA College Football
Cable and satellite operators restrict sports viewership to certain regions due to broadcasting rights and agreements. You can’t livestream NCAA college football matches outside the US or in a blackout zone. To determine your location, the streaming providers track your IP address.
Restricted networks at work often block entertainment sites. If you’re in the US, you can use a VPN to get another US IP address to access your platform that broadcasts NCAA college football. At the same time, a VPN protects you from hackers and keeps you anonymous while streaming. This is crucial if you’re streaming with unsecured public WiFi.
I don’t condone breaking any rules, so read your streaming platform’s terms of service before connecting to a VPN and streaming.
Best VPNs for Watching NCAA College Football in 2024
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN for Watching NCAA College Football
Key Features:
- 3,000+ servers in 105 countries with 20+ locations in the US
- Obfuscated servers access platforms that block VPNs
- Stream NCAA college football on up to 8 devices simultaneously
- Offers customer support via 24/7 live chat, email, and its online knowledge base
- 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans
ExpressVPN is the best overall VPN to watch college football on your favorite channel. It provides the fastest speeds for lag-free streaming and keeps you safe on public networks. It also has useful extras like an in-built password manager, which lets you securely access your streaming accounts on US public networks without being eavesdropped on.
My speed was 95Mbps when I connected to an ExpressVPN server in the US, 7,000+ miles away. This is more than enough to livestream college football in UHD. The key to ExpressVPN’s performance is its proprietary Lightway protocol. It’s lightweight, connects quickly, and transfers data efficiently to minimize speed loss.
Besides the fast speeds, ExpressVPN has one of the largest global networks among the VPNs I’ve tested and over 20 server locations in the US alone. It frequently replaces blacklisted IP addresses with new ones to consistently legally access your favorite sports channels like:
| ESPN+ | FOX Sports | Paramount+ | Peacock |
| Hulu + Live TV | CBS Sports Network | DAZN | ESPN 2 |
| Sling TV | NBC | YouTube TV | SEC Network |
With 8 simultaneous connections, ExpressVPN is more than adequate for streaming NCAA college football while traveling across the US. I tested it on 5 devices and could easily switch between apps due to its consistent interface. You can even set up ExpressVPN on your smart TV for an immersive streaming experience.
Since all ExpressVPN servers are obfuscated, it’s possible to watch college football using school and workplace networks where VPNs are often blocked. ExpressVPN also secures your connection with:
- TrustedServer technology — uses RAM-only servers that erase your sports streaming data upon reboot.
- Military-grade encryption — keeps your connection secure to prevent third parties from watching your online activities.
- Kill switch — stops all internet activities if your VPN connection drops, ensuring your original IP address doesn’t get leaked while streaming.
Although ExpressVPN costs more than its competitors, the additional expense is worth it. The Lightway protocol delivers unmatched speeds for live sports, and ExpressVPN’s top-shelf security and privacy features ensure secure streaming in potentially unsafe networks.
I recommend ExpressVPN’s 2-year + 6 months free plan as it offers a 82% discount. You can buy ExpressVPN confidently as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I contacted support via live chat, and an agent approved my refund request without asking me to stay. A confirmation email arrived the same day, and I got my money back in 3 days.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
ExpressVPN works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebook, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Nvidia Shield, Xiaomi Mi Box, Google Chromecast, Roku, Android TVs, smart TVs, gaming consoles, routers, and more.
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2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers Provide Easy Access to Channels Broadcasting NCAA College Football
Key Features:
- Has 11,670+ servers in 100 countries, including 1,250+ across 11 US cities
- Makes streaming private with NoSpy servers, military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection
- Live stream simultaneously on 7 devices
- Offers 24/7 live chat, email support, and an extensive online knowledge base
- 45-day money-back guarantee available on long-term plans
CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers ensure lag-free NCAA matches in the US. You’ll find specialized servers for Sling TV, ESPN+, and FOX, all of which broadcast NCAA football. They’re regularly tested to ensure you can access your favorite channel on the first try and avoid wasting time testing several servers just before a match.
Navigating CyberGhost was easy even when I tested multiple devices since all the apps’ interfaces were similar. I installed it on my Windows PC, MacBook, iPhone, iPad, and Android phone in 10 minutes. CyberGhost also works on Amazon Fire TV, Fire Stick, and Android TV if you prefer streaming college football on a bigger screen.
My tests showed that CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers were faster than the regular ones by 9%. If your connection is already slow or you’re connecting from somewhere far away, these servers are better to handle UHD streaming without lags. I also recommend using the WireGuard protocol because it balances speed with security.
CyberGhost manages its NoSpy servers in its private data center in Romania, where no data retention laws exist. It’s worth the small fee since your data stays away from third-party server farms. Additionally, CyberGhost protects you with:
- Military-grade encryption — scrambles your data to keep it unreadable to hackers and spies.
- Kill switch — cuts off your internet if the VPN connection drops to prevent accidental leaks, though it remained stable on all 15 servers I tested.
- Smart WiFi protection — activates CyberGhost upon joining a network, providing quicker access to sports channels.
The one minor issue is that CyberGhost’s browser extension only provides access to 8 servers in 4 locations. Fortunately, it includes the US so you won’t be cut off from all the matches if you’re using a restricted network in the US. I prefer using the main app due to server flexibility and access to streaming-optimized servers.
I recommend CyberGhost’s 2-year + 4 months plan for its 84% discount. You can try it risk-free with its 45-day money-back guarantee. When I asked for a refund, an agent approved my request within a minute via 24/7 live chat. I got my money back in 5 business days.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
CyberGhost works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Raspberry Pi, Chrome, Firefox, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku, smart TVs, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, routers, and more.
3. Private Internet Access — Has the Most Server Locations in the US for Streaming NCAA College Football
Key Features:
- Large network of 35,000+ servers in 91 countries with 50+ locations in the US
- Includes flexible encryption, MACE ad blocker, and built-in leak protection
- Watch NCAA college football on all your devices with its unlimited connections
- Offers fast technical support via live chat, email, and online FAQ guides
- Take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee
PIA’s servers in all 50 US states offer plenty of options to access NCAA football in the US. Instead of every user crowding the same few servers, the load is distributed widely, so you’ll have enough bandwidth to watch your favorite matches in UHD without buffers.
On many sports sites with the latest scores like ESPN, PIA’s MACE blocks pop-up ads to prevent distractions. It also secures your streaming with:
- Built-in leak protection — stops your streaming traffic from leaking outside the VPN tunnel for seamless streaming on restricted networks that block sports platforms.
- Split tunneling — lets you choose which apps’ traffic should be encrypted so you can stream college football from your state and read international news simultaneously.
- Customizable encryption — lets you choose AES 128-bit for faster speeds when streaming a live match and AES 256-bit when you need top security for online banking.
PIA can access Netflix US, Hulu, and many sports-streaming platforms where you can watch college football. Be mindful that you’re not allowed to unblock foreign libraries using a VPN as it might constitute copyright violations. As long as you’re in the US, you can stream NCAA college football on:
| Sling TV | FOX Sports | Peacock | YouTube TV |
| CBS Sports Network | Paramount+ | ESPN+ | fuboTV |
With PIA, you can stream NCAA college football on all your devices as its supports unlimited simultaneous connections. I didn’t notice any glitches when I used it on 9 devices at once. I also found the apps safe to download since they contained no viruses or trackers.
A drawback with PIA is that its speeds on distant servers can drop much more than ExpressVPN’s. However, legally streaming NCAA college football requires you to be in the US, and PIA’s local servers maintain near-baseline speeds, as demonstrated in my tests.
This is one of the best monthly VPNs out there. I recommend the 2-year + 2 months plan, priced at $2.19 per month. You can use it risk-free for 30 days due to its money-back guarantee. I had to share my invoice details with the customer support agent via live chat to have my request approved. I was reimbursed in 7 days.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
PIA works on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, smart TVs, gaming consoles, routers, and more.
FAQs on Watching NCAA College Football From Abroad
How can I watch NCAA college football without cable?
Can I live stream NCAA college football outside the US?
On which devices can I watch NCAA college football online?
Can I watch college football for free?
What’s the best VPN for watching college football?
Can I use a free VPN to watch NCAA college football?
You can, but I’d advise against it. Instead, I suggest using CyberGhost free for 45 days with its money-back guarantee. Remember to submit a refund request before the period ends.
Most free VPNs pose safety concerns. They might log your activity, sell your data, or expose you to malware. Although there are a few safe free VPNs, they often come with data limits and crowded servers, potentially disrupting your college football streams.
Watch NCAA College Football Securely With a VPN
It’s frustrating when you can’t access a much-awaited NCAA college football match if you’re on a restricted network in the US. In such situations, a VPN can help you regain legal access to your streaming accounts. Unfortunately, not all of them are suitable for streaming due to bandwidth and speed limitations.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming NCAA college football in the US. Its Lightway protocol guarantees ultra-fast speeds for lag-free live streams and top-shelf features like TrustedServer technology keep your data secure from snoopers. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free as it’s backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Summary: Best VPNs for Watching NCAA College Football in 2024
Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
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