College football - best streaming service? 2021

September 20, 2021 5:34 AM

I want to watch college football (namely SEC games) through a streaming service(s). I'm completely out of my element here with the number of choices/options such services have. I'm hoping someone versed in this arena could simplify or guide me in a direction on which streaming service(s) to get to watch college football. ESPN+ ? Fubo? other? thank you!
posted by mrmarley to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (7 answers total)

We usually get Sling Orange with the added Sports pack but this year we decided to try YouTube TV and are happy with it. We are mainly interested in SEC games as well.
posted by Ochre,Hugh at 6:15 AM on September 20, 2021

ESPN will have all the games not on local network TV (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX). The SEC Network is part of ESPN.

RTR
posted by AugustWest at 6:41 AM on September 20, 2021

Been working through streaming services for this reason for the past several years. Sling is ok, but makes it ridiculously difficult to cancel when the season is over. YouTube TV is better, but lacks some content (PAC-12 network is what is missing for me). Fubo is my current favorite, for the following reasons:

1. Has all the content I want
2. Can display multiple games (up to 4) simultaneously, with easy switching of audio between each of the displayed games.

Fubo is more expensive. I’ve decided it’s worth it.
posted by u2604ab at 6:51 AM on September 20, 2021

If you just need SEC games, ESPN+ and an over-the-air antenna should be enough. CBS still has the SEC game of the week at 3:30, and their streaming app is terrible (my wife actually called during the NFL games because it couldn't go an entire play without buffering). If you can get that via antenna, that'll save you a subscription to YouTube TV. Aside from that one game, everything else is on the ESPN family of networks, so ESPN+ should have you covered.

I like YouTube TV. As a Big Ten guy, it makes watching the Big Ten Network a lot easier for me. But BTN usually only carries lower-level Big Ten games like Purdue-Maryland or something. Unless you're a fan of a Big Ten school, you can get by watching good matchups on ESPN+ and over-the-air Fox. I believe that's the case for the Big XII as well. The ACC is all on ESPN+. It doesn't seem like YouTube TV is necessary for you.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:00 AM on September 20, 2021

ESPN+ doesn't give you the ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU. You must have cable or Hulu, YouTubeTV etc. to get the prime ESPN feeds on the ESPN app. There is a lot of college football on ESPN+ if you aren't picky and can enjoy watching Furman vs. Appalachian State or Missouri State vs North Dakota or whatever.
posted by COD at 4:03 PM on September 20, 2021

I like Hulu Live for college football because it includes ESPN3 (at least it used to include ESPN3. I don't even know if ESPN3 is a thing anymore now that ESPN+ exists). It is missing PAC-12 network and ESPN+. I will have to check out Fubo, if you can watch 4 games at once. Also worth noting, this past weekend, we were able to get 4 games at 3:30 with the antenna in Western NY, no subscription required. This number is probably similar at noon and 7-8 pm.
posted by DEiBnL13 at 9:55 PM on September 20, 2021

We've watched a bit of ESPN+ this year to catch certain games. My hunch is that they are using camera crews and production staff affiliated with the home team. The first game we watched was horrendous. Out of focus, the goal posts blocking the view of the kicks, the action happening completely off screen for large chunks of time. We were so irritated! The next game was located at my much larger and well resourced university with a large media department, and the quality was much, much better. It should be fine if you're mainly looking for SEC schools, but if you're wanting to watch, say Texas State, be aware. Again, this is just our hunch.
posted by BlueBear at 10:49 AM on September 21, 2021