Why Canʼt I Watch College Football on ESPN Plus
College football is a beloved sport in the United States, attracting millions of fans every year. Many enthusiasts turn to ESPN, one of the leading sports networks, to catch live games and stay updated with their favorite teams. However, some fans have recently found themselves frustrated when they can’t seem to find their desired college football games on ESPN Plus, ESPN’s streaming service. In this article, we will explore why college football is not available on ESPN Plus and answer some common questions regarding this issue.
1. Broadcast Rights:
One of the main reasons why you can’t watch college football on ESPN Plus is due to broadcast rights. ESPN Plus primarily focuses on streaming content that is not available on ESPN’s regular networks. While ESPN has broadcasting rights for some college football games, it does not have exclusive rights to all games. Many college football games are aired on other networks, such as ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox Sports. Therefore, if a game is not available on ESPN’s regular networks, it is unlikely to be found on ESPN Plus.
2. Conference Deals:
College football is organized into various conferences, and each conference negotiates its own broadcast deals. For example, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) has its own network, while the Big Ten has a partnership with Fox Sports. These conference-specific networks often have their own streaming services or broadcasting agreements with other networks. As a result, certain college football games may be exclusively available on these networks’ streaming platforms rather than ESPN Plus.
3. Regional Coverage:
ESPN Plus focuses on providing a broad range of sports content, including international leagues, niche sports, and regional coverage. While ESPN Plus does offer some college football games, the selection is primarily focused on smaller conferences and teams. The major college football games featuring prominent teams and conferences are often broadcasted on ESPN’s regular networks due to their higher viewership and demand.
4. Blackout Restrictions:
Blackout restrictions are another factor that limits the availability of college football games on ESPN Plus. These restrictions are imposed to protect local broadcasters and ensure regional coverage. If a game is being broadcasted a local network in your area, ESPN Plus may be blacked out to prevent viewers from watching it on the streaming service. This is to encourage viewership on the local network, which pays for the rights to broadcast the game in that specific region.
5. Premium Content:
ESPN Plus offers premium sports content, but some college football games may not fall into this category. While college football is undoubtedly popular, certain games with less demand or lower viewership may not be considered premium content for ESPN Plus. Instead, they may be available on other platforms or networks that focus specifically on college sports.
Common Questions:
Q1: Can I watch all college football games on ESPN Plus?
A1: No, ESPN Plus does not have exclusive rights to all college football games. Many games are aired on other networks or conference-specific streaming services.
Q2: Why are some college football games blacked out on ESPN Plus?
A2: Blackout restrictions are imposed to protect local broadcasters and promote regional coverage. If a game is being broadcasted a local network in your area, it may be blacked out on ESPN Plus.
Q3: Where else can I watch college football games?
A3: College football games are broadcasted on various networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox Sports, conference-specific networks, and their respective streaming platforms.
Q4: Can I watch college football games on ESPN’s regular networks without a cable subscription?
A4: No, most of ESPN’s regular networks require a cable subscription to access the live games. However, some streaming services provide access to these networks for a fee.
Q5: Does ESPN Plus offer any college football content?
A5: Yes, ESPN Plus does offer college football games, but the selection is primarily focused on smaller conferences and teams.
Q6: Can I watch college football bowl games on ESPN Plus?
A6: Some bowl games may be available on ESPN Plus, but the major bowl games are typically broadcasted on ESPN’s regular networks.
Q7: Can I watch college football playoffs on ESPN Plus?
A7: No, college football playoffs, such as the College Football Playoff (CFP) games, are exclusively available on ESPN’s regular networks.
Q8: Can I watch college football games on ESPN’s website or mobile app?
A8: ESPN’s regular networks require a cable subscription to access live games, but some games may be available for streaming on ESPN’s website or mobile app with cable provider credentials.
Q9: How much does ESPN Plus cost?
A9: ESPN Plus costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
Q10: Can I watch college football games on ESPN Plus outside the United States?
A10: Yes, ESPN Plus is available to stream college football games internationally, but blackout restrictions may still apply.
Q11: Are there any other streaming services that offer college football games?
A11: Yes, some streaming services like fuboTV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV offer access to networks that broadcast college football games.
Q12: Can I watch college football games on ESPN Plus if I have a cable subscription?
A12: While some games may be available on ESPN Plus, most college football games can be accessed through ESPN’s regular networks with a cable subscription.
Q13: Can I watch college football games on ESPN Plus on multiple devices simultaneously?
A13: Yes, ESPN Plus allows streaming on multiple devices at the same time.
Q14: Is ESPN Plus the only streaming service for sports?
A14: No, several streaming services offer sports content, including fuboTV, Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, and CBS All Access.