The Only Way to Watch the College Football National Championship Game For Free

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If you’ve been following this year’s college football season, you may be wondering how to watch the National Championship game live for free to see who will win between the Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies. Wondering where to watch the National Championship? Keep reading for the best and one of the only ways to stream it live for free this year.

The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship—also simply known as the National Championship—will be held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on January 8, 2024. The game is the 10th College Football Playoff National Championship and will determine the nationall champion of the NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Division for the 2023 season.

The game will be played between the Michigan Wolverines of the Big Ten Conference and the Washington Huskies of the Pac-12 Conference. Michigan are the winners of the Rose Bowl, while Washington are the winners of the Sugar Bowl. Both teams also played against each other at the 1993 Rose Bowl, which Michigan won. The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship is also the first CFP National Championship game without a participant from the Southeastern Conference since the first championship in 2014, which featured Ohio an Oregon.

So where can football fans stream the College Football National Championship? Read on for how to watch the National Championship game live for free to see who wins between Michigan and Washington.

When does the National Championship game air?

The College Football National Championship game airs on January 8, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.

How to watch the National Championship game live for free

The College Football National Championship game airs on ESPN, which is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Sling Orange, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends, and includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, and ESPNU. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends, and includes ESPN.

Sling Orange and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. Sling Orange starts at $40 per month, and includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $68.99 per month and includes ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews.

Best Overall Pick to Watch the National Championship Game: Direct TV Stream’s Free Trial

Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the National Championship game live for free for its free trial, price (including its current deal), and channel selection. Direct TV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month. ESPN and ESPN 2 are available on all four plans, while ESPN News and ESPN U are available on Choice, Ultimate, and Premiere only.

As for other difference between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the National Championship game with DirecTV Stream’s free trial. 

1. Visit streamtv.directv.com
2. Click “Shop Packages”
3. Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
4. Enter your information and payment method
5. Search for ESPN and start watching the National Championship game

Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the National Championship Game: Fubo’s Free Trial

Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the National Championship game live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $74.99 per month; Elite, which costs $84.99 per month; and Ultimate, which costs $99.99 per month. ESPN is available on all four plans.

As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the National Championship game with Fubo’s free trial. 

1. Visit Fubo.TV
2. Click “Start Free Trial”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for ESPN and start watching the National Championship game

Best Budget Pick to Watch the National Championship game: Sling

Sling TV is our best budget pick to watch the National Championship game live for its price and channel selection. Sling TV offers three plans: Sling Orange for $40 per month; Sling Blue for $45 per month; and Sling Orange + Blue for $60 per month. Sling also has a current deal where subscribers can sign up for 50 percent off their first month, bringing Sling Orange’s price down to $20 for your first month; Sling Blue’s to $22.50 for your first month; and Sling Orange + Blue’s to $30 for your first month. Only Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue include ESPN. Both of those plans also include ESPN 2 and ESPN 3.

As for the difference between the plans, Sling Orange includes 32 channels and the ability to stream on one device at a time, while Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how watch the National Championship game with Sling.

1. Visit Sling.com
2. Click “Try Us Today”
3. Create an account
4. Choose your plan
5. Enter your information and payment method
6. Search for ESPN and start watching the National Championship game

Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the National Championship Game: Hulu+ Live TV

Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the the National Championship game based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN News are included on all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how watch the National Championship game with Hulu+ Live TV.

1. Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
2. Click “Sign Up Now”
3. Enter your information and payment method
4. Search for ESPN and start watching the National Championship game

What teams are playing in the National Championship game?

The two teams playing in the College Football National Championship game are the Washington Huskies and the Michigan Wolverines. The Michigan Wolverines are of the Big Ten Conference and were the winners of the Rose Bowl. The Washington Huskies are of the Pac-12 Conference and were the winners of the Sugar Bowl. The game is a rematch of the 1993 Rose Bowl, which was also played between the Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies.

Where is the National Championship game?

The College Football National Championship game will be held at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Stadium, previously known as Reliant Stadium, was completed in 2002 and has a seating capacity of 72,220 people. It’s also the home of the National Football League’s Houston Texans.

The College Football National Championship game airs on January 8, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Here’s how to watch it for free.

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