f you are the type of cord-cutter and TV viewer who cancels your streaming subscriptions after the football season is over and waits to sign back up until games are back on the air, a lot can change in between seasons. It can be incredibly confusing to find the best way to watch a game in today’s entertainment landscape. Fortunately for you, I am something of a streaming expert… no, really, I write about streaming services for a living
.This season, the Buckeyes will play on four different broadcast
networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC), at least one cable channel (Big Ten Network), and exclusively on a streaming service (Peacock). That doesn’t include all of the other tangential ways you can stream games like ESPN Unlimited, Fox One, or Paramount+. So, with all of the moving broadcast pieces, it can be tough to keep up with where and how to watch your favorite team.
So, I am going to walk you through the best — and cheapest — ways for you to stream today’s game.
How can I watch the No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Texas college football game?
Game Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Broadcasters: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe, Laura Rutledge
Betting Line: Texas -1.5 | o/u 48.5
Best streaming option for all college football games:
DIRECTV MySports | 5-day free trial
While there are a lot of streaming options to watch the game, this is my top recommendation because it comes with a five-day free trial, and while it normally only costs $64.99 per month, if you sign up now, you can get a $20 discount on each of your first six months, meaning that you can watch the entire football season for just $45 per month.
DIRECTV MySports carries all of the major broadcast network channels — all of which have college football — ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, in almost every market. It also has ESPN, ESPN2, Big Ten Network, FS1, FS2, ESPNU, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, ACC Network, and the NFL Network (yes, they have college games) without having to sign up for any sports add-on plans. In addition, the package also carries other sports channels like the Golf Channel, MLB Network, NBA TV, NFL Network, NHL Network, TBS, TNT, truTV, USA, and a handful of cable news channels.
On top of all that, you also get free access to theESPN Unlimited streaming service at no extra cost. So, not only can you stream everything on all of ESPN’s cable channels, but you’ve also got all of the sports on ABC, and streaming exclusive games, on-demand content (including the “30 for 30” library), WWE Premium Live Events, alternate broadcasts, and more.
Other streaming options for the Ohio State and Texas Game:
- YouTube TV: $82.99 per month, with a free trial of two to 21 days. The drawback is that you don’t really know what type of trial they will offer you until you go through the sign-up process. YouTube TV also offers a sports-focused skinny bundle called the Sports Plan. Normally, it costs $64.99 per month, but like DIRECTV, for half a year, you can pay just $44.99 per month.
- Sling TV: While Sling does not offer a free trial, it does give you the option to sign up for short periods of time. The service offers 1-Day, 3-Day, and 7-Day Passes that range from $5 to $20. Those packages will give you access to ESPN and ESPN2, and you can add on the Sling Sports Pack for as little as $1 to get all of the alternative broadcast channels as well.
- Hulu + Live TV: This is more expensive than DIRECTV’s MySports Genre Pack, at $89.99 per month, but there are some substantial benefits. Hulu + Live TV comes with all of the channel options as DIRECTV’s Signature packages, but it also offers the complete Disney Bundle, so you won’t have to pay more for Disney+, Hulu, or the new ESPN Unlimited streaming service.
- Fubo: $84.99 per month, with at least a one-day free trial
- ESPN Unlimited: If all you need is a way to access the sports on the ESPN Family of Networks, then this is probably your best option. Subscribers can pay $31.99 per month for ESPN Unlimited, which unlocks all ESPN linear channels — including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN on ABC — plus ESPN+ and ESPN3, totaling around 47,000 live events each year. ESPN Unlimited offers extensive coverage of the NFL, NBA, MLB, college sports, UFC, soccer, tennis, and more, along with original programming, studio shows, and “30 for 30” documentaries. Starting in 2026, the platform will become the exclusive U.S. streaming home for WWE’s premium live events.
- Over-the-air antenna: Any game that appears on ABC, CBS, Fox, or NBC in your local market can be watched with an antenna. Over-the-air (OTA) antennas pick up broadcast channels from as far away as 100 miles (depending on the device), allowing you to watch network channels without having to pay a single penny in subscription fees. Just plug it into your TV, scan for channels, and start watching! You do have the upfront cost of buying the antenna, but after that, it’s free.
- Shop antennas from top retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart below:
- Shop antennas from Amazon
- Shop antennas from Best Buy
- Shop antennas from Target
- Shop antennas from Walmart
- Shop antennas from top retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart below:
