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Things only continue to heat up with college football—the Ohio Buckeyes will face off against the Texas Longhorns in tonight’s semi-final Cotton Bowl game. If you missed your chance to gather with friends last night to witness Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish beat the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl, you’ve still got this Friday evening to get in on all the action.
The Cotton Bowl is an especially prominent game since it determines what team will walk away with the Field Scovell Trophy and earn a spot in the National Championship. It’s been hosted annually since 1937 in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
If you’re wondering how to stream the Cotton Bowl online tonight from the comfort of your own home, there are plenty of available services that include ESPN, the network the college football Playoff Semifinals is broadcasted on. Luckily, many of these services offer 7-day free trials that grant you access to all the upcoming games.
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When does the 2025 Cotton Bowl air?
The Cotton Bowl Game airs on January 10, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.
How to watch the Cotton Bowl 2025 live for free
The Cotton Bowl 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 costs $20 for your first month, starts at $40 per month after the first month ends, 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 Cotton Bowl: Direct TV Stream’s Free Trial
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the Cotton Bowl 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 Cotton Bowl with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
- Visit streamtv.directv.com
- Click “Shop Packages”
- Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN and start watching the Cotton Bowl
Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Cotton Bowl: Fubo’s Free Trial
Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the Cotton Bowl 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 Cotton Bowl with Fubo’s free trial.
- Visit Fubo.TV
- Click “Start Free Trial”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN and start watching the Cotton Bowl
Best Budget Pick to Watch the Cotton Bowl: Sling
Sling TV is our best budget pick to watch the Cotton Bowl live for its price and channel selection. Sling TV offers three plans: Sling Orange for $46 per month; Sling Blue for $51 per month; and Sling Orange + Blue for $66 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 $23 for your first month; Sling Blue’s to $25.50 for your first month; and Sling Orange + Blue’s to $33 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 35 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 Cotton Bowl with Sling.
- Visit Sling.com
- Click “Try Us Today”
- Create an account
- Choose your plan
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN and start watching
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the Cotton Bowl: Hulu+ Live TV
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the Cotton Bowl 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 Cotton Bowl with Hulu+ Live TV.
- Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
- Click “Sign Up Now”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN and start watching the Cotton Bowl
What teams are playing in the Cotton Bowl 2025?
The two teams in the Cotton Bowl 2025 game are the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-2) and the No. 3 Texas Longhorns (13-2).
Where is the Cotton Bowl 2025?
The Cotton Bowl takes place annually in the Dallas–Fort Worth area in Texas. It was originally played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium before moving to the AT&T Stadium in Arlington in 2010.
The Cotton Bowl airs on January 10, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN. Here’s how to watch it for free.