American Football: Where to Watch the NFL and College Football
American football is the most-watched sport in the United States, from the NFL on Sundays to college football on Saturdays. Games are spread across several networks and streaming services, which can make it hard to know where to watch. This guide explains how the two main levels of the sport work and where to find official schedules and broadcasters. Buffstream never hosts or restreams any game. We only link to official sources.
Looking for soccer? See our Football hub, which covers the Premier League, Champions League and FIFA.
The Two Main Levels of American Football
NFL (Professional)
The National Football League has 32 teams. The regular season usually runs from September to early January, followed by the playoffs and the Super Bowl in February. Each team plays 17 regular-season games. Our NFL viewing guide covers schedules and ways to watch.
College Football (NCAA)
College football is played by university teams, with most games on Saturdays from late August through early December. The season ends with conference championship games, bowl games and the College Football Playoff. Teams are grouped into conferences such as the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12. Read our college football guide for more.
NFL vs College Football at a Glance
| NFL | College Football | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Professional | University teams (NCAA) |
| Main game day | Sunday, plus Thursday and Monday nights | Saturday |
| Season | September to February | Late August to January |
| Season finale | Super Bowl | College Football Playoff final |
How to Watch American Football the Official Way
- Check the official schedule on the league or conference website for kick-off times and the network for each game.
- Use the broadcast networks. Many NFL and college games are shown free over the air on CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC, and a digital antenna can pick them up in most areas.
- Use the sports channels. ESPN, the SEC Network, the Big Ten Network and others show many games and need a TV subscription or a live TV streaming service.
- Check the official streaming options. Some games stream only on services such as Prime Video, Peacock or ESPN+, depending on the matchup.
- Convert kick-off times to your own time zone. Most times are listed in Eastern Time.
Where NFL and College Games Are Shown
Broadcast deals change often, so confirm on the official sites. At the time of writing, NFL games are spread across CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN and ABC, with some games on streaming services such as Prime Video. College football is shown mainly on ESPN and ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC and conference networks such as the SEC Network and the Big Ten Network. Which network shows a game depends on the teams, the day and the week.
Official American Football Websites
- NFL: official schedule, scores and how to watch
- NCAA: official college sports information and scores
- College Football Playoff: playoff format and schedule
- ESPN: scores, schedules and live sports
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Buffstream stream American football games?
No. Buffstream does not host, upload or restream any game. We link only to official leagues and broadcasters.
How many teams are in the NFL?
There are 32 teams, and each plays 17 regular-season games.
When is the college football season?
Most games are played on Saturdays from late August to early December, followed by conference championships, bowl games and the College Football Playoff.
Can I watch American football for free?
Games shown on CBS, FOX, NBC and ABC are free over the air with an antenna. Games on sports channels and streaming services usually need a subscription.
Is American football the same as soccer?
No. American football is a different sport from soccer, which is called football in most of the world. See our Football hub for soccer coverage.
Disclaimer: Schedules and broadcast rights change often. Always confirm details on the official league or conference website. All names and logos belong to their respective owners.