Cancel your plans and hog the remote, this showcase between Heisman trophy winner Kyler Murray and runner-up Tua Tagovailoa has all the makings of a classic. Can Alabama’s dominant season reach its logical conclusion? Can Nick Saban out-scheme a mobile quarterback? Watch the Orange Bowl live stream to see how the Oklahoma Sooners fare against the perennially dominant Crimson Tide.
Orange Bowl
- Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- Date: Dec. 29, 8pm ET
- Streaming: ESPN
Orange Bowl: How to watch online for free
1) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $40 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
Hulu with Live TV is a one-stop shop for streaming entertainment. Every subscription comes with free access to Hulu’s deep catalog of on-demand TV shows, 2018 new releases, funny movies, and Hulu original series. That’s in addition to 50-plus channels that include everything you need to stream college bowl games: ESPN and ESPN 2, FS1 and FS2, ABC, Fox, and CBS Sports Network, not to mention SEC Network and Big Ten Network. (Here’s a complete guide to Hulu Live TV channels.)
2) Sling TV
- Cost: $25-$40 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, and iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here.)
On paper, Sling TV is your cheapest bet for streaming the 2018 college bowl games. At just $25 per month, Sling Orange offers a suite of ESPN channels, but FS1 and FS2, local channels, and regional sports networks are frustratingly locked behind Sling Blue, also $25 per month. The good news: You can combine the two (Sling Orange + Blue) for just $40 per month. While Sling TV doesn’t carry ABC or CBS Sports Network, new subscribers are eligible to receive a free HD antenna. If you really want to go all-in, be sure to add the Sling Blue Sports Extra pack. It costs an extra $10 per month but gets you Pac-12 Network, NFL RedZone, and specialty channels like NBA TV, beIN Sports, and NHL Network. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels.)
3) YouTube TV
- Cost: $40 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- Devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
YouTube TV offers a comprehensive streaming package for sports fans that’s close to what you’ll find on Hulu with Live TV. One notable difference in YouTube’s favor is the addition of specialty channels like NBA TV and MLB Network. But it’s unlimited cloud DVR and the ability to split each account with six other people that makes YouTube TV worth considering. (You can find the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
4) DirecTV Now
- Cost: $40-$75 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, and Amazon Fire Stick
- Local channels: ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, the CW (enter your zip code here to check local availability)
If you want to go big, you want DirecTV Now. In fact, one of DirecTV Now’s five channel packages is actually called Go Big, and it’s no joke. The service tops out at more than 125 channels, including everything you need to stream college football bowl games (and a whole lot more you don’t). If you happen to be an AT&T Unlimited customer, you’ll save $25 per month on whichever package you choose. (You can view the full DirecTV Now channels list here.)
5) PlayStation Vue
- Cost: $44.99-$79.99 per month (after a 7-day free trial)
- Devices: PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Amazon Fire, Google Chromecast, Kodi, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a PlayStation to use PlayStation Vue. The streaming service works with Roku, Amazon Fire, Chromecast, and even Kodi. It’s a tad more expensive than other options, but it offers four different tiers of channels that provide plenty of variety. (Here are all of PlayStation Vue channels.)
Cotton Bowl: Why it matters
Tagovailoa has the Crimson Tide playing open, aerial offensive ball. The kind that can score 50 on a Saturday and break open games. This isn’t your older sister’s Bama that would find 21-17 results in Death Valley.
Tagovailoa’s Alabama will need every touchdown on Saturday.
It’s the year of the Big 12 breakout: From Texas Tech young gun Pat Mahomes leading the MVP race in the NFL to No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield using his accuracy to dice up cover 2 looks in an era where stripped-down schemes, space, angles, and timing can eat any defense alive. Enter Big 12 champ Murray, a devastating, dual-threat QB1.
The Crimson Tide under Saban struggles with wide-open gunslingers who can run: from that opening Colt McCoy TD drive in the 2010 national championship to Johnny Manziel, Trevor Knight, Dak Prescott, Cardale Jones, and Deshaun Watson. Murray will prove to be Saban’s biggest challenge yet because he’s simply the fastest and most accurate signal-caller that Saban has ever prepared for.
For more bowl fun, check out the Daily Dot’s bowl season preview podcast:
New to cord-cutting? Here are our picks for the best movie streaming sites of 2018 and free live TV apps and channels. If you’re looking for a specific channel, here’s how to watch HBO, Showtime, Starz, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, AMC, FX, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FS1, TBS, TNT, Golf Channel, Syfy, HGTV, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, Bravo, Lifetime, Discovery, PBS, the CW, BBC, CSPAN, NBA TV, MTV, Comedy Central, Food Network, TLC, the Weather Channel, and NFL RedZone without cable, as well as free movies on YouTube. If you’re on the move, here’s how to watch Fox Sports Go and live stream NBC Sports.
