How to watch the Orange Bowl: Live stream Notre Dame vs. Penn State
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Bowl season is in full force, and this week brings the College Football Playoff semifinals, featuring a must-see match-up between Penn State and Notre Dame. We've compiled everything you need to know about how to watch the Orange Bowl, including live streaming options for those without cable.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish advance to the semis after ousting the Georgia Bulldogs 23-10 in the Sugar Bowl. The Indiana-based team has had a stellar season, going 13-1, and only fell to Northern Illinois in September. The Penn State Nittany Lions, who beat out Boise State 31-14 at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve, have had a similarly excellent season. The team is 13-2, only ranking behind the recently eliminated Oregon in the Big Ten.
The two teams have faced off 19 total times since 1913, but a 9-9-1 record means this year's Orange Bowl will serve as a series tie-breaker. The winner of tonight's game, which takes place on neutral ground in Miami, will go on to compete in the National Championship.
Whether you're a Notre Dame or Penn State fan, we'll make sure you can tune in to see your favorite team play. Don't forget to bookmark our how to watch college football streaming guide to keep up with future games, including tomorrow's Cotton Bowl.
What channel is the Orange Bowl on?
The Orange Bowl will air on ESPN in the US. The game is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, January 9, at 7:30 p.m. ET, but there will be pregame coverage available on the network beforehand.
How to watch the Orange Bowl in the US
If you don't have access to ESPN through cable, you don't need to miss out on any of the action. ESPN Plus won't stream the game tonight, but live TV streaming packages like Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, and Fubo will allow you to tune in. These month-to-month live TV streaming options rank among our list of the best sports streaming services, so you may well have reason to keep them beyond today's game.
Sling TV is the cheapest way to live stream ESPN each month. Sling's Orange plan carries ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and 32 other live channels for $46 a month. Customers can get their first month of service half-off, so this option will only cost you $23 tonight.
If you're looking for a live TV streaming option with enough channels to rival cable, DirecTV Stream and Fubo might come in handy. They're more expensive than Sling, but they come with anywhere from 90 to 200+ live channels, depending on which plan and tier you sign up for. DirecTV Stream plans start at $87 a month and include a five-day free trial, while Fubo subscriptions start at $80 a month and have a seven-day free trial.
How to watch the Orange Bowl from anywhere
If you're traveling away from the US and still want to watch the game, a VPN (virtual private network) will enable you to keep up with most of your usual streaming options, like Sling and Fubo. VPNs work by allowing you to change your electronic device's virtual location so that it can access websites and apps just like it would back home. The services we highlighted today require US methods of payment, so this option will work best for Americans who are just traveling abroad.
If you don't already have a VPN, we recommend ExpressVPN. It's a beginner-friendly option with advanced cybersecurity perks, which we break down in our ExpressVPN review. The app also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to watch the Orange Bowl with a VPN
- Sign up for a VPN if you don't have one.
- Install it on the device you're using to watch.
- Turn it on and set it to a US location.
- Sign up for Sling or Fubo if you don't already have an account.
- Enjoy the game.
Note: Using VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.