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The College Football Playoff quarterfinals kick off with a Miami (Fla.) vs. Ohio State showdown. We’ve compiled everything you need to know about how to watch the Cotton Bowl, including live streaming options for those without cable.
The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes will take on the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes, the reigning Cotton Bowl and National Champions. Miami has had a great run this year, only dropping two games during the regular season and defeating No. 7 Texas A&M 10-3 in the first round of the playoffs. Ohio State has also offered up a worthy season, winning 12 games in a row before fumbling their last regular-season game against No. 1 Indiana. Whether they can shake off the loss and repeat last year’s success remains to be seen, but we’ll make sure you can tune in so you don’t miss a second of the action.
Keep reading to learn the best ways to live stream tonight’s game. The streaming options we highlight will also allow you to watch the remainder of the College Football Playoff games, from the New Year’s Day quarterfinals to the National Championship.
What channel is the Cotton Bowl on?
The Cotton Bowl will air on ESPN in the US. The Miami vs. Ohio State game is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
How to watch the Cotton Bowl in the US
If you don’t have cable, there are several avenues to explore when it comes to live streaming the Cotton Bowl. ESPN Unlimited is ESPN’s direct counterpart and a must-have for cord-cutting sports fans. Subscriptions cost $30 a month and unlock all things ESPN, as well as ESPN2, the ACC Network, the SEC Network, ABC on ESPN content, ESPN Plus streaming exclusives, and much more. You can also save with a limited-time deal when you bundle ESPN Unlimited with Disney Plus and Hulu.
If you’d prefer to watch through a streaming service that carries other channels (in addition to ESPN) or offers a free trial, then a live TV streaming service will be able to do the trick. DirecTV and Fubo are two of the best live TV streaming services we’ve tested that also offer free trials to new customers.
DirecTV MySports carries ESPN and around 20 other key networks (like TNT, the NFL Network, and local channels where applicable) in its sports-centric genre pack. The plan also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited at no extra cost. Subscriptions cost $70 a month, but new users can get their first two months for $60 a month after a five-day free trial.
Fubo Sports + News is another genre-specific plan with robust sports offerings and ESPN Unlimited access. The plan offers ESPN and around 28 other popular channels. Subscriptions cost $56 a month, but new users can get their first month for $46 after a one-day free trial.
How to watch the Cotton Bowl from anywhere
CFP fans traveling away from home don’t need to miss out on any of the action with the help of a VPN, or virtual private network. VPNs are handy tech tools that let people change their device’s virtual location so that they operate just like they would back home. This way, viewers can keep up with all their usual websites and apps from anywhere. Since the services we’ve highlighted require country-specific payment methods, this option will work best for those who are simply traveling abroad at the moment and hoping to use their existing subscriptions.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to VPNs, our go-to recommendation this year has been NordVPN. It’s a top-notch option with a massive selection of servers and cybersecurity perks. Plus, it’s user-friendly and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about the app in our NordVPN review.
Note: The use of 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. Business Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.