Week 4 brings significant matchups that will have definite College Football Playoff implications. For example, No. 7 Notre Dame travels to No. 3 Georgia for a primetime matchup in between the hedges at Sanford Stadium in Athens. In Big 10 conference play, No. 11 Michigan collides with No. 13 Wisconsin, in something of a redemption game for the visiting 2-0 Wolverines. The Badgers, on the other hand, have outscored their first two opponents (South Florida and Central Michigan) 110-0.
No. 8 Auburn takes on No. 7 Texas A&M in College Station, a true road test for Tigers true freshman quarterback Bo Nix. The Aggies are slight favorites with experienced gunslinger Kellen Mond leading the charge.
Let’s take a quick look at the difference-making matchups for Week 4: Below are six can’t-miss ball games—along with how to stream them online.
College football 2019 live stream
The following services, save for ESPN+, offer a one-week free trial and all carry ESPN and Fox Sports.
1) Sling TV
- Sling TV pricing: $25-$40 per month (40% first month)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV,Roku,Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, Microsoft Edge, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Sling TV provides two base channel package options, each priced at $25 per month. Sling Orange includes three ESPN channels, while Sling Blue includes sports channels like NFL Network, FS1 and FS2, NBCSN, and local channels. If you’re Team “Why Not Both,” Sling Orange + Blue combines the two for just $40 per month. Sports Extra: Sling Blue ($10 per month) also includes NFL RedZone.
Sling TV Latino is another Spanish-language package for $10 per month, including NBC Universo, History en Español, and—of import to soccer fans—four beIN SPORTS channels. (And choosing Sling TV Latino + Sling Orange for $30 per month gives you access to ESPN Deportes.) For more information, check out our guide to Sling TV channels and our Sling TV review.
For $10 extra per month, you can get NFL RedZone via the Sling Blue Sports Extra package.
How to use AirTV with Sling
AirTV solves one of the Sling’s biggest problems: The inability to receive all of your local channels. By purchasing a basic AirTV for $79.99 or the AirTV Player for $119.99, you can merge those local channels into your Sling TV, (or on your mobile device if you have the basic AirTV). As the Daily Dot wrote in its AirTV review, “it’s practically magic.”
The basic AirTV is a dual-tuner streaming device, while the AirTV Player is basically an upgraded Chromecast that has Netflix preinstalled. You’ll still need to own an HD antenna because even though AirTV gets you access to your local channels, it doesn’t actually physically show them to you.
But AirTV—which has no monthly fee—serves to strengthen one of Sling’s biggest weaknesses compared to other live streaming services like Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV, and PlayStation Vue. All those services have plenty of local channels.
2) ESPN+
- Cost: $4.99 per month or $49.99 for 12 months
- Devices: Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku players and TV, Oculus Go, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Samsung smart TVs, and iOS and Android devices
ESPN+ is a subscription service that extends ESPN’s existing website and app, carrying all MLS matches not on ESPN or FS1, as well as Serie A+, USL, Copa America, and FA Cup matches. It encompasses other sporting events as well, including 20 exclusive UFC Fight Night events per year, 180 NHL games, at least one MLB game a day for every day of the season, and a cornucopia of college sports.
ESPN+ also features the network’s sports talk programming, and it features original series starting with the entire 30 for 30 catalog ESPN made its name on. It also unlocks more content and fewer ads on the ESPN site.
3) PlayStation Vue
- Cost: $44.99-$79.99 per month
- PlayStation Vue devices: PlayStation 3 and 4, Roku, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Kodi, iOS and Android devices
- PlayStation Vue local channels: NBC, Fox, ABC, CBS (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
PlayStation Vue is a fantastic option for fans who already own a PlayStation console, but this streaming platform is available on a variety of devices. ESPN and FS1 are part of the Core package of channels, and the options increase at the Elite and Ultra levels.
4) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $44.99 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
Hulu with Live TV includes sports programming among its offerings, including ESPN and FS1, and as a subscriber to the service, you’ll get free access to Hulu’s sizable on-demand library. (Check out the full list of Hulu Live TV channels.)
5) YouTube TV
- Cost: $50 per month
- YouTube TV devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- YouTube TV local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
YouTube TV is a great option for college football fans, including ESPN and FS1. (Take a look at the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
College football 2019 schedule: 6 can’t-miss Week 4 games
Sept. 20
(No. 10) Utah at USC, 9pm ET | FS1
Southern California hosts an underrated Utah program after suffering an overtime loss in a classic trap game against BYU last Saturday. Freshman signal-caller Kedon Slovis looked the part of an inexperienced player, throwing three bad picks to Cougars defensive backs. That said, the Utes can’t get themselves in any sort of shootout, given their strengths lie in controlling tempo with the run game which allows their pressure defense to overwhelm.
Air Force at (No. 20) Boise State, 10pm ET | ESPN2
Air Force’s vaunted triple-option attack gained a combined 444 yards in a win over Colorado and will need to do even more of the same on Albertsons Stadium’s famous blue turf. True freshman QB Hank Bachmeier appears unfazed in succeeding former standout Brett Rypien, passing for 927 yards and four touchdowns in three wins to start the season. The Broncos, who won last year’s 48-38 track meet, have yet to yield any second-half points. Something tells me the academy is going to be competitive through the final whistle.
Sept. 21
(No. 11) Michigan at (No. 13) Wisconsin, 12pm ET | Fox
The Badgers are actually who they’ve long advertised themselves to be: a stout defensive unit with a mauling offensive counterpart, starring Jonathan Taylor as the slicing running back. They outscored their first two opponents 110-0. The Wolverines, though, are still looking to define themselves, especially after a near-loss to Army two weeks ago—where players were visibly shaken by the notion of an academy, running an old-school veer offense, nearly beating them. QB Shea Patterson hasn’t taken that widely expected leap forward in his progress. That jump will need to occur Saturday, or Michigan will be blown out.
(No. 8) Auburn at (No. 7) Texas A&M, 3:30pm ET | CBS
Even with Aggie star QB Kellen Mond largely playing like one at the helm, Texas A&M’s run game will be what wins, or loses, against the brawny and fast Auburn defensive front seven. Freshman QB Bo Nix—son of former Auburn great Patrick Nix—has been serviceable and tough, but lacks consistency from the pocket. He went 12-of-16 for 161 yards in the Tigers’ win over Kent State. Jimbo Fisher and A&M, more broadly, need a win to prove their worth within the SEC, especially after not being competitive against the juggernaut that is Clemson.
(No. 22) Washington at BYU, 3:30pm ET | ABC/ESPN2
BYU is going big in hosting the Huskies in yet another nationally televised contest. The Cougars will be going with the white-out uniforms and ’70s-era designs. They will need whatever it takes because the Huskies are coming to paint those whites red. Short the unusual loss to California, which didn’t finish until the early hours Sunday morning in Seattle due to an abnormal weather delay, the Chris Petersen-led program has looked the part of a Pac-12 favorite. New Washington QB Jacob Eason, a transfer from Georgia, looks like a future pro.
(No. 7) Notre Dame at (No. 3) Georgia, 8pm ET | CBS
Much more than just a contest, Notre Dame’s away date with the Bulldogs is an existential dilemma. Once one of the top few programs in America, it’s still a name-brand program but remains unable to get it done in games that count most. The stark reality is that until head coach Brian Kelly and his staff recruits and develops absolute maulers in the trenches (or at least more than one or two at a time) they will continue to have their seasons upended by physically superior teams, like the top SEC schools and Clemson. They have great skill players and QB Ian Book has moxie and arm talent; however, being chased all game by the Georgia front seven is a surefire way to be demolished in Sanford Stadium.
READ MORE:
- How to watch Pac-12 Network online
- How to stream ACC Network Extra
- How to watch SEC Network online
- How to stream the Big Ten Network
- Is ESPN+ actually worth it?
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