The Redbox Bowl is a New Year’s Eve showcase for Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert. He has the mobility and tools to be a top-tier NFL draft pick in April—maybe No. 1 overall—but he announced last week that he’ll be returning to Eugene, Oregon, for his senior season in 2019. Watch the Redbox Bowl live stream to see how Michigan State handles the talented dual-threat after a disappointing run of Big 10 play.
Redbox Bowl
- Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
- Date: Dec. 31, 3pm ET
- Streaming: Fox
Redbox Bowl: How to watch online for free
1) FuboTV
- Cost: $39.99 for your first month and $44.99 per month thereafter (after a 7-day free trial)
- Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
FuboTV is arguably the best streaming service for sports fans, especially if you’re interested in international soccer. But there’s one glaring issue with the service: It doesn’t carry anything from ESPN. That’s a deal breaker for most college bowl games, but it does carry all of the major broadcast networks, FS1 and FS2, Big Ten Network, and plenty more. (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
2) 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.)
3) 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.)
4) 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.)
5) 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.)
6) 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.)
RedBox Bowl: Why it matters
This one should be close and fun—for the third time in five years the schools are meeting on the field, and the all-time series is 3-3. As CBS points out, expectations for Herbert to run wild should be tapered off. The Spartans may have lost to their big rivals this season, but they game-planned well for Ohio State’s explosive offense and boast a top-15 defense … playing in the Big 10 will do that to you. This season it became clear that even big brands like Notre Dame and Michigan are struggling to compete with the game’s elite: the SEC schools, Clemson, Oklahoma, and that’s about it. Conference pride is on the line today for historic but middling teams from the Midwest and West, and it’ll come down to whether or not Herbert is as good as we think he is.
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.
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