Fans looking forward to the Texas Longhorns battling the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday might hit a snag thanks to a coverage dispute. So, how can viewers avoid this headache and catch all the action? While college football games get decided on the field, the fate of who actually sees them gets sorted out in boardrooms, not stadiums.
How Will Fans Watch Texas vs. Ohio State With the YouTube TV and Fox Dispute?
Lately, streaming services have taken over where cable used to rule. That means the fight for TV rights is now a battle between tech giants, not just networks. All this impacts the real lifeblood of college football: fans who just want to watch the games, no matter who’s airing them.
With the Longhorns set to face off against the Buckeyes in a huge opener, all eyes will be on Ohio Stadium. For the roughly 100,000 packed into the seats and the millions hoping to tune in at home, this game could be a taste of a College Football Playoff matchup, maybe even a national championship preview.
But just as fans were gearing up, a boardroom battle popped up. YouTube TV, a go-to for sports fans, and Fox are butting heads over their licensing deal. If they don’t sort things out by 5 p.m. today, Big Ten Network, FS1, and Fox could vanish from YouTube TV. That’s a problem because Fox is set to broadcast the huge Ohio State-Texas matchup. On3.com lined up a few tricks fans can use to avoid losing access.
“Fubo offers live sports at $79.99 a month, but it also offers a free trial. Hulu + Live TV with ads and a live TV plan starts at $82.99 per month following a three-day free trial. Last week, Fox launched a direct-to-consumer streaming service called FOX One. The service includes Fox Sports properties and is priced at $19.99 monthly with a seven-day free trial or $199.99 annually.”
If neither side makes a deal, Fubo or Hulu becomes the top option. At first glance, losing these channels looks like a bigger hit for YouTube than for Fox. Fans can do a couple of things to keep Big Ten football on their screen. First, switching out YouTube TV for Hulu + Live TV could be considered the smoothest move.
All told, fans aren’t stuck. There are ways to watch the games they want. Still, everyone hopes both sides find a solution that doesn’t mess with too much of the 2025 college football season.
