Disney Plus does not carry live NFL games, but it does stream some football content through ESPN+

Disney Plus itself does not show regular-season NFL games or most college football matchups. However, Disney owns ESPN, and ESPN+ (a separate streaming service) carries some live football that you cannot watch on Disney Plus alone. If you want to watch football through Disney's services, you need to understand which games go where.

ESPN+ streams certain NFL games on Monday and Thursday nights, some college football games, and lower-tier professional leagues. Disney Plus focuses on movies, TV shows, and Disney-owned entertainment—not sports. The two services are separate subscriptions, though Disney offers a bundle that includes both Disney Plus and ESPN+ together at a lower combined price than buying them separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Disney Plus does not carry NFL games; ESPN+ (owned by Disney but separate from Disney Plus) streams some live NFL games on Monday and Thursday nights.
  • ESPN+ also carries college football games, but not all conference games or major broadcasts—those often air on ESPN, ABC, or other networks.
  • A Disney Bundle combines Disney Plus, ESPN+, and Hulu at a lower price than buying each service alone, but you still need ESPN+ specifically to watch football.
  • Most major NFL games (Sunday afternoon, Sunday night, and Thursday night primetime) air on traditional cable networks or are exclusive to other streaming services.

Which NFL games stream on ESPN+

ESPN+ carries a limited number of NFL games each season. These are typically Monday Night Football games and Thursday Night Football games that ESPN has rights to broadcast. Not every Monday or Thursday game appears on ESPN+—some air on traditional ESPN cable instead, and some are exclusive to other networks like Amazon Prime Video (Thursday Night Football) or NBC (Sunday Night Football).

The specific games available on ESPN+ change year to year based on broadcasting contracts. Your best way to know which games are coming is to check the ESPN+ schedule directly when you log in, or to look at the NFL's official schedule and note which games are marked as ESPN+ exclusive.

College football on ESPN+

ESPN+ carries college football games throughout the season, but again, not all of them. Major conference games often air on ESPN, ABC, or regional sports networks instead. ESPN+ typically shows games from smaller conferences, non-conference matchups between mid-tier teams, and some games that would otherwise air on cable ESPN but are moved to the streaming service.

Like NFL games, the college football schedule on ESPN+ is published in advance. You can see which games are available by checking the ESPN+ app or website during football season.

The Disney Bundle and what it includes

Disney offers a bundle that combines Disney Plus, ESPN+, and Hulu (with ads) for one monthly price. This bundle costs less than paying for all three services separately. If you want both Disney Plus entertainment and ESPN+ football, the bundle is usually the better deal.

Disney also offers a more expensive bundle option that includes Hulu without ads. Check Disney's website for current pricing, as bundle costs change periodically. The bundle auto-renews each month unless you cancel.

Other ways to watch NFL and college football

If ESPN+ does not have the game you want, you have other options. The NFL is broadcast across multiple networks: CBS and Fox carry most Sunday afternoon games, NBC carries Sunday Night Football, and Amazon Prime Video has exclusive Thursday Night Football rights. College football appears on ESPN, ABC, Fox, CBS, and regional sports networks depending on the conference and matchup.

Some games are also available through the NFL+ app (a separate subscription from ESPN+) or the ESPN app itself if you have a cable login. Your cable or satellite provider may also let you stream games through their own apps.

How to check what is available right now

The easiest way to see if a specific game streams on ESPN+ is to search for it in the ESPN+ app or on ESPN.com. Type the teams' names or the date, and the search will show you where that game is broadcast. If it says "ESPN+" next to the game, it is available on that service.

You can also check the official NFL schedule on NFL.com or the college football schedule on ESPN.com. These sites list the broadcast network for each game. If you see "ESPN+" listed, you will need an ESPN+ subscription to watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch the Super Bowl on Disney Plus or ESPN+?

No. The Super Bowl airs on traditional broadcast networks (CBS, NBC, or Fox, rotating each year) and is not available on Disney Plus or ESPN+. You can watch it for free if you have an antenna or cable subscription to the network broadcasting it that year.

Do I need ESPN+ if I already have cable?

Not necessarily. If your cable package includes ESPN and you have a cable login, you can stream many games through the ESPN app without paying extra for ESPN+. However, some games are exclusive to ESPN+ and will not air on cable ESPN, so it depends on which games you want to watch.

Can I watch football on Disney Plus with a free trial?

Disney Plus itself does not offer a free trial anymore, but ESPN+ sometimes does. Check ESPN.com to see if a trial is currently available. A trial to ESPN+ would let you watch ESPN+ football games, but you would still need a separate Disney Plus subscription for Disney movies and shows.

What is the difference between ESPN and ESPN+?

ESPN is a cable channel that comes with most TV packages. ESPN+ is a streaming service you pay for separately. Some games air on cable ESPN, some on ESPN+, and some on both. The two are not the same service, even though they are both owned by Disney.

Do I need the Disney Bundle if I only want to watch football?

No. You can buy ESPN+ as a standalone subscription without Disney Plus or Hulu. The bundle is only worth it if you also want access to Disney Plus movies and shows or Hulu's TV library.