Yes, you can watch football on YouTube TV, but which games you see depends on your location and the channel package you choose

YouTube TV carries the major networks that broadcast football: CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN. These channels show NFL games on Sunday, Monday, and Thursday nights, plus college football on Saturday afternoons and evenings. You also get NFL Network if you add the Sports Plus add-on, which costs extra per month beyond your base YouTube TV subscription.

The specific games available to you depend on two things: which network has the broadcast rights that week, and whether you live in the market where that game is being shown. A Sunday afternoon game on Fox in your region will stream on YouTube TV if you have Fox in your package. A game blacked out in your area (usually because a local team is playing at home) will not appear, even if the network carrying it is included in your subscription.

YouTube TV's base package includes the four major broadcast networks. If you want more football options—including out-of-market games, RedZone, and NFL Network—the Sports Plus add-on is where those live.

Key Takeaways

  • YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN in the base package, which carry most NFL and college football broadcasts.
  • NFL Network and RedZone are only available through the Sports Plus add-on, which costs extra monthly.
  • Games that are blacked out in your local market will not stream, even if the network carrying them is in your package.
  • You can watch games on any device where you have YouTube TV installed—phone, tablet, computer, or streaming device connected to your TV.
  • Live games stream at the same time they air on television; you cannot rewind or pause during the broadcast.

What channels carry football on YouTube TV

The base YouTube TV package includes CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN. CBS and Fox split Sunday afternoon NFL games. NBC carries Sunday Night Football. ESPN shows Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football. These four networks also broadcast college football, primarily on Saturday afternoons and evenings.

If you want NFL Network, RedZone, or NFL+ content, you need the Sports Plus add-on. This add-on also includes NBA TV, MLB Network, and other sports channels. The Sports Plus add-on costs a set amount per month on top of your base YouTube TV bill.

Some regional sports networks that carry local team games may also be in your package depending on where you live, but these vary by market. Check your channel list in the YouTube TV app to see exactly what you have in your area.

How blackout rules work on YouTube TV

Blackout restrictions mean certain games will not stream to you even if the network showing them is in your package. The most common blackout is when a local team plays a home game—that game is usually blacked out in the home team's market to encourage in-person attendance. If you live in the Dallas area and the Cowboys are playing at home on Fox, you will not see that game on YouTube TV, even though you have Fox.

Blackout rules are set by the leagues and networks, not by YouTube TV. The service has no control over which games are blocked in which regions. If a game is blacked out, YouTube TV will show you that information in the game listing, usually with a message like "Blackout in your area."

The only way around blackouts is to use a VPN (virtual private network) to appear as though you are in a different location, but this violates YouTube TV's terms of service. Another option is to watch the game through the league's own streaming service if one is available—for example, NFL+ offers some out-of-market games, though it has its own blackout rules.

Watching games live versus on demand

YouTube TV streams football games live at the same time they air on television. You cannot pause, rewind, or fast-forward during a live broadcast. Once the game ends, YouTube TV records it automatically and stores it in your library for a set period of time (typically nine months for most content).

After the game finishes airing, you can watch the recording on demand. This means you can rewind, pause, and skip through it whenever you want. The recording stays in your library until YouTube TV's retention period expires, at which point it is deleted automatically.

If you know you will miss a game, you can set it to record before it airs. Open the game listing, select the record button, and YouTube TV will capture it automatically. You do not need to do anything else—the recording will be ready to watch as soon as the broadcast ends.

Devices you can use to watch football

YouTube TV works on phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices. On a phone or tablet, read the YouTube TV app from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android). On a computer, go to tv.youtube.com and sign in with your YouTube TV account. On a TV, you can use a Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or Samsung Smart TV if it has YouTube TV built in.

You can watch on multiple devices at the same time, but YouTube TV limits how many streams can play simultaneously depending on your subscription plan. The base plan allows three simultaneous streams. If you try to start a fourth stream, you will get an error message asking you to stop one of the other streams first.

If you are away from home, you can still watch live games on your phone or computer as long as you are signed into your YouTube TV account. There is no geographic restriction on streaming—you can watch from anywhere in the country, though blackout rules still explore based on where the game is being broadcast.

Sports Plus add-on and what it includes

The Sports Plus add-on is a separate monthly subscription on top of your base YouTube TV bill. It adds NFL Network, RedZone, NBA TV, MLB Network, NHL Network, Pac-12 Networks, and several other sports channels. For football specifically, NFL Network shows original programming, game replays, and some live games that are not on the major networks. RedZone shows live coverage of all NFL games happening at the same time on Sunday afternoons, cutting between games as plays develop.

RedZone is particularly useful during the NFL's main Sunday afternoon window (typically 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time) because it shows every touchdown and major play across all games at once, rather than forcing you to pick one game to watch. You can follow multiple teams and matchups simultaneously.

The Sports Plus add-on does not remove blackout restrictions. Games that are blacked out in your market will still be blacked out on NFL Network and RedZone.

What to do if a game is not showing up

If you are looking for a specific game and cannot find it, check three things: first, confirm that the network carrying the game is in your package. Open the YouTube TV app, go to the Guide or Home tab, and look for the channel. If it is not there, you do not have it.

Second, check whether the game is blacked out in your area. The game listing will say "Blackout in your area" if this is the case. Blackouts are permanent for that game—you cannot watch it on YouTube TV no matter what you do.

Third, make sure you are looking at the correct date and time. Games sometimes move to different days or times due to scheduling changes, and the YouTube TV guide updates automatically. If the game is scheduled for a time you did not expect, check the network's website or the league's official schedule to confirm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch NFL games on YouTube TV without the Sports Plus add-on?

Yes. The base YouTube TV package includes CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN, which carry most NFL games. You only need Sports Plus if you want NFL Network, RedZone, or out-of-market games. Most Sunday and Monday night games are on the base channels.

Does YouTube TV have a free trial for football season?

YouTube TV occasionally offers trial periods, but these vary by time of year and are not may provide. Check the YouTube TV website to see if a trial is currently available in your area. Trial lengths and terms change regularly.

Can I watch college football on YouTube TV?

Yes. CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN all broadcast college football on Saturday afternoons and evenings. The specific games available depend on which network has the broadcast rights that week and whether the game is blacked out in your market.

What happens if my internet cuts out during a live game?

If your connection drops, the stream will pause or stop. Once your internet is back, you can resume watching from where it stopped. If the game has already finished airing, you can watch the recorded version on demand instead of trying to catch the live broadcast.

Can I watch games on YouTube TV if I travel out of state?

Yes, you can stream games from anywhere in the country as long as you are signed into your YouTube TV account. Blackout rules still explore based on the broadcast market, not your location, so a game blacked out in your home market will be blacked out even if you are traveling.