YouTube TV carries most NFL games through CBS, Fox, and NBC
YouTube TV includes the channels that broadcast regular-season NFL games: CBS, Fox, and NBC. These three networks show the majority of Sunday and Monday night games during the season. You can watch live games as they air, or record them to your library and watch later. YouTube TV does not carry NFL RedZone or ESPN, so you will miss Thursday night games and some Monday matchups that air only on ESPN.
The base YouTube TV package costs the same whether you watch NFL games or not — there is no separate sports tier. Your account comes with cloud storage for recordings, so you can save entire games and keep them for up to nine months. If you want to watch a specific team's games and some air on channels YouTube TV does not carry, you may need a second service or the NFL's own streaming option.
Key Takeaways
- YouTube TV includes CBS, Fox, and NBC, which broadcast most Sunday and Monday NFL games during the regular season.
- You can watch games live or record them to your library and watch within nine months.
- YouTube TV does not include ESPN or NFL RedZone, so Thursday night games and some Monday games will not be available.
- The service works on phones, tablets, computers, and most streaming devices, and you can watch on up to three screens at once.
- If your team plays on a channel YouTube TV does not carry, you may need to add a second service or use the NFL+ subscription.
Which NFL games appear on YouTube TV channels
CBS broadcasts AFC games on Sunday afternoons, usually at 1 p.m. Eastern. Fox broadcasts NFC games on Sunday afternoons, also usually at 1 p.m. Eastern. NBC shows Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. Eastern. These three networks cover the bulk of the regular season, but not every game — some matchups air only on ESPN (Monday Night Football), Amazon Prime Video, or the NFL's own streaming service.
Your local CBS and Fox affiliates may also carry games that are not part of the national broadcast. YouTube TV's guide shows you what is available in your area. If you live in a team's home market, you will see local games on the regional CBS or Fox station. If you live outside that market, you may not see that game on YouTube TV, even if it airs on CBS or Fox nationally.
How to find and watch NFL games on YouTube TV
Open the YouTube TV app or website and look at the guide. Games appear in the sports section and are labeled with the team names and kickoff time. You can also search for a specific team name to see all upcoming games involving that team across all channels. When you find a game you want to watch, click or tap it to tune in live.
If you cannot watch at kickoff, click the record button on the game listing. YouTube TV will save the full broadcast to your library. You can watch it anytime within nine months. The recording includes the entire game from start to finish, not a highlight reel. You can also pause, rewind, and fast-forward through live games if you are watching on a compatible device.
Devices that work with YouTube TV for NFL games
YouTube TV works on iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, computers (Windows and Mac), Roku, Apple TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, and LG Smart TVs. You can also cast games to a TV from your phone or computer using Chromecast or AirPlay. read the YouTube TV app from your device's app store, or visit tv.youtube.com in a web browser.
Your account allows three simultaneous streams, so three people can watch different games at the same time on three different devices. If a fourth person tries to watch, YouTube TV will ask one of the other streams to stop. You can change which devices are allowed to use your account in the settings menu.
What to do if your team's games are not on YouTube TV
Some NFL games air only on ESPN, Amazon Prime Video, or the NFL's own NFL+ Premium service. If your team plays a game on one of those platforms, YouTube TV will not carry it. Check the NFL schedule on NFL.com to see which channel broadcasts each game your team plays.
If most of your team's games are on YouTube TV but a few are on ESPN, you have two options: add ESPN+ to your YouTube TV account (ESPN+ costs extra and does not include live ESPN broadcasts, only streaming content), or watch those games on ESPN through a cable login, a separate ESPN+ subscription, or a service like Hulu + Live TV that includes ESPN. If your team plays games on Amazon Prime Video, you will need a Prime membership to watch those broadcasts.
Recording NFL games and managing your library
When you record a game, it stays in your library for nine months from the air date. After nine months, YouTube TV automatically deletes it. You cannot extend this period or read games to keep permanently. If you want to save a game beyond nine months, you need to watch it before the important date or find a replay on another platform.
Your account includes unlimited cloud storage for recordings, so you can record every game your team plays without running out of space. You can organize recordings into custom folders by team name or season. The YouTube TV app shows you new recordings at the top of your library, and you can sort by date or alphabetically.
Blackout rules and local game restrictions
YouTube TV follows NFL blackout rules. If a game is not sold out, it may be blacked out in the home team's local market on broadcast television. This means you might not see the game on CBS or Fox even though it is scheduled there. YouTube TV cannot override blackouts — they are set by the NFL and the broadcast networks.
If you are traveling or using a VPN, YouTube TV may not show you local games that would normally appear in your home market. YouTube TV checks your location based on your home address in your account settings, not your current location. If you move, update your address in settings to see games for your new area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch NFL games on YouTube TV without a cable login?
Yes. YouTube TV is a standalone service that does not require a cable subscription. You only need a YouTube TV account. Sign up on the YouTube TV website or app, and you can start watching when ready.
Does YouTube TV include NFL RedZone?
No. YouTube TV does not carry NFL RedZone, which shows live look-ins from multiple games on Sunday afternoons. You would need a separate cable subscription, Sling TV, or another streaming service that includes RedZone.
Can I watch NFL games on YouTube TV if I travel out of state?
Yes, but with limits. You can watch national broadcasts (Sunday Night Football, most Sunday games) from anywhere. Local games may be blacked out depending on where you are and which team is playing. YouTube TV uses your home address to determine blackouts, not your current location.
What happens if I miss an NFL game on YouTube TV?
If you recorded it, you can watch the recording anytime within nine months. If you did not record it, you can often find replays on the NFL's website, the team's website, or ESPN+, though these may be condensed versions rather than full broadcasts.
Can I watch NFL games on YouTube TV on my phone while traveling?
Yes. The YouTube TV app works on phones and tablets. You can watch live games or recordings on your phone anywhere you have an internet connection. Some games may be subject to blackout rules depending on your home address and the teams playing.