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Whether you’re rooting for the Ducks to complete their perfect season, an Ohio State fan ready for redemption, or simply a lover of all things college football—we’ve got you covered when it comes to how to watch the Rose Bowl live for free.
Related: How to Watch College Football Bowl Games For Cheap
The Rose Bowl Game has been a college football tradition since 1902, earning its nickname “The Granddaddy of Them All” for good reason. As part of the Tournament of Roses celebration alongside the Rose Parade, this New Year’s Day classic continues to be one of college football’s most anticipated events. As one of the New Year’s Six bowls, the Rose Bowl remains a key piece of the College Football Playoff picture, joining the Orange, Sugar, Cotton, Peach, and Fiesta Bowls.
This year’s matchup features two teams already familiar with each other. After October’s nail-biting 32-31 victory, the undefeated Ducks and the Buckeyes meet again with much higher stakes on the line. Oregon’s quarterback Dillon Gabriel, whose clutch fourth-quarter touchdown run sealed their October 2024 victory over the Buckeyes, will lead his squad against an Ohio State team fresh off a commanding 42-17 win over Tennessee in the playoff’s first round.
With championship dreams hanging in the balance, this rematch promises to deliver—which is exactly why you’ll want to know how to watch the Rose Bowl live for free, so you don’t miss a single moment of the action! Keep on reading ahead for our tips.
When does the Rose Bowl 2025 air?
The 111th Rose Bowl Game starts on January 1, 2025, at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
How to watch the Rose Bowl 2025 live for free
The Rose Bowl 2025 will air on ESPN, which is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Sling Orange, Fubo, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $86.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first three months). Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends.
Sling Orange and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they offer cheaper packages and more bang for your buck than the other options. Sling Orange costs $23 for your first month and starts at $45.99 per month after the first month ends, whereas Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $81.99 per month and offers plans that include free subscriptions to both Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
Best Overall Pick to Watch the Rose Bowl 2025: DirecTV Stream
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch ESPN live for free for its free trial, price, and channel selection. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $86.99 per month; Choice, which costs $114.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $129.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $169.99 per month. ESPN is available with all four plans.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Rose Bowl 2025 with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
- Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
- Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN and start watching the Rose Bowl 2025
Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Rose Bowl 2025: Fubo
Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the Rose Bowl 2025 live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month, Elite, which costs $89.99 per month, and Latino, which costs $32.99 per month. ESPN is included in the Pro and Elite plans.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Rose Bowl 2025 with Fubo’s free trial.
- Visit Fubo.TV
- Click “Start Free Trial”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN and start watching the Rose Bowl 2025
Best Budget Pick to Watch the Rose Bowl 2025: Sling
Sling TV is our best budget pick to watch the Rose Bowl live for its price and channel selection. Sling TV offers three plans: Sling Orange for $45.99 per month; Sling Blue for $50.99 per month; and Sling Orange + Blue for $65.99 per month. Sling also has a current deal where subscribers can sign up for 50 percent off their first month, bringing Sling Orange’s price down to $23 for your first month; Sling Blue’s to $25.50 for your first month; and Sling Orange + Blue’s to $33 for your first month. Only Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue include ESPN. Both of those plans also include ESPN 2 and ESPN 3.
As for the difference between the plans, Sling Orange includes 32 channels and the ability to stream on one device at a time, while Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Rose Bowl with Sling.
- Visit Sling.com
- Click “Try Us Today”
- Create an account
- Choose your plan
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN and start watching
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the Rose Bowl 2025: Hulu+ Live TV
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the Rose Bowl 2025 based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $81.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $87.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $95.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. ESPN is included in all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Rose Bowl 2025 with Hulu+ Live TV.
- Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
- Click “Sign Up Now”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN and start watching the Rose Bowl 2025
What teams are playing in the Rose Bowl 2025?
The undefeated, No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks (Pac-12) will face the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (Big Ten). The winner moves on to the College Football Playoff National Championship game to face whoever emerges victorious from the Sugar Bowl.
Where is the Rose Bowl 2025?
As always, the game will be played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Opened in 1922, this National Historic Landmark holds 92,542 fans and ranks as the 11th-largest stadium in the United States and 10th-largest NCAA venue.
The Rose Bowl airs on January 1, 2025, at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET on ESPN. Here’s how to stream it for free.
