The Notre Dame Fighting Irish face the Penn State Nittany Lions in this year’s CFP semifinal — here’s how to livestream the game
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
The College Football Playoff semifinals are here, starting with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2025 Orange Bowl. The No. 7 Fighting Irish (13-1) enter Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium as slight favorites against the No. 6 Nittany Lions (13-2).
At a Glance: How to Watch Orange Bowl 2025
If you’re looking to watch the semifinal game online, read on. We put together a quick guide on how to livestream the Orange Bowl, including ways to watch Notre Dame vs. Penn State for free.
How to Watch Notre Dame vs. Penn State Orange Bowl Online
The 2025 Orange Bowl is airing on ESPN (not on ESPN+). If you don’t have cable, you’ll want to get a live TV streaming service that carries the channel to watch the Notre Dame vs. Penn State game. Here are some of our favorites, including a few with free trials:
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream carries every channel you’ll need to watch the CFP (and the NFL playoffs), including ESPN for the Orange Bowl. Plans start at $86.99 a month, but you get a five-day free trial to start.
Fubo
Fubo also carries ESPN for a livestream of tonight’s Notre Dame vs. Penn State game. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial to start. After that, packages start at $79.99 a month.
Hulu + Live TV
Another one of our favorite cable streaming services is Hulu + Live TV, which carries ESPN and more than 95 other live channels. Plans start at $81.99 a month, and you get a three-day free trial to start.
Sling
Sling is a more affordable live TV streaming service. This one starts at $45.99 a month — plus you get 50% off your first month right now. You’ll find ESPN in Sling’s Orange package, which carries a total of 35 channels.
Notre Dame vs. Penn State Date, Start Time, Location
The Notre Dame vs. Penn State Orange Bowl is happening tonight, Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET. It will be played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, which has hosted the Orange Bowl since 1996.
Notre Dame vs. Penn State Odds
The Fighting Irish have the edge against the Nittany Lions tonight with a 1.5-point spread. Both are very strong teams, and the winner has a good chance against either Texas or Ohio State in this year’s championship game.