The 2025 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic promises to deliver another thrilling college football showdown as the Ohio State Buckeyes face the Texas Longhorns. Both teams earned their spots in the 89th annual Cotton Bowl after surviving the first two rounds of the College Football Playoff. Excitement will be at an all-time high when fans take over AT&T Stadium this Friday, January 10.
Whether you’re cheering for the Buckeyes or the Longhorns, we’ve got everything you need to know about watching the game live on ESPN. Read on for channel details, team info, and streaming options.
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What channel shows the Cotton Bowl?
You can watch the 2025 Cotton Bowl Classic on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, January 10, with alternate telecasts airing on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
Want radio coverage? You can listen to the Cotton Bowl’s national radio broadcast on ESPN Radio, Apple Music, SiriusXM, and TuneIn.
Cotton Bowl 2025 preview: Ohio State vs. Texas
This year’s Cotton Bowl Classic marks the first meeting between Ohio State and Texas since the Longhorns’ 24–21 victory in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. But even more is at stake this time, with the winner advancing to face the Orange Bowl champion in the 2025 National Championship on January 20.
Unstoppable Buckeyes look poised for Cotton Bowl glory
Ohio State is hot to go after stellar performances against Tennessee and Oregon in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes outscored their opponents 83–38, thanks to explosive starts and a dominant offense. Freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has been a revelation, breaking records with 290 yards and four touchdowns during the playoff run. Meanwhile, TreVeyon Henderson’s electric ground game, averaging 9.8 yards per carry, has kept defenses on edge.
The Ohio State defense has been just as impressive, with Jack Sawyer and the Buckeyes’ front wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Against Oregon, the team recorded eight sacks—making life miserable for Dillon Gabriel. Now, Ohio State enters the Cotton Bowl brimming with the kind of confidence that could easily brush aside a shaky Texas squad.
TREVEYON HENDERSON TOOK IT 66 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 🏠
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2025
BUCKEYES UP 31-0 👀 pic.twitter.com/Vv0qMxUQ7i
Texas walks a fine line in playoff pursuit
The Texas Longhorns enter the Cotton Bowl Classic fresh off a nail-biting 39–31 double-overtime win over Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. While it was a thrilling game, it highlighted the Longhorns’ inconsistencies. Sure, the team has shown flashes of brilliance. But their vulnerabilities might lead to their demise against Ohio State.
The Longhorns must shore up their defense and sustain offensive momentum for four quarters to keep national title hopes alive. Any slip-ups against the Buckeyes could likely send Bevo and the boys packing. Can the Longhorns rise to the occasion and prove they belong on college football’s biggest stage?
Breaking: the big guy is headed to Arlington 🤘 @TexasMascot pic.twitter.com/vE4MCLQnof
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 3, 2025
Best Cotton Bowl TV plans
I’ve been recommending Hulu + Live TV for watching college football during the 2024–2025 season because it offers the core CFB channels and ESPN+ for comprehensive coverage. While you don’t need ESPN+ to watch the Cotton Bowl, Hulu + Live TV remains an excellent choice for following the CFB Playoffs across ESPN platforms. Just keep in mind that the live TV streaming service is a bit pricey.
If you’re only after ESPN to watch the Cotton Bowl and National Championship, Sling TV’s Sling Orange plan is a more affordable option at $45 a month—about $37 less than Hulu + Live TV. Plus, you could save even more with some sweet Sling TV sign-up deals.
Which TV providers carry the Cotton Bowl?
Since the Cotton Bowl airs on ESPN, most major TV providers will carry the game. Our table below lists popular services and whether or not they offer ESPN access.
| Provider | Type | Price | ESPN | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cox | Cable | $61.00–$152.00/mo. | ✔ |
Read Cox review |
| DIRECTV | Satellite | $74.99–$154.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV review |
| DIRECTV STREAM | Streaming | $101.98–$129.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read DIRECTV STREAM review |
| DISH | Satellite | $97.99–$147.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read DISH review |
| Fubo | Streaming | $32.99–$89.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read Fubo review |
| Hulu + Live TV | Streaming | $81.99–$95.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read Hulu + Live TV review |
| Optimum | Cable | $40.00–$135.00/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read Optimum review |
| Philo | Streaming | $28.00/mo. | — |
View plans Read Philo review |
| Sling TV | Streaming | $45.99–$60.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read Sling TV review |
| Spectrum | Cable | $40.00–$105.00/mo. | ✔ |
Check Availability Read Spectrum review |
| Verizon Fios | Cable | [sc name='verizon-tv-price' | ✔ |
View plans Read Verizon Fios review |
| Xfinity | Cable | $20.00–$80.00/mo. | ✔ |
Read Xfinity review |
| YouTube TV | Streaming | $82.99/mo. | ✔ |
View plans Read YouTube TV review |
Data effective as of post date.
How to watch the Cotton Bowl FAQ
How can I stream the Cotton Bowl for free?
The only legal way to stream the Cotton Bowl for free is with a live TV streaming trial. Fubo is a great choice, offering a seven-day free trial and over 100 channels, including all ESPN networks.
When and where is the Cotton Bowl?
The 2025 Cotton Bowl will occur on Friday, January 10, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The CFB Playoff matchup will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Who will play in the Cotton Bowl?
The Ohio State Buckeyes will face the Texas Longhorns in the 2025 Cotton Bowl after both teams survived the CFB Playoff Quarterfinals.
Why you should trust us
Our sports experts analyzed this season’s college football bowl schedule to verify the Cotton Bowl’s start time and broadcast details. Using that information, we evaluated top TV providers, prioritizing channel availability, pricing, and CFB Playoff coverage to provide the best viewing options for Cotton Bowl fans.
Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.
