How To Watch the LA Bowl
✦ Edited and fact-checked by Sports Editor Taylor Kujawa, our resident TV expert with over eight years of covering sports.
Get ready for the 2025 LA Bowl
The LA Bowl is quickly becoming one of my favorite events to kick off the bowl season. Played at SoFi Stadium—one of the most spectacular venues in the NFL—this game features the champion of the Mountain West Conference taking on a former Pac-12 legacy team. It’s the premier matchup of bowl season’s opening weekend, offering high-stakes football with a distinct party atmosphere courtesy of its host, Mr. Rob Gronkowski.
Beyond the “Gronk” antics, which typically involve live stunts or mascot battles, the football itself is often top-notch. This is essentially the Mountain West’s Rose Bowl. Seeing college kids play in a futuristic stadium that hosted Super Bowl LVI gives the broadcast a “big game” feel that few other December bowls can match.
If you want to catch the opening ceremonies of bowl season, here’s how to watch the 2025 LA Bowl. I outline the game’s TV channel and best streaming services for tuning in.
What channel shows the LA Bowl?
You can watch the 2025 LA Bowl live on ABC. The game takes place on Saturday, December 13, with kickoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET.
Best TV plans for watching the LA Bowl
Since the LA Bowl is on ABC this season, the most cost-effective way to watch is with a digital antenna. For a one-time purchase of around $25, you can pull in the broadcast signal over the air for free in high definition. It’s the best way to avoid a monthly subscription if you live near a broadcast tower. You can check that by entering your zip code into Antennas Direct’s Transmitter Locator tool.
If you want a comprehensive streaming service that covers ABC and other bowl game channels, Hulu + Live TV is a fantastic choice. It caters well to sports fans and includes several perks like unlimited DVR storage and Disney+ at no extra cost.
You can also go a cheaper route with ESPN Unlimited, which includes every ESPN channel alongside ESPN on ABC broadcasts. That’ll cover you for most bowl games at a fraction of Hulu + Live TV’s price.
How to watch the LA Bowl FAQ
How can I watch the LA Bowl for free?
You can watch the LA Bowl for free using a digital antenna to tune into your local ABC affiliate. Free trials to DIRECTV and Fubo are also available to access ABC if you're a first-time subscriber.
Can I stream the LA Bowl on the ESPN app?
Yes, the LA Bowl will stream in the ESPN app if you have an eligible TV plan or ESPN Unlimited subscription.
Where is the LA Bowl played?
The LA Bowl takes place at SoFi Stadium, home of the NFL's Chargers and Rams, in Inglewood, California.
What conferences play in the LA Bowl?
The game features the Mountain West Conference champion (provided they aren't in the CFP) against a former Pac-12 team or legacy affiliate.
Why you should trust us
Our CableTV.com editorial team researched the LA Bowl’s official broadcast rights and cross-referenced them with the channel lineups of every major TV provider. We then selected our viewing recommendations based on our hands-on testing, identifying the most cost-effective and straightforward ways for you to watch the game.
To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.
