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How To Watch Washington State Cougars Football

✦ Edited and fact-checked by David Vick, our Contributing Writer, with over five years covering sports.

Status: Verified 10/2/26

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Washington State’s 2026 season marks a new chapter in the rebuilt eight-team Pac-12. After two unusual seasons alongside Oregon State as the conference’s remaining members, the Cougars once again have a full conference slate and championship race to navigate. First-year head coach Kirby Moore is leading Wazzu through that transition.

The Apple Cup opener against Washington headlines a broadcast rotation that includes CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, The CW, TNT, and USA Network. Fans can stream the CBS game on Paramount+, the NBC matchup on Peacock, The CW broadcasts on ESPN Unlimited, and the sole TNT appearance on HBO Max.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to watch Washington State Cougars football. Keep scrolling for the full WSU TV schedule and our top viewing recommendations for following the Cougs all season long.

2026 Washington State football TV schedule

Washington State’s 12-game slate includes four non-conference matchups followed by a seven-game round-robin Pac-12 schedule. The regular season then closes with the conference’s unique flex week, when the Cougars will host another Pac-12 opponent determined closer to Thanksgiving weekend.

Check the table below for exact kickoff times and channels as the season unfolds. You can also use College Football TV Schedule to find the best matchups across the country each week.

OpponentDateTime (ET)Channel
Sunday, Sept. 6
4:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 12
Noon
Duquesne Dukes
Saturday, Sept. 19
3:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 26
7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3
9:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 9
9:00 p.m.
CW
At Oregon State Beavers
Saturday, Oct. 17
6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24
6:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31
7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 14
10:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21
6:00 p.m.
TBD
Saturday, Nov. 28
TBD
TBD



Best TV plans for watching Washington State football

Washington State appears across six linear channels this season, making a live TV provider the simplest way to cover the full schedule in one place. Streaming services like Peacock, Paramount+, ESPN Unlimited, and HBO Max also play specific roles in the Cougars’ season-long distribution picture.

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Best Overall

YouTube TV carries every linear channel airing Wazzu games this season through its Sports Plan, making it a convenient and budget-friendly choice for Cougars fans. Saving money while catching every game? That’s a win.

Peacock logo on a black background.

Best for NBC Sports

Peacock is a great add-on for the Apple Cup season opener on NBC. Once the game is over, you can enjoy a wide selection of movies and shows until your subscription ends. That stress-free entertainment could provide a nice change of pace from the intense college football season.

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Best for TNT Sports

HBO Max is the cleanest way to stream Washington State’s Week 2 road trip to Kansas State, which airs on TNT. That should be the Cougs’ lone appearance on the app unless a later week brings another TNT Sports matchup.

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How to watch Washington State football FAQ

Where can I watch the Washington State Cougars for free?

You can stream several Cougars games for free thanks to free trials from DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. A digital antenna can also deliver the Washington State games that air on your local CBS and NBC stations at no extra cost.

Where can I stream Washington State football without cable?

YouTube TV is a straightforward cable-free option that includes CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBC, The CW, TNT, and USA Network in its channel lineup.

Can I watch Washington State Cougars football on Paramount+?

Yes, you can watch the Cougars on Paramount+ once this season. Their Week 4 home game against Arizona will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.

How do I watch Washington State Cougars football if I live out of state?

Out-of-state Cougars fans can watch through the same national and conference channels listed in the schedule table above. College football broadcast rights are built around national, conference, and streaming agreements rather than a local-market blackout system.

Why you should trust us

David Vick, our Contributing Writer, cross-referenced Washington State’s official schedule with major TV providers’ channel lineups to build these viewing recommendations, weighing channel availability, pricing, and ease of use. We regularly review this guide for schedule and distribution changes. Read more about our process in our Editorial Policy.

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CableTV.com editors created this article using original analysis and proprietary inputs, with AI tools assisting in drafting. The final content was reviewed and edited for accuracy and quality.

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