The Boise State Broncos (0-0) will head to the Bounce House for the first time ever to take on the UCF Knights (0-0) in a highly compelling Week 1 college football matchup on Thursday night.
The game (7 p.m. ET start time) will be televised on ESPN. But if you don’t have cable, here are some different ways you can watch a live stream of Boise State vs UCF online:
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FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch Boise State vs UCF live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Fubo credentials to log in and watch.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV) has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” ESPN is included in every one, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free 14-day trial.
Note that the free trial isn’t advertised as such, but your “due today” amount will be $0 when signing up. If you watch on your computer, phone or tablet, you won’t be charged for 14 days. If you watch on a streaming device on your TV (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, etc.), you will be charged for the first month, but you can get still get a full refund if you cancel before 14 days:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch Boise State vs UCF live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials (may still be listed as AT&T on the list of cable providers) to log in and watch.
Vidgo
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 90-plus other TV channels on Vidgo. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but you can get your first month for just $10:
Once signed up for Vidgo, you can watch Boise State vs UCF live on the Vidgo app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Vidgo website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Vidgo credentials to log in and watch.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 30-plus other live TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Orange” package. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with ESPN, and you can get your first month for just $10:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch Boise State vs UCF live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Sling credentials to log in and watch.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of ESPN and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch Boise State vs UCF live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, Nintendo Switch, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Hulu website.
You can also watch live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but if you don’t have that, you can use your Hulu credentials to log in and watch.
Boise State vs UCF State Preview
The Gus Malzahn era begins for UCF, who finished 6-4 overall and 5-3 in AAC last year. The Knights will be led on offense by quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who went 248-413 for 3,570 yards and 32 touchdowns with just four picks last year. He also had 169 rushing yards and two scores.
On defense, led by linebacker Eriq Gilyard, Sr., UCF allowed 33.2 points a game last season. The Knights should also get a boost to their defensive line with the addition of transfer defensive end Big Kat Bryant, Sr., who will be an interesting addition to watch for UCF.
On the other side, Boise State is coming off an impressive 5-2 season (5-0 in the Mountain West). The Broncos will be led by quarterback Hank Bachmeier, who finished his 2020 campaign completing 96 of 157 passes for 1,150 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Broncos gave up 27.1 yards per game on defense last year, and led by former Boise State player Andy Avalos, they won’t be easy to beat this season.
“When I look at them, I see experience. Experience everywhere. Offense with nine starters, defense with nine starters, that’s what really concerns you,” Malzahn said about his team’s first opponent this season, via Sports Illustrated. “They’re a program that’s used to winning. They’re a program that’s used to winning championships. We have a lot of respect for them.”
For their part, Boise State is expecting an all-out aerial attack, and has been attempting to prepare for it on defense.
“We understand that, again, it’s on the secondary standpoint that we have to be ready for them to try and take the top off our defense,” Boise State safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Kane Ioane said heading into the game, “and so we’ve got to be ready to defend those as best as we can, you know that coach Malzahn is going to be dialed in for what they’re doing schematically speaking and he’s always going to pose challenges.”
The Broncos have won six season openers in a row, and Central Florida has won five straight, so something will have to give in this one.