Alright, let me be honest with you. As a lifelong Florida State Seminoles fan, figuring out how to catch every single game live each season used to feel like a part-time job. You’d have one game on ABC, the next tucked away on some regional sports network your cable package didn’t include, and then a random Thursday night kickoff that completely threw off your weekend plans. It was frustrating. But heading into the 2024 season, things have… well, they’ve changed, but maybe not entirely for the simpler. The landscape of watching college football has fractured, but with a little planning, you won’t miss a snap of Jordan Travis’s successor or that fierce defensive line. Think of it like this: the days of just flipping to one channel are over, but the access is better than ever if you know where to look.

First things first, the absolute backbone of your viewing schedule will be traditional broadcast and cable networks. For the big marquee games—think the season opener against Georgia Tech in Dublin (yes, Ireland!) on August 24th, or the annual showdown with Clemson—you’ll want to have access to ABC and ESPN. These are your workhorses. In my experience, the picture quality is reliable, and the commentary teams are top-tier. ESPN will also carry several key ACC matchups on its main channel or ESPN2. Now, here’s where the first modern complication comes in: the ACC Network. This is non-negotiable for a true fan. A significant portion of FSU’s schedule, especially the home games against conference opponents that might not be national headliners, will live exclusively on ACCN. If your cable or satellite provider doesn’t carry it, you’re out of luck on the traditional path. I remember a few years ago, I had to literally drive to a friend’s house because the game was on ACCN and my provider at the time was in a dispute with Disney. It was a hassle I don’t care to repeat.

This is precisely why, for me and for millions of others, the streaming service route has become the most sensible, if not the only, way to guarantee you see everything. Let’s break it down. If you want to replicate the full cable bundle with ABC, ESPN, and ACC Network, your best bet is a live TV streaming service like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV. I’ve personally used YouTube TV for the last two seasons, and its reliability has been stellar—it rarely buffers during a crucial third-down play, and the unlimited cloud DVR is a godsend for those noon games you can’t watch live. The cost for these services hovers around $73 to $80 per month, which is steep if you’re only subscribing for football, but you do get a full channel lineup. FuboTV is a strong contender because it’s historically been sports-focused, but double-check it carries ABC in your local market, as that can be spotty.

But maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t need 100 channels; I just need my Seminoles.” That’s a fair point. For a more targeted approach, ESPN+ is your secret weapon. While it won’t carry the games on main ESPN or ABC, it is the exclusive home for a handful of FSU games each season. Typically, these are the non-conference games against smaller opponents or some early-season contests. For example, if FSU plays Samford at home, that’s almost certainly an ESPN+ game. The service costs about $10.99 per month or $109.99 annually, and it’s packed with other college sports content, making it a great value. The streaming quality is generally excellent, though I did have one game last year where the resolution dipped for a few minutes—annoying, but it sorted itself out.

Now, let’s talk about that unique season opener in Dublin. This presents a fun challenge. The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. ET kickoff on August 24th, which is 5 p.m. local time in Ireland. It will be broadcast on ESPN. For those of us not making the trip, it’s business as usual on TV, but it does set a fantastic, global tone for the season. It reminds me of the attitude some players have—they don’t get overwhelmed by the spectacle; they just play. I’m reminded of a quote I once heard from an athlete about staying relaxed under pressure: “Hindi naman ako nag-e-expect. Enjoy lang,” he said. “I’m not really expecting. Just enjoying.” That’s a good mindset for us fans, too, when navigating these viewing options. Don’t stress about the complexity; just enjoy the fact that we have more ways to watch than ever before. Set your subscriptions up in August, and you’re golden until January.

My personal strategy for 2024? I’m leaning on a combination. I’ll keep my YouTube TV subscription active from late August through the end of the regular season in November—that’s about four months, so roughly $320—and I maintain my annual ESPN+ subscription year-round for all the other sports content. It’s not the cheapest hobby, but for the 12 regular-season games, it comes out to about $27 per game, which feels worth it to me for the convenience and reliability. The days of fuzzy antenna feeds are charming to remember, but I’ll take the crystal-clear, on-demand access every time. So, mark your calendars, get your subscriptions in order, and get ready. Whether it’s on a massive 4K TV or your phone during a family gathering, seeing the garnet and gold take the field never gets old. Just remember to test your setup before kickoff—there’s nothing worse than fumbling with passwords when the opening kickoff is in the air.