When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

How to Watch Central Michigan Chippewas Football Live Online

Written by John O'Connor

Last updated on

The Central Michigan football team plays in the MAC Conference, a league that has a TV contract with CBS Sports Network and ESPN. Because the CBS Sports Network deal is a sublicense from ESPN, most MAC games, including Chippewas football, will air on an ESPN channel. Many CMU football fans will want to watch Big Ten football, as well as Detroit pro sports, alongside MAC football. For this reason, DIRECTV STREAM’s “Ultimate” package, with its inclusion of Bally Sports Detroit in the channel lineup, is our top pick for watching Central Michigan football, plus major Michigan sporting events. However, if you want to get every CMU game from one app, Hulu + Live TV, with its ESPN+ bundle, is the best choice. Both Hulu and DIRECTV STREAM carry WJBK FOX 2 Detroit for watching Aidan Hutchinson and the Detroit Lions.

DIRECTV STREAM – Ultimate

ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Bally Sports Detroit, CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, and more.

$109.99 / month

5 Day Free Trial

Hulu + Live TV

Watch every CMU football game.

$69.99 / month

Sign Up for Hulu
Table of Contents
  1. How to watch this week’s CMU football game
  2. CMU football TV channels
  3. Watching CMU football: our top picks
  4. More MAC Teams

How to watch this week’s CMU football game

Looking for a specific CMU football game? We list the upcoming CMU football TV schedule, as well as the live TV streaming services that carry each game, in the easy to use table below. Note: ESPN+ streaming exclusive games are not included in the CMU TV schedule.

CMU football TV channels

Per the MAC TV deal with ESPN, most CMU games will air on an ESPN channel, often ESPN2, ESPNU, or ESPN+. Some CMU games will air on CBS Sports Network, and Chippewa TV inventory will also appear on conference channels, like the Big Ten Network, when CMU plays against a Power 5 opponent earlier in the season.

DIRECTV STREAM – ChoiceDIRECTV STREAM – UltimateFuboTV Sports LiteFuboHulu + Live TVOrange & Blue Sports ExtraYouTube TV
ABC ABC
Big 10 Network Big 10 Network
CBS Sports Network CBS Sports Network
ESPN ESPN
ESPN2 ESPN2
ESPN3 ESPN3
ESPNU ESPNU
FOX FOX
FS1 FS1
NBC NBC
Bally Sports Detroit Bally Sports Detroit

Watching CMU football: our top picks

Despite lacking ESPN+, DIRECTV STREAM secures the top spot for watching CMU football because, as a kid from Detroit, I know that most CMU fans would want the streaming service that includes Bally Sports Detroit, even if it means missing a couple Chippewas games. With DIRECTV STREAM, you can watch the majority of the CMU football season, plus the Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons, and Lions.


If you want full CMU football coverage, Hulu + Live TV, with its ESPN+ bundle, is the only option to watch all of CMU’s season from one app. Hulu does not carry Bally Sports Detroit.


For a competitive price, CMU football fans can watch about 4 games on ESPN+ every season.

More MAC Teams

Get our Streaming Newsletter!
Get insider tips, top news stories, and the best streaming deals in your inbox.