Best Overall
185+ channels including , all major sports networks, and local channels. 7-day free trial – watch tonight, cancel anytime. Best if you want one service that “just works”, without piecing together bundles.
From $79.99/mo after free trial
Pop-Tarts Bowl: Ways to Watch College Football Online Without Cable This Year
Disclosure: Hotdog.com is supported by readers. When you click on our links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more
Written by Frank Moraes Senior Content Editor
I can watch this matchup between NC State and Kansas State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl (formerly known as Cheez-It Bowl) on ESPN, with or without a cable subscription. The game kicks off at 5:45 pm (EST) on December 28th. Let me explain the various ways to stream this bowl game online.
In a hurry? Want to skip the details and get ESPN online right away? Here are three streaming services that get you access:
Watch Live Tonight
All three services carry . Pick based on your budget:
Lowest Price
Carries from $45.99/mo – roughly half the price of Fubo. Add channel packs if you want more. The lowest-cost route for , if you are happy with a smaller bundle.
Most Channels
90+ channels including – the closest thing to full cable without a contract. 5-day free trial, then from $84.99/mo.
Away from home? If your content is blocked, a VPN helps you keep streaming. Our top pick is ExpressVPN.
As ESPN is a popular channel, it means that you have more ways to watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl live stream.
If you want to watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl online, we can tell you about all of the available services.
Pop-Tarts Bowl Schedule
The Pop-Tarts Bowl is a matchup between the ACC and the Big 12 conferences. It takes place at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Florida Citrus Sports runs the bowl — along with the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
Here are all the deets:
- Date: Dec 28, 2023
- Kickoff Time: 5:45 pm EST
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Teams: NC State (19) vs Kansas State (28)
In 2022, Florida State beat Oklahoma (35-32).
How to Watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl Online Without Cable
If you want to watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl online, you’ve got a few options in terms of streaming services.
Two of the services we’re going to mention first are Fubo and Sling TV.
You’ll be able to watch TV live and on-demand, and they give you more features than the average cable package. You’ll also learn about all of the other services that allow you to stream the Pop-Tarts Bowl before you reach the end of this article.
Once you’ve chosen the service and you’ve signed up, you’ll be ready to start streaming. To do that you’ll need a streaming device. The device you can use will depend on the service you’ve picked.
Of course, most services allow you to use most streaming devices, so you have more ways to watch TV. Some device options include Roku, Chromecast, mobile devices, Apple TV, and others.
Streaming Pop-Tarts Bowl Live on Fubo
Fubo (formerly FuboTV) is a great general streaming service with a focus on sports. It features 150+ channels for $79.99/month.
Other channels are also available to be added if you want more. Each package also allows access to TV Everywhere apps and a cloud-based DVR with 1000 hours of space. Here are more subscriber highlights:
- 150+ live channels
- ESPN, local channels, FS1, and several other channels are included
- Plans from $79.99/month
- On-demand content is included
- The cloud DVR offers 1000-hours of space
- A free trial is available
- No contracts!
- Watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl live stream on Apple TV, Hisense TV, Samsung TV, Chromecast, Roku, mobile devices, etc.
See our Fubo review for more.
Watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl Live Stream on Sling TV
Sling TV offers three packages. Sling Orange is available for $45.99/month. This package also includes ESPN.
It is one of the cheapest ways to stream sports without cable. Here are some more details on Sling TV:
- $45.99/month
- Sling Orange offers 30+ channels – ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3 are included
- You can also stream on TV Everywhere apps
- Sling TV allows you to watch college football on the cheap
- Stream on Apple TV, iOS/Android, Roku, computers, Chromecast, and more
You can be signed up and streaming Sling TV in minutes.
Our Sling TV review has more details as does our Sling TV Bowl Game Guide.
Watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl Online with DIRECTV
DIRECTV has multiple packages available. The cheapest option is $84.99/month and offers roughly 75 channels and includes ESPN.
So, you can watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl live in various ways. Here are more DIRECTV highlights:
- Stream more than 75+ channels
- $84.99/month
- Watch ESPN, local channels, FS1, TNT, TBS, and much more
- Save your favorites to the cloud DVR
- DIRECTV’s on-demand content is included
- Unlimited cloud DVR (if you sign up online)
- Cancel anytime you want!
- You can watch with Apple TV, web browsers, some Smart TVs, Chromecast, Roku, mobile devices, etc.
You can find out more in our DIRECTV review.
Watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl Online on Hulu Live
Hulu + Live TV has over 85 channels included in the main package and the chance to add a few more channels if you want extras. This package also includes Hulu’s on-demand content, which means you’ll have thousands of hours of additional content.
Start Hulu + Live TV Free Trial ↗︎
You can also watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl live stream through TV Everywhere. Hulu Live is available for $82.99/month.
Here are other Hulu Live highlights:
- 100+ channels
- Hulu on-demand is also included
- Save unlimited hours of content on your cloud DVR
- $82.99/month
- Watch on iOS and Android, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, etc.
You can find out more in our Hulu + Live TV review.
Remember, there’s no contract included, so you’ll be free to cancel whenever you want.
More Ways to Watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl Streaming
If Fubo, Sling TV, DIRECTV or Hulu Live won’t work for you, there are a few other options that you can use to watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl online. With that in mind, here are some other options you have for ESPN streaming:
- YouTube TV – Stream more than 100+ channels for $82.99/month.
NC State Wolfpack vs Kansas State Wildcats
The Pop-Tarts Bowl is one of the biggest sports events on the NCAA calendar, generally matching two of the top football teams that are not CFP-eligible. The 2023 edition features NC State Wolfpack of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Kansas State Wildcats of the Big 12. It is expected to be a relatively close game.
The Wolfpack finished third in the ACC with a record of 9-3 overall and 6-2 in-conference. They finished the season strong — even finally making the Top 25 rankings.
The Wildcats had a slightly worse record of 8-4 (6-3 in-conference). But this is mostly due to a very difficult schedule. They too made it into the Top 25 by the end of the season although they only managed fifth place in the Big 12.
The Pop_Tarts Bowl is the only postseason game for either team.
North Carolina State Wolfpack Personnel
Dave Doeren has been head coach of the Wolfpack for 11 years with a record of 81–57 (44–46 in-conference). He is joined by offensive coordinator Robert Anae and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson.
Quarterback Brennan Armstrong will continue as he has the second half of the season leading the Wolfpack offense. With him are running backs Kendrick Raphael and Delbert Mimms III, wide receivers Kevin Concepcion, Keyon Lesane, Bradley Rozner, and Terrell Timmons Jr, and tight end Trent Pennix.
The Wolfpack defense features linebackers Payton Wilson, Jaylon Scott, and Caden Fordham, defensive backs Aydan White, Shyheim Battle, Robert Kennedy, Bishop Fitzgerald, and Sean Brown, and linemen Davin Vann, Savion Jackson, Brandon Cleveland, CJ Clark, Red Hibbler, and Travali Price.
Kansas State Wildcats Personnel
Chris Klieman is in his fifth season as head coach of the Wildcats where he has a record of 38–24 (26–19 in-conference). With him are offensive coordinator Collin Klein (who is moving to Texas A&M and may not coach in the bowl) and defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman.
Will Howard is transferring so freshman quarterback Avery Johnson will lead the offense in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. With him are running backs DJ Giddens and Treshaun Ward, wide receivers Jayce Brown and DJ Giddens (Phillip Brooks has left for the NFL draft), and tight end Ben Sinnott.
On defense are linebackers Austin Moore and Desmond Purnell (Jake Clifton is out with an injury), defensive backs Jacob Parrish, Marques Sigle, Keenan Garber, VJ Payne, and Colby McCalister, and linemen Brendan Mott, Cody Stufflebean, Uso Seumalo, and Khalid Duke.
Our Choice
Sling TV Orange stands out as the best way to watch the Pop-Tarts Bowl on ESPN – the balance of cost, reliability, and flexibility makes it the clear winner. I tested multiple services, and many either lacked ESPN, required expensive bundles, or had clunky interfaces that made flipping between games frustrating. Sling’s channel lineup covers the essentials without forcing you to pay for extras you don’t need, and the intuitive interface makes it easy to jump straight into the action. Streaming quality was rock solid in my experience, with no buffering issues on major devices. While its DVR storage isn’t unlimited, it’s plenty for game replays, and the option to add extras like Sports Extra gives it an edge over budget-friendly competitors. Some services offer more channels, but if you just want an affordable, no-nonsense way to stream the game without overpaying, Sling Orange is the way to go.
Update history
This page was revised 8 times between September 2021 and February 2023.
Image changes. Formatting. Misc changes to content.
Added new section. Image changes. Added some more links. Small layout changes.
Added links to streaming services. Mentioned offers. Put related links. Various content updates.
Added buttons for streaming services. Updated some sub-sections. Pricing updates. Image changes.
Pricing updates. Image changes. Added links.
Changed a few bits of content. Small layout changes.
Added links to streaming services. Mentioned channel info. Changed some content in main section. Updated some sub-sections. Reworked one section.
Updated one section. Changes to formatting.
Frank was the Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com and an expert in sports streaming, specializing in out-of-market games and regional sports networks.
A passionate cord-cutter and longtime subscriber to numerous streaming services, Frank has first-hand experience navigating the complexities of sports streaming.
With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute and a professional background in early streaming technology, Frank combines deep technical insight with practical, real-world knowledge.
His mission at Hotdog.com was straightforward: help sports fans get hassle-free access to the games they love, at the best price, without frustration.
A passionate cord-cutter and longtime subscriber to numerous streaming services, Frank has first-hand experience navigating the complexities of sports streaming.
With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute and a professional background in early streaming technology, Frank combines deep technical insight with practical, real-world knowledge.
His mission at Hotdog.com was straightforward: help sports fans get hassle-free access to the games they love, at the best price, without frustration.
Latest posts by Frank Moraes (see all)
- How to Watch Pac-12 College Teams This Year - 08/06/2024
- States That Have Produced Leading Actors and Actresses - 09/06/2022
- US States With the Fastest Internet - 06/21/2022