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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Sport
Brooke Cain

The cable cord-cutter's guide to watching college football and the NFL

You cut the cord, didn't you? And it was going great _ you have Netflix and your mom's HBO Go password, so no problem. Except now it's football season and you need to see all those games.

Before you go running back to the cable and satellite providers, know that there is another way. Or more accurately, many other ways. It can get a little confusing, but we're here to help guide you through (and we're keeping it legal).

First, an antenna is a good idea _ and you probably already have one if you've killed your cable. A lot of NFL and college games will air on CBS, NBC, ABC or Fox, so you're all set there. A good indoor HD antenna, such as Mohu Leaf (a one-time cost starting around $40) will probably do the trick, but some folks require an attic or rooftop version. You can also get some of the broadcast networks through a streaming service, but not all services currently include CBS.

What about for all the other games? For those, you'll need to start with a robust internet connection and then dive into the growing number of streaming services available. Most of these services offer a free introductory period _ definitely use it to verify that the channels they claim to carry are actually available in your area. Most are available through Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire devices, as well as Android and iOS apps.

Here's a look at what's out there right now.

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