Here’s how to watch USC vs. Notre Dame rivalry game for free

USC heads to South Bend for a primetime rivalry with Notre Dame, and you don’t need cable to catch it. 

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, and the simplest way to watch is a 5-day DIRECTV free trial, which includes local NBC in most markets for new users. 

Oddsmakers have the Irish favored by roughly a touchdown-plus, so USC will need its big-play offense to travel. The Post’s Week 8 picks even have USC (+9.5) covering in South Bend thanks to the Trojans’ top-tier scoring punch. 

Beyond bragging rights and the Jeweled Shillelagh, this is a tone-setter for Notre Dame’s stretch run under Marcus Freeman, whose program has stayed squarely in the national conversation. (Penn State is reportedly eyeing Freeman amid its own upheaval, a reminder of how coveted Notre Dame’s success is right now.)

If you’re streaming tonight, keep it simple: start the DIRECTV trial, confirm NBC is available for your ZIP, and you’re set for kickoff. 

New subscribers can start a 5-day free trial, sign in on the DIRECTV app, and stream NBC live at kickoff. Availability of local channels varies by ZIP, so enter your location during sign-up to confirm.

USC vs. Notre Dame start time:

The USC vs. Notre Dame game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. ET today, Oct. 18.

How to watch USC vs. Notre Dame:

If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.

DIRECTV is our top pick for watching NCAA football live for free — its five-day free trial includes NBC (plus every other channel you’ll need for the college football season). When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $49.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.

Sling TV is another affordable way to stream college football games; its Select plan includes NBC and starts at $19.99/month.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and New York Post’s streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews