Quick-Glance Viewing Checklist
- Linear TV: ESPN/ABC, FOX or FS1, and (starting 2025) select games on TNT/TBS
- Streaming services: FuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, plus ESPN+ and Max (for TNT-carried contests)
- Team & conference apps: Big 12 Now on ESPN+, the new Baylor+ platform, and the free BuffVision highlights hub
- Radio: Baylor Sports Network (1660 AM/ESPN Central Texas) and KOA 850 AM in Denver, plus the free Varsity app
- On-demand replays: Fox Sports App, ESPN+ archives, and YouTube official channels
(Full details and backup options below.)
Why Fans Keep Asking
Baylor and Colorado share fresh Big 12 history. The Buffaloes re-entered the league in 2024, and the first conference clash in Boulder last fall went to overtime, delivering a 38-31 thriller on national FOX television. The buzz around that instant classic has many supporters looking for the next showdown—and the simplest ways to watch it live or on replay.
The Next Time the Bears and Buffs Line Up
Is there a 2025 regular-season game?
Short answer: Not this season.
When the Big 12 released its 2025 grid in February, the rotation left Baylor and Colorado off each other’s schedules. With 16 members and only nine conference dates, every school skips several league foes each cycle.
How the schedule rotation works (in plain English)
- Two “protected” rivalries for each school are played annually. Baylor’s are TCU and Texas Tech; Colorado’s are Utah and Arizona State.
- The other six conference dates rotate on a two-year cadence—so programs that skip each other one year usually cross paths the next.
- The league can still send the top two finishers to Arlington for its title game, so Baylor and Colorado could collide there even without a regular-season slot.
Expect the next regular-season Baylor–Colorado date to appear when the 2026 schedule is revealed (usually late January or early February).
How to Watch Live When the Game Arrives
Even without a 2025 matchup, the guide below covers every legal route—perfect for conference games against mutual opponents or the next Bears-Buffs meeting in 2026.
1. Linear TV Channels
| Rights-holder | Typical windows | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| FOX / FOX Sports 1 | Big Noon Kickoff, late-night slots | Free over-the-air (FOX) or any basic cable/satellite package |
| ESPN / ABC | Primetime Saturday, late afternoon | Cable, satellite, or antenna (ABC) |
| TNT / TBS (new in 2025) | Up to 13 Big 12 football games per year, many in primetime | Cable/satellite; if you’ve “cut the cord,” see Max below |
Warner Bros. Discovery’s sublicense deal shifts one Big 12 game per week from ESPN+ to TNT/TBS starting this fall.
2. Live-TV Streaming Bundles
| Service | Carries ESPN/ABC | Carries FOX/FS1 | Carries TNT/TBS | Free trial? | Built-in DVR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FuboTV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 7 days | 1 000 hr |
| YouTube TV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 7 days | Unlimited |
| Hulu + Live TV | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | None¹ | Unlimited |
| Sling TV (Blue) | ✘* | ✔ | ✔ | Varies | 50 hr |
| DirecTV Stream (Choice) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 5 days | Unlimited |
*Sling’s Orange tier provides ESPN but not FOX; many fans combine Orange+Blue.
These services stream to phones, tablets, smart-TVs, game consoles, and most streaming sticks. If you’re in Pakistan or another overseas region, add a reputable VPN and an American billing method to unlock them.
3. Stand-Alone Apps & Add-Ons
- ESPN+ (US $10.99/mo): Still hosts Big 12 Now overflow content and full-game replays even after TNT picks up a handful of live contests.
- Max’s B/R Sports tier (US $9.99/mo): Streams TNT-carried college football, NHL, and MLB without extra cable fees.
- Fox Sports App: Free to download; sign in with any pay-TV credentials to watch FOX or FS1 simulcasts and condensed highlights.
- ABC app & WatchESPN: Great for mobile viewing if your hotel or dorm TV is taken.
4. International Options
| Region | Platform |
|---|---|
| Canada | TSN+ (mirrors ESPN/ABC feeds) |
| UK/Ireland | TNT Sports’ linear channel & Discovery+ Premium Tier |
| Australia/NZ | ESPN Australia (Foxtel & Kayo) |
| South Asia (incl. Pakistan) | ESPN Player closed in 2023; use a US bundle + VPN or seek local carriers listing Fox College Football on Sony TEN/Star Sports as rights occasionally shift year-to-year |
5. Radio & Pure-Audio Streams
- Baylor Sports Network: 1660 AM in Waco + TuneIn digital feed
- KOA 850 AM / 94.1 FM: Flagship for Colorado, also on iHeartRadio
- SiriusXM: Channels vary weekly (often 162/199)SI
- Varsity app: Free, no sign-in, includes both home and away calls for most Big 12 games.
Audio is crucial for fans on the road, in low-bandwidth zones, or when TV rights are geo-blocked.
Catching Up on the 2024 Classic
If you missed last year’s overtime shootout at Folsom Field, here’s how to re-watch:
| Option | How to find it |
|---|---|
| Fox Sports App | Log in, search “Baylor vs Colorado 2024” – full replay & 60-minute cutdown |
| ESPN+ Big 12 Now | Thirty-minute extended highlights & all-22 coach’s film |
| YouTube Official Highlights | Search “Fox College Football Baylor Colorado 2024” – 15-minute highlight in 1080p |
| School channels | Baylor’s “SicEm365” & Colorado’s “BuffVision” for sideline angles and radio-sync versions |
Game facts you’ll see on the replay: 8 p.m. ET kickoff, national FOX broadcast, and dramatic Travis Hunter pick-six to force overtime.
In-Person Experience (Ticket Basics)
| Stadium | Capacity | 2024 get-in price | 2026 projected |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLane Stadium (Waco) | 45 140 | US $95 (StubHub) | Early estimates US $110—US $180 |
| Folsom Field (Boulder) | 50 183 | US $104 | Likely US $120—US $200 |
Prices rise fast the moment the Big 12 publishes dates. To beat dynamic pricing:
- Use official ticket links on BaylorBears.com or CUBuffs.com first.
- Set alerts on SeatGeek and TickPick six months out.
- Bundle travel—Colorado’s campus hotels fill by spring break; Waco’s supply is smaller but cheaper if booked before July 4.
Staying Ready for Future Kickoffs
- Calendar alerts: Subscribe to each athletic department’s Google/iCal feed. Updates push automatically when television partners set kickoff times (usually 12–13 days before the game).
- Follow league social: @Big12Conference on X and IG posts the weekly TV grid every Sunday morning.
- Max & ESPN+ trials: Save your free trials if you’re budget-conscious; kickoff windows publish just late enough to activate a one-month span that covers multiple Big 12 Saturdays plus bowl season.
- Check for Friday games: The new TV deal lets ESPN or Fox flip one Saturday Big 12 matchup each week to Friday prime time.
- Championship contingency: If Baylor and Colorado finish top-two in 2025, the title bout airs on ABC in primetime from AT&T Stadium. The Big 12 will announce that slot the Sunday after rivalry weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will ESPN+ still carry Baylor–Colorado if TNT owns a few Big 12 games?
A: Yes, but only overflow contests. Primary selections stay with ESPN/ABC and FOX; TNT/TBS receive a third-tier pick each week, streamed on Max for cord-cutters.
Q: I live outside the U.S.—what’s the simplest, legal way to watch?
A: The combination of a reputable VPN plus FuboTV or YouTube TV is easiest, but check whether your local carrier (TNT Sports in the UK, TSN+ in Canada) simulcasts the chosen U.S. network.
Q: How soon do kickoff times finalize?
A: For most conference games, 12-day windows; for “six-day flex” weeks, not until the preceding Sunday night. Bowl and championship slots lock in by December 1.
Q: Can I legally stream radio while watching the TV feed muted?
A: Absolutely—using the free Varsity or iHeartRadio apps avoids sync issues that often occur with SiriusXM online.
Final Take
While the Bears and Buffs don’t square off during the 2025 regular season, Big 12 scheduling quirks mean the reunion is rarely more than one year away. Bookmark the linear networks (FOX, ESPN/ABC, TNT/TBS), pick a live-TV streaming bundle you trust, and hang onto those radio and replay links for travel days or low-bandwidth moments. That way, when the green-and-gold and black-and-gold share a field again—whether in Waco, Boulder, or Arlington—you’ll be ready to experience every snap without stress.
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