The NCAA Rose Bowl 2020 will be held on January 1 at 5 PM EST (2 PM PST / 10 PM GMT). This year, the Wisconsin Badgers will face off against the Oregon Ducks in “The Granddaddy of Them All,” and as these teams are fairly evenly matched, it’s sure to be a memorable night. Below, we’ll explain how to live stream the 2020 Rose Bowl for free from abroad (outside of the US) using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
It’s important to note that we’re only recommending official Rose Bowl sources. Given the importance of this game, it’s likely that third-party streams will be available. However, we don’t recommend using these; not only are they often inferior quality, but they can also be taken offline at any moment for copyright violation. Luckily, there’s no need to use shady, unreliable streams since you can watch the 2020 Rose Bowl online for free. Note that to watch free you will need to take advantage of a free trial for a paid service. More on this later.
The NCAA Rose Bowl will be broadcast exclusively on region-locked streaming services. This means that if you’re traveling abroad and there’s no official broadcaster in your country, you’ll need a VPN to connect to your home streaming services to watch the action.
How to live stream the 2020 Rose Bowl abroad with a VPN
Generally, geo-blocked services examine the user’s IP address to see which country they’re in. When you connect to a VPN, though, your real IP address is hidden and replaced with that of the server you’re using. This makes it easy to unblock and use region-locked platforms abroad. Simply follow our step-by-step guide below.
Here’s how to watch the NCAA Rose Bowl 2020 live online from anywhere:
- First of all, sign up for a VPN if you haven’t already. We recommend ExpressVPN although CyberGhost and NordVPN are two excellent, low-cost alternatives.
- Download and install the VPN software, making sure to get the right version for your device. Once you’ve done this, log in.
- Decide which streaming service you’d like to unblock and connect to a server in the appropriate location. For instance, you’d use a US server to unblock ESPN or a Canadian one for TSN.
- Visit your chosen website and create an account (if one is needed). You’ll likely need a payment method that’s linked to an address in the required country to do so.
- Finally, try playing a video. In most cases, it should start right away with no issues. However, if you’re having trouble, try clearing your browser’s cookies and reloading the page. You might also want to try using a different server in case your current one is blacklisted.
The NCAA Rose Bowl only happens once a year, so we strongly recommend taking a few minutes beforehand and making sure that your VPN can unblock your chosen streaming service. This way, you won’t be blindsided by last-minute technical troubles, and won’t have to miss the beginning of such an important match.
How to watch the NCAA Rose Bowl 2020 for free on US TV
This year’s Rose Parade and Rose Bowl will air live on ESPN. If your cable TV package already includes ESPN, you can log in and begin watching immediately at no added cost. Don’t panic just yet, though; it’s also possible to watch the 2020 Rose Bowl online without cable.
Sling TV, AT&T TV Now, Hulu with Live TV, and YouTube TV all allow you to watch ESPN online. Better still, all of these services come with a free trial period. As such, you can live stream the NCAA Rose Bowl for free by signing up and canceling your account once the game is over.
All of the above services require a US payment method, so it’s difficult to sign up from outside the country. They are also region-locked, but if you have an account, you can connect to a US VPN server to watch from abroad. Still haven’t chosen a VPN yet? ExpressVPN includes a 30-day money-back guarantee that allows you to stream the Rose Bowl risk-free and claim a full refund if you’re unsatisfied.
Where else can I live stream the 2020 NCAA Rose Bowl online?
College football actually has quite a sizeable international audience, and broadcasters know it, which is why the 2020 Rose Bowl will be shown live in several countries. Below, we’ll explain which networks are broadcasting the match where you are.
Canada
TSN is Canada’s official broadcaster for this event. The Rose Parade will be shown live on TSN2 from 11 AM EST, and Rose Bowl pre-game coverage starts at 4:30 PM over on the main channel.
If you already receive TSN as part of your cable TV package, you’re in luck; you’re free to log in and start watching whenever at no added cost. If not, though, or if you don’t have cable, you’ll have to pay for a TSN Direct pass. This isn’t too expensive, though, with a one-day pass selling for $4.99 CAD. Unfortunately, there’s no free trial period to take advantage of.
TSN is usually only available in Canada. If you’re currently abroad (and there’s no official broadcaster where you are), you can use a Canadian VPN server to access TSN as normal.
UK
British fans can watch the Rose Bowl 2020 at 10 PM GMT on ESPN, but there’s a catch. This channel is only available as part of BT Sport, and even though the network recently introduced a new over-the-top plan that means you no longer need a cable TV subscription, it’s an expensive way to watch a one-day event. Currently, BT Sport costs £25 per month with no trial period.
BT Sport is region-locked, so if you’re outside the UK, you’ll need a VPN to watch.
Australia
ESPN will show this match live from 9:10 AM AEST on January 2. If you’re an existing Foxtel TV customer, you can simply log in to the Foxtel Go app and stream the whole thing live at no added cost.
Foxtel Now usually costs $25 AUD per month, plus an extra $15 for the sports channel pack. However, it comes with a 10-day free trial, during which time you can watch any channel you like. This means that, as long as you remember to cancel before the trial ends, Australian fans can watch the 2020 Rose Bowl online for free.
Foxtel Go and Foxtel Now are both geo-restricted, meaning you’ll either have to be in Australia or connected to an Australian VPN server to watch from abroad.
Which team is expected to win?
There’s not really a clear favorite in this matchup. After a stunning victory in the Pac-12 Championship Game, the Oregon Ducks made it all the way to number six in the college rankings. Meanwhile, their opponents, the Wisconsin Badgers, held steady at number eight. The teams are similarly rated in terms of defense too, with the Badgers and Ducks ranking eighth and tenth, respectively.
Having said that, each squad is dangerous in its own way. The Ducks are known for their incredible offense, and their star player, Johnson, is currently enjoying a four-game touchdown streak. The Badgers, on the other hand, play very well on defense and chip away at opponents via counterattacks. One thing’s for sure: whichever team wins, it’ll be a match to remember.