How to Watch Penn State vs. Michigan on DIRECTV: CBS Channel, Kickoff Time and Streaming
Penn State visits Michigan on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. ET at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, and the game is on CBS, which means you watch it on your local CBS station on DIRECTV. The same CBS feed also streams on Paramount+. The Big Ten set the network on Sunday, October 11, after the Week 6 games; it is not on FS1.
Both teams are winless in Big Ten play. Penn State is 3-3 (0-3 Big Ten) after a 31-23 White Out loss to USC on October 10 and enters its last game before a bye. Michigan is 3-2 (0-2 Big Ten) coming off a Week 6 bye, with conference losses to Iowa and Minnesota. Neither team appears in the October 11 AP Top 25 or Coaches Poll. First-year coaches Matt Campbell (Penn State) and Kyle Whittingham (Michigan) meet in Michigan's Homecoming game.
Penn State vs. Michigan: date, time and channel
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 17, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| Stadium | Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan Homecoming) |
| TV | CBS |
| DIRECTV channel | Your local CBS station (number varies by market) |
| Streaming | Paramount+ (live CBS feed) or the DIRECTV app (local CBS where available) |
| Rankings | Both unranked in the Oct. 11 AP and Coaches polls |
| Records | Penn State 3-3 (0-3 Big Ten); Michigan 3-2 (0-2 Big Ten) |
What channel is Penn State vs. Michigan on DIRECTV?
CBS does not have one national channel number on DIRECTV. You get the game through your local CBS affiliate, and the number depends on your market. DIRECTV includes local channels with its core Signature packages wherever locals are offered for your address. Press Guide and look for your CBS station's call letters, or search "Penn State" or "Michigan." Our guides to getting CBS on DIRECTV and what channel CBS is in your area help you find the right station. If you removed local channels, add them back before Saturday.
| DIRECTV option | Local CBS? | Also useful Saturday |
|---|---|---|
| ENTERTAINMENT | Yes, where locals are offered | FS1 (219), ESPN (206), ESPN2 (209) |
| CHOICE | Yes, where locals are offered | Everything in ENTERTAINMENT, plus Big Ten Network (610), ESPNU (208), SEC Network (611), ACC Network (612) |
| ULTIMATE and PREMIER | Yes, where locals are offered | Everything in CHOICE, plus more entertainment and sports channels |
| MySports Genre Pack | Yes, where locals are offered | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Big Ten Network, FS1 and other sports nets; $64.99/mo regular price |
Every one of those options covers this CBS game where local channels are available. If you also want Rutgers-Maryland on BTN at 12:30 p.m., you need CHOICE or higher, or MySports. The MySports Genre Pack is the budget sports option. DIRECTV lists its regular price at $64.99 a month plus tax, and it has been running introductory offers for qualifying new customers, so check the current deal before you sign up. Compare every tier in our DIRECTV package channel comparison, or call 1-855-690-9884 and we'll check what's available at your address.
How to stream Penn State vs. Michigan
- Paramount+: the live CBS feed streams in the Paramount+ app on the Premium plan. DIRECTV also sells Paramount+ with SHOWTIME as a premium add-on (included in PREMIER), which unlocks the Premium experience in the app.
- DIRECTV app: watch your local CBS station live on your phone, tablet or streaming device with your DIRECTV login, wherever local channels are available to stream.
Set up Paramount+ sign-in a day or two early so you're not activating an account at kickoff.
Big Ten games on DIRECTV, Saturday, October 17
Penn State-Michigan is the Big Ten's afternoon CBS window. Here's the conference slate for Saturday, with networks set after the October 10 games and the DIRECTV channel for each network. (Friday: Washington at Purdue, 8 p.m. ET on FOX.)
| Big Ten game (AP rank, Oct. 11) | Kickoff (ET) | Network | DIRECTV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 4 Ohio State at No. 5 Indiana | Noon | FOX | Local FOX station |
| No. 25 Northwestern at Michigan State | Noon | Peacock | Streaming only (Peacock app) |
| Rutgers at Maryland | 12:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network | 610 |
| Penn State at Michigan | 3:30 p.m. | CBS / Paramount+ | Local CBS station |
| Wisconsin at UCLA | 7:30 p.m. | NBC / Peacock | Local NBC station |
| Nebraska at Oregon | 11 p.m. | FOX | Local FOX station |
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and USC are off. Our Ohio State vs. Indiana guide covers the noon FOX rematch, BTN on DIRECTV covers channel 610, and the Week 7 college football TV schedule lists games from every conference. Note: Oregon sits No. 25 in the Coaches Poll (not the AP Top 25) after falling out of the AP poll.
Penn State vs. Michigan storylines
- Series history: Michigan leads 17-10 in the all-time series. This is the 28th meeting and the 14th at Michigan Stadium, where the Wolverines are 9-4 against Penn State.
- Three straight for Michigan. The Wolverines have won the last three meetings, including 24-15 at Beaver Stadium in 2023. Penn State's last trip to the Big House was October 15, 2022 (Michigan 41-17). Penn State's last win in the series was 27-17 in Ann Arbor in 2020.
- New coaches: Matt Campbell is in his first season at Penn State after a decade at Iowa State. Kyle Whittingham is in his first season at Michigan after 22 years at Utah; his previous meeting with Penn State was a 35-21 Rose Bowl loss on January 2, 2023, while coaching Utah.
- Homecoming in Ann Arbor: Michigan Athletics calls this the program's 124th Homecoming game (excluding alumni exhibitions). The Wolverines have won 13 straight Homecoming games.
- What's next: Penn State has a bye after Michigan. Michigan hosts its next home game on October 24 (noon ET, FOX).
Need help finding your local CBS station before kickoff? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 to check your DIRECTV package.
Frequently asked questions
What channel is Penn State vs. Michigan on DIRECTV?
CBS, so tune to your local CBS station. The channel number varies by market. The game also streams on Paramount+.
What time does Penn State vs. Michigan start?
Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.
Can I stream Penn State vs. Michigan?
Yes. Paramount+ carries the live CBS feed on the Premium plan, and the DIRECTV app streams your local CBS station where local channels are available.
Do I need Big Ten Network for Penn State vs. Michigan?
No. This game is on CBS, not BTN. BTN (channel 610) carries Rutgers at Maryland at 12:30 p.m. ET the same day.
Who leads the Penn State-Michigan series?
Michigan leads 17-10 all-time and has won the last three meetings, including 24-15 in 2023.
More recent Big Ten guides: USC vs. Penn State, Penn State vs. Northwestern and Michigan vs. Minnesota (Little Brown Jug). Questions about your DIRECTV package? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 12, 2026. Kickoff times and networks are set by the Big Ten and its TV partners and may change. Rankings are from the October 11 AP and Coaches polls; records reflect games through October 10. Channel lineups, package contents, offers and prices vary by address and may change. Penn State, Michigan, Big Ten, CBS, Paramount+, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.