You're sitting there, wings getting cold, staring at the guide on your TV. Maybe you've scrolled through the 500s on your cable box twice already. You're asking the same thing every college football fan asks every mid-December: what channel is Heisman on this year?
Honestly, the answer used to be a lot simpler. For three decades, it was a lock on ESPN. If you had cable, you had the Heisman. But things shifted recently. In 2025, the ceremony made a massive jump to broadcast television, specifically landing on ABC.
If you missed the memo, don't feel bad. Most people still reflexively tune to ESPN and wonder why there's a basketball game or a documentary on. While ESPN still produces the show, the actual live broadcast has moved to the big stage of ABC to catch those prime-time Saturday night eyes.
The Short Answer: Where to Tune In
Basically, if you want to see the stiff-arm trophy handed out, you need to find your local ABC affiliate.
The ceremony usually kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET. It’s a tight, one-hour show. If you blink, you’ll miss the highlights of the finalists and the tearful speech from the winner. For the most recent 2025 ceremony, the date was Saturday, December 13th.
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Why the move to ABC? It’s all about reach. Broadcast TV gets into way more homes than cable does. Disney, which owns both networks, realized that "Heisman Saturday" is a brand in itself. They’ve started sandwiching the ceremony between major games like the FCS playoffs and late-night bowl games. It makes for a 12-hour football binge that doesn't require a premium subscription.
What Channel Is Heisman On if You Don't Have Cable?
You’ve cut the cord. You’re living that stream-only life. You still have plenty of ways to watch, but you’ve got to be a little more intentional than just clicking "power" on a remote.
- The ESPN App: Even though it’s airing on ABC, you can usually stream it through the ESPN app. You’ll just need to authenticate with your TV provider credentials.
- FuboTV or YouTube TV: These "Skinny Bundle" services carry ABC in almost every market. If you’re in a pinch, a free trial usually does the trick.
- Hulu + Live TV: Since Disney owns ABC and Hulu, this is often the most seamless way to watch.
- Antenna: If you’re old school, a $20 digital antenna will pick up ABC for free in crystal clear 1080i. No Wi-Fi required.
It’s worth noting that "what channel is Heisman on" depends slightly on your region if you’re using an antenna. You’re looking for your local ABC station—WABC in New York, KABC in LA, and so on.
Why 2025 Was a Weird Year for the Heisman
The most recent ceremony was a bit of a statistical outlier. We saw Fernando Mendoza from Indiana take home the hardware, which was a massive shock to anyone who didn't follow the Hoosiers' undefeated regular season.
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He was up against some heavy hitters:
- Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame): The workhorse RB who practically carried the Irish.
- Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt): The dual-threat guy who made Vandy relevant for the first time in ages.
- Julian Sayin (Ohio State): The clinical sophomore QB who looked like a future NFL #1 pick.
The drama of that specific ceremony is exactly why the move to ABC worked. It felt bigger. More prestigious. Having Chris Fowler host for his 32nd year provided that familiar "big game" voice that fans expect.
Dealing With Blackouts and Delays
Sometimes, your local ABC affiliate might have a "special report" or a localized weather emergency. If that happens, people often freak out and start Googling what channel is Heisman on to find a backup.
Usually, if the main broadcast is interrupted, the ESPN+ app or the NCAA football hub acts as the fail-safe. Just don't expect to find it on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok in its entirety. They’ll show the "The winner is..." clip, but you'll miss the emotional montage of the kid's high school highlights, which is half the fun.
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The Schedule You Need to Bookmark
If you're planning for the next cycle, the pattern is pretty predictable. The Heisman Trust and ESPN usually stick to this timeline:
- Early December: Ballots go out to the 800+ voters (mostly media and former winners).
- Monday before the ceremony: The finalists are announced on Monday Night Countdown.
- The Second Saturday of December: The actual ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room in NYC.
The ceremony is only an hour long, so don't be late. If you tune in at 7:30 p.m., you’ve probably already missed the "Top 10" countdown and the intros for the families.
Final Thoughts for the Fan
Knowing what channel is Heisman on is only half the battle. The other half is making sure your streaming login hasn't expired or your antenna hasn't fallen behind the dresser.
Check your local listings about two hours before kickoff. If ABC is showing a local news rerun or a syndicated sitcom, don't panic. The national feed usually takes over exactly at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Your next move: Download the ESPN app today and sign in with your provider. That way, when the 2026 ceremony rolls around, you won't be the one frantically searching for your password while the winner is already hoisting the trophy.