In a surprising twist for football fans, NFL preseason games have been popping up on YouTube’s NFL Sunday Ticket, a premium service traditionally reserved for out-of-market regular-season broadcasts. This unexpected development has sparked curiosity and excitement among subscribers, as the platform, which carries a $2 billion annual media rights package, is typically limited to regular-season games. According to a recent report from Front Office Sports, the NFL has permitted YouTube and YouTube TV to air select preseason games as a test, giving subscribers an early taste of football action to NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers.
NFL Sunday Ticket, available through YouTube and YouTube TV, is designed to let fans watch every Sunday afternoon regular-season game not broadcast locally on CBS or FOX. For instance, a Dallas Cowboys fan in Miami can catch all of their team’s out-of-market Sunday games. However, the service explicitly excludes preseason and postseason games, making the appearance of matchups like the Week 2 Dolphins-Lions and Patriots-Vikings games on August 16, 2025, a notable anomaly. Sources indicate that the NFL has allowed YouTube to broadcast a handful of preseason games each year since taking over Sunday Ticket in 2023, primarily to test the platform’s streaming capabilities ahead of the regular season. This year’s test included the non-nationally televised Dolphins-Lions game and others, with the upcoming Texans-Lions matchup scheduled for August 23, 2025, also set to air in select markets.
While these broadcasts have not been widely promoted, some eagle-eyed fans on platforms like Reddit have noticed their availability, sparking discussions about the potential expansion of Sunday Ticket’s offerings. The inclusion of preseason games could be a strategic move by the NFL and YouTube to enhance the service’s value, especially given its hefty price tag—$480 for a standalone season pass or $378 when bundled with YouTube TV’s $82.99 monthly base plan. However, the limited and unpublicized nature of these broadcasts suggests they are primarily technical trials rather than a full pivot to include preseason content.
For fans seeking comprehensive preseason coverage, NFL+ remains the go-to option, offering live out-of-market preseason games for $6.99 per month or $49.99 annually, with NFL+ Premium ($14.99/month) adding NFL RedZone and game replays. YouTube TV subscribers can also access nationally televised preseason games on channels like NFL Network, ESPN, or local affiliates (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC), but local blackouts may apply. For example, if a game airs on a local channel, it may be embargoed on NFL Network, though replays are often available later.
This testing phase highlights YouTube’s ongoing efforts to refine NFL Sunday Ticket, which has been praised for features like multiview (watching up to four games simultaneously) and fantasy football integration. As the NFL regular season kicks off on September 4, 2025, with Sunday Ticket access starting September 7, fans are hopeful that these experiments could lead to expanded offerings in the future. For now, the surprise preseason broadcasts serve as a bonus for subscribers, offering a glimpse of what’s to come in the high-stakes world of NFL streaming.
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