> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://nango.dev/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# College Football Data - How do I link my account?

## Overview

To authenticate with College Football Data, you need:

1. **API Key** — your College Football Data API key.

This guide will show you how to get it.

### Prerequisites

* An email address. You request a free API key with a short form and it is sent to your inbox; no account is needed. Higher limits are available through the [API tiers](https://collegefootballdata.com/api-tiers).

### Step 1: Request your API key

1. Open the [CFBD API Keys](https://collegefootballdata.com/key) page.
2. Enter your email address in the **Email Address** field and choose your **Primary use**.
3. Click **Submit**.

![College Football Data API key request form with the Email Address and Primary use fields and the Submit button](https://mintcdn.com/nango/jgYQEZOZHWZaT6xC/api-integrations/college-football-data/request_api_key_form.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=jgYQEZOZHWZaT6xC\&q=85\&s=efdd62a04ed2f14513f8df2da2e38388)

4. Open the **CFBD API Key Request** email sent to your inbox and copy the API key under **Your API key has been generated:**. The email can take a few minutes to arrive.

### Step 2: Enter your API key in the Connect UI

1. Open the form where you need to authenticate with College Football Data.
2. Enter your API key in the **API Key** field.
3. Submit the form, and you should be successfully authenticated.

![College Football Data Connect UI form with the API Key field](https://mintcdn.com/nango/jgYQEZOZHWZaT6xC/api-integrations/college-football-data/form.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=jgYQEZOZHWZaT6xC\&q=85\&s=ecc616e944a05f8db6d5cfac96b472a6)

You are now connected to College Football Data.


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