| HOW TO WATCH COLLEGE BASKETBALL | |
| HULU WITH LIVE TV | TRY NOW |
| SLING TV | TRY NOW |
| FUBOTV | TRY NOW |
| AT&T TV NOW | TRY NOW |
Don’t wait for March Madness to start streaming college basketball. There are dozens of marquee games on almost every night across a handful of channels, and with the right live TV streaming package, you can not only catch the college basketball live stream for your favorite team on any given night, but you’ll also get almost every channel that will be showing games throughout the 2018-19 season, no satellites or long-term contracts required. Here’s everything you need to know to live stream college basketball.
College basketball live stream: How to watch NCAA games for free
College basketball games will be broadcast on CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network—not to mention ESPN+ (we’ll cover that separately below). As such, there’s not a perfect solution for college basketball among the six major live TV streaming services. There’s bound to be a channel or three that one doesn’t carry, or you’ll need an upgrade or add-on package to check all the boxes for college basketball. But we’ve done our best to break down all of the essential info for you. And the best part? All of these services offer free 7-day trials.
1) Hulu with Live TV
- Cost: $54.99 per month ($60.99 No Ads)
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android devices
- Hulu local channels: ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, the CW (check your local availability here)
Like YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV offers just one basic collection of channels, and it offers arguably the best total package for college basketball live streams. It gets all of the essentials from ESPN and CBS, plus a couple of college sports networks, and dozens of other great channels—and that’s not even counting the free Hulu subscription that comes with every account. (Here’s the complete list of Hulu Live TV channels.)
Game-changing feature: Every subscription comes with free access to Hulu’s on-demand library, meaning you can catch up on all of your favorite shows. (Here are our picks for the best movies on Hulu, Hulu documentaries, anime, and the must-see Hulu originals.)
2) Sling TV
WATCH: Is SlingTV worth it?
- Cost: $30-$45 per month ($10 off first month)
- Sling TV devices: Amazon Fire TVs, Android Fire Stick, Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, Google Chromecast, Oculus Go, LG TV, Samsung, Portal, and iOS and Android devices
- Sling TV local channels: NBC, Fox (check your local availability here)
Sling TV offers one of the most comprehensive packages for watching college basketball. With the Sling Orange + Blue package, you’ll get three core ESPN channels, FS1 and FS2, and plenty more. For $5 per month, you can also add two SEC Network channels, ESPNU, and Pac-12 Network with the Sports Extra: Sling Orange pack. Likewise, for $10 per month, you’ll get Pac-12 Network with the Sling Blue version of Sports Extra, along with NHL Network, NFL RedZone, and more. But, when it comes to Sling TV local channels, CBS is sadly missing. (Here’s a complete guide to Sling TV channels.)
Game-changing feature: Price. Sling TV offers one of the cheapest ways to watch live TV online.
3) FuboTV
- Cost: $54.99-$79.99 per month (after free week)
- FuboTV devices: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Android TV, iOS and Android devices
- FuboTV local channels: Fox, NBC, CBS (check local availability here)
It’s hard to recommend FuboTV for streaming college basketball simply because there are so many games broadcast on ESPN channels, which are sadly missing from FuboTV’s lineup. But you’ll get everything else you need (FS1, FS2, CBS, CBS Sports Network), including no less than four Big Ten Network channels and the Pac-12 Network. If you coupled this with ESPN+, you’d be in good shape. (Here’s the complete FuboTV channels list.)
Game-changing feature: Three-day replay for games and 30 hours of cloud DVR.
4) YouTube TV
- Cost: $49.99 per month (2 week free trial)
- Devices: Google Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Xbox One, iOS and Android devices
- College basketball channels: CBS, CBS Sports Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, Fox Sports, FS1, and FS2
When it comes to streaming college basketball, YouTube TV’s channel package overlaps a lot with Hulu with Live TV. You really can’t go wrong with either one, but you’ll want to take a closer look at the other channels included and their unique features to see which one is a better option for you. (You can find the full list of YouTube TV channels here.)
Game-changing feature: You can add up to six accounts per household, and each one of those accounts gets unlimited cloud DVR. Even better: You can fast-forward through ads in recorded programs.
5) AT&T Now
- Cost: $60-$135 per month
- Hulu devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Samsung TV, iOS and Android devices
- Local channels: NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, the CW (enter your ZIP code here to check your availability)
There’s a good chance that you’re already looking to AT&T for your wireless needs. The second you sign up you’ll gain instant access to 45+ channels, including local channels and even free HBO on PLUS and MAX channel suites. Plus, it comes with CloudDVR which lets you record up to 20 hours of TV per month. One account works on two devices, but you can add more devices for only $5.
READ MORE:
- How to stream Pac-12 Network online
- How to stream ACC Network Extra
- How to watch Mountain West Network online
- How to watch Big Ten Network online
- How to watch SEC Network online
Other ways to watch college basketball online
1) ESPN+
Cost: $4.99 per month (or $12.99 per month with Disney + and Hulu)
Devices: Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, Google Chromecast, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Roku, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Oculus, iOS and Android devices
ESPN+ is not a standalone service—it’s an extension of ESPN’s live coverage (identified in the WatchESPN app and ESPN’s site with the “E+” logo). And at just $4.99 per month, it’s the best upgrade in all of streaming entertainment. ESPN+ will be streaming hundreds upon hundreds of college basketball games, both men’s and women’s, in addition to a ton of NHL games and other live sports programming. You’ll also get access to ESPN’s 30 for 30 library and the new Earn Everything, an eight-part documentary series that goes behind-the-scenes and into the locker room for Duke’s preseason.
2) Fox Sports Go
Cost: Free to download, subscription required for live programming
Devices: Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV, and iOS and Android devices (full list here)
Once you’ve selected a live streaming service, download the Fox Sports Go app. It’ll let you watch FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network, and any other Fox Sports channel that’s included in your package. It’s a great backup for college basketball live streams.
New to cord-cutting? Here are our picks for the best movie streaming sites of 2018 and free live TV apps and channels. If you’re looking for a specific channel, here’s how to watch HBO, Showtime, Starz, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, AMC, FX, Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, FS1, TBS, TNT, Golf Channel, Cartoon Network/Adult Swim, the CW, BBC, CSPAN, NBA TV, MTV, the Weather Channel, and NFL RedZone without cable, as well as free movies on YouTube. If you’re on the move, here’s how to watch Fox Sports Go and live stream NBC Sports.
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