The Unofficial NCAA Basketball Streaming Guide

Stream every NCAA Basketball game, without the guesswork.

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Written by Frank Moraes - December 26, 2024 Senior Content Editor

I can’t stream college basketball on just one channel. Throughout the season, games air on a wide variety of channels. To watch college basketball without cable, I need access to multiple channels. Below, I have all the details.

In a hurry? If you have no time to dig into the details and just want to start watching NCAA basketball, these are my top picks:

  • Hulu + Live TV: Get all the channels you need in addition to ESPN+. Try the Hulu Live free 3-day trial.
  • Fubo: The best streaming service for international sports also provides 150+ well-selected channels. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
  • Sling TV: This low-cost service allows you to select just the channel lineup you want. Save 50% on Sling TV now.

Any fan of college basketball will tell you how much fun it is watching your favorite team progress through the season. Whether you’re rooting for your hometown team, your alma mater, or another school entirely, fans love keeping up with their teams any way they can.

Even if you’re not the biggest NCAA basketball fan, March Madness is always fun to watch. With that in mind, keep reading to learn all of the ways you can watch college basketball without cable this season.

Channels You Need to Watch NCAA Basketball

All of the channels you need to watch the NCAA basketball season are available on a variety of streaming services. This gives you multiple ways to watch and allows you to choose the service that suits you best.

In order to watch the majority of the college basketball season, you’ll want the following channels:

March Madness is covered by CBS and Turner Sports. So if they are your primary interest, you will want CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. And if you are interested in the women’s tournament, you’ll need ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPNews.

Some games will also air on regional sports networks (RSNs) like those from Bally Sports and NBC Sports. But these channels are really focused on MLB, NBA, and NHL games. There are exceptions, but NCAA fans will not usually find much of interest on these channels.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

Streaming Services for NCAA Basketball

All the general streaming services provide you with reasonable coverage of the college basketball season. Paramount only provides games on CBS and CBS Sports Network. But it is great for March Madness.

ServicePriceChannelsReview
Fubo$79.99/month150+Fubo
DIRECTV STREAM$86.99/month90+DIRECTV
Hulu + Live TV$82.99/month95+Hulu
YouTube TV$82.99/month100+YouTube
Sling TV$60.99/month50+Sling
Paramount+$7.99/monthNAParamount

Streaming Features

All these streaming services provide apps for the majority of modern streaming devices. The following devices are universally supported: Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku streaming sticks; Android and iOS mobile devices; and Android TV and Samsung smart TVs. Various gaming systems and other smart TVs are also widely supported.

All of the live TV streaming services offer a cloud DVR. Sling TV provides 100 hours of storage in its Orange & Blue plan; all the others provide unlimited storage. Similarly, all the services allow you to stream on multiple devices — in the case of DIRECTV STREAM, you can stream unlimited devices simultaneously.

Get Hulu + Live TV Free

Stream College Basketball on Fubo
Stream college basketball on Fubo.

Today’s NCAA Basketball Schedule

How to Watch Specific NCAA Basketball Teams

For a particular college basketball game stream, see these team guides:

Our Choice

After trying a bunch of streaming services, Hulu + Live TV came out on top for keeping up with NCAA basketball. It’s got all the must-have channels like ESPN, ESPN2, and CBS Sports Network, plus ESPN+ throws in even more college sports goodness – a total win for fans. The unlimited cloud DVR is a lifesaver for catching games later, and the simple, user-friendly layout makes it a breeze to find what you’re looking for. It works on pretty much any device, so you’re covered whether you’re on your couch or out and about. Other services like Fubo and Sling have their perks, but Hulu + Live TV’s mix of channels and extras really sets it apart. If you’re serious about following the action, this is the one to beat.

Frank Moraes
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