Where College Basketball Games Air
College basketball rights are split across several major broadcast partners, and knowing which network carries which conference is the key to building your streaming setup. Here is the current breakdown for the 2025-26 season:
- ESPN Networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+): The biggest player in college basketball. ESPN carries games from the SEC, ACC, Big 12, Big East, AAC, and more. ESPN+ streams dozens of additional games each week that do not air on linear TV.
- CBS and CBS Sports Network: CBS shares Big Ten and Big East rights and is the home of the NCAA Tournament's Final Four and Championship Game.
- Fox Sports (FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network): Fox holds Big Ten and Big East rights, with the Big Ten Network dedicated entirely to that conference.
- TBS, TNT, and truTV: These Turner networks carry a significant portion of the NCAA Tournament, including first-round and second-round games.
Best Streaming Services for College Basketball
No single service covers every game, but here are the best options for cord-cutters:
- ESPN Unlimited ($29.99/month): Includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, and ESPN+ all in one standalone streaming package. This is the single most valuable service for college basketball fans and does not require a cable login.
- Sling TV Orange ($40/month): Includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and TNT. Add the Sports Extra package ($11/month) for ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, and Pac-12 Network. A budget-friendly option if you do not need CBS or Fox.
- Hulu + Live TV ($76.99/month): Includes ESPN networks, Fox, FS1, CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. One of the most complete packages but also one of the priciest.
- YouTube TV ($72.99/month): Similar channel lineup to Hulu + Live TV, including Big Ten Network. Offers unlimited DVR storage, which is useful for recording games across multiple time slots.
- Paramount+ with Showtime ($12.99/month): Streams all CBS games and CBS Sports Network, including NCAA Tournament games that air on CBS. Essential for March Madness.
How to Watch March Madness Without Cable
The NCAA Tournament is the crown jewel of college basketball, and its games are split across four networks: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. To watch every game of March Madness, you need access to all four.
The most affordable approach is to combine Paramount+ ($12.99/month for CBS games) with Sling TV Orange ($40/month for TBS, TNT, and truTV). That gives you full tournament coverage for under $55/month. Alternatively, YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV include all four networks in a single subscription.
The NCAA also offers March Madness Live, a free app and website that streams select tournament games. First-round games on TBS, TNT, and truTV are often available for free through this app with limited commercial interruptions.
Conference-Specific Tips
If you follow a specific conference, you can often get by with just one or two services. Big Ten fans should prioritize Fox and Big Ten Network (available on YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV). SEC and ACC fans need ESPN networks, making ESPN Unlimited the clear choice. Big East fans need both Fox and ESPN. Big 12 fans will find most games on ESPN networks with select games on Fox.