How to Watch College Basketball
From November tip-off through the tournament, which networks carry the games and the cheapest way to follow your school all winter.
Updated this week
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Channels
Conference networks
Carry a large share of league games, especially weeknight matchups national TV passes on.
National sports networks
Weeknight and Saturday showcase games across multiple channels and app streams.
Broadcast networks
Weekend showcase games and the conference tournaments.
Tournament coverage
The postseason is split across broadcast and cable partners, all carried by standard live TV bundles.
Streaming options
Pick by what you watch on and where you live. The highlighted option is our analysis-based pick for most fans.
| Service | Typical price | Works on | Location fit | Notes | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live TV bundle | $60 to $85 per month | Varies by provider | Varies by market | The reliable way to get conference networks plus national games. Matters most from conference play onward. | |
| Conference streaming service | $10 to $13 per month | Varies by provider | Varies by market | Covers conference-controlled inventory, including many games and Olympic sports, but not national broadcasts. | |
| Antenna plus one service | One-time $40 plus a service | Varies by provider | Varies by market | Covers weekend broadcast games cheaply if reception is decent. |
Live TV bundle
- Typical price
- $60 to $85 per month
- Works on
- Varies by provider
- Location fit
- Varies by market
- Notes
- The reliable way to get conference networks plus national games. Matters most from conference play onward.
Conference streaming service
- Typical price
- $10 to $13 per month
- Works on
- Varies by provider
- Location fit
- Varies by market
- Notes
- Covers conference-controlled inventory, including many games and Olympic sports, but not national broadcasts.
Antenna plus one service
- Typical price
- One-time $40 plus a service
- Works on
- Varies by provider
- Location fit
- Varies by market
- Notes
- Covers weekend broadcast games cheaply if reception is decent.
Big Ten Network
For Big Ten basketball fans, the conference network is the backbone of the season. It carries the weeknight league games that national packages skip, plus the B1G+ streaming service covers additional conference inventory.
Teams covered
- Big Ten
- National coverage
Common questions
- Do I need a bundle for college basketball?
- If you follow one school closely, yes, because games split between the conference network, national cable and broadcast. A bundle is the only single subscription that covers all three.
- Can I watch the tournament without cable?
- Yes. Tournament games air on broadcast and standard cable channels carried by every major live TV streaming bundle.
- What about women's basketball?
- Coverage has expanded significantly. Conference networks and national partners both carry regular-season and tournament games, and the same bundles apply.