How to stream college basketball with a VPN
Streaming with a VPN is a smart way to enhance your online viewing experience. A VPN hides your online activity, preventing your ISP from throttling your speeds based on your activity. This way, you can watch college basketball without buffering, even in HD.
- Get ExpressVPN.
- Connect to a server where your streaming platform is available. For example, Americans can connect to a server in the U.S. to catch games on Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, or YouTube TV.
- It’s game time!
Why you need a VPN to stream college basketball
Your internet provider might slow your connection when it detects streaming activity, causing laggy streams or buffering. A VPN encrypts your connection, which hides your activity from your ISP. This means you can bypass this type of throttling and live stream college basketball games smoothly.
If you’re stuck at work and the Wi-Fi network at your job blocks streaming services, this doesn’t mean you have to miss a big game. VPN encryption prevents the network from monitoring your activity, allowing you to unblock streaming platforms with ease. Just try not to cheer too loudly when your favorite team wins!
ExpressVPN works with major sports streaming platforms that carry NCAA basketball games, including YouTube TV, Hulu, and Fubo, making it easy to securely watch college basketball from anywhere.
How to watch NCAA basketball for free online
You have to get a little creative if you want to stream college basketball for free. With the right game plan, you can claim multiple free trials and watch the conference championships and every round of the NCAA Tournament without paying a dime.
| Service | Channels | Free trial length |
| DirecTV Stream | ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNU (Max package), Fox, FS1, NBC, TBS, TNT, TruTV, The CW, select regional sports networks | 5 days |
| Fubo | ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, SEC Network, The CW, select regional sports networks | 7 days |
| Hulu + Live TV | ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, TBS, TNT, TruTV, The CW, select regional sports networks | 3 days |
| Paramount Plus | CBS, CBS Sports Network | 7 days |
| YouTube TV | ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, TruTV, The CW | Varies |
How to watch NCAA basketball without cable
No cable? No problem! Several streaming platforms carry some of the top college basketball conferences and big games throughout the season.
United States
ESPN+
ESPN+ will stream over 5,000 NCAA basketball games in 2024-25, including college basketball at all levels, from the SEC and Big 12 to Division II and Division III. Most of the games are ESPN+ exclusives, but some are bigger games that ESPN will simulcast on its TV channels.
If your otherwise-fast connection seems to slow down whenever you connect to ESPN+, causing buffering and poor streaming quality, your ISP might be throttling your connection. To avoid this, connect to an ExpressVPN server in the U.S. to encrypt your connection so your ISP can’t monitor your activity.
Sling TV
Sling TV provides access to most channels airing college basketball (with the exception of CBS), including ABC in select markets. In order to get the full list of channels showing NCAA basketball, you’ll need to sign up to both the Orange and Blue plans, and get the Sports Extra pack at additional cost.
Peacock
Peacock will stream every college basketball game airing on NBC throughout the 2024-25 season. The platform will also have exclusive Big Ten games. Peacock is a fair bit cheaper than the other U.S. streaming options, and NBC Sports is available on the cheapest plan, which you can buy on a monthly basis with no ongoing contract.
How to watch NCAA men’s basketball live outside the U.S.
How to watch NCAA basketball in Canada
TSN+ streams a large selection of live college basketball games in Canada. This includes the regular season, conference championships, and the NCAA Tournament. In addition to college basketball, TSN+ has other major pro sports such as the NBA, NHL, and NFL. You can sign up for a monthly or annual subscription.
How to watch NCAA basketball in the UK
NOW gives you access to select NCAA basketball games—including March Madness—via Sky Sports channels. The service offers a one-day pass, which is great if you just want to watch a single game here and there. It also offers monthly and biannual subscription options.
It makes sense to subscribe to a local sports streaming service if you live outside the U.S., but if you’re just traveling abroad, you can save yourself the extra expense. Download ExpressVPN on your streaming device and connect to a server location in the U.S. to keep watching on your regular service as if you never left home.
How to watch NCAA men’s college basketball in Mexico
ESPN Mexico has a few college basketball games every week during the regular season. It also shows multiple games of each round during the NCAA tournament, including the Final Four.
How to watch NCAA men’s college basketball in Europe
ESPN is the international rights holder for NCAA college basketball, so if it’s included in your cable subscription, you can watch select games. In the UK, Sky Sports is showing some games, which you can watch online via Now with the Sky Sports Pass.
2025 NCAA men’s basketball championship schedule
Don’t miss a minute of the non-stop action of the NCAA tournament. Here are the dates of all the big games.
| Round | Dates | Venues |
| Selection Sunday | Sunday, March 16, 2025 | |
| First Four | March 18–19, 2025 | University of Dayton |
| First Round | March 20–21, 2025 | Amica Mutual Pavilion Rupp Arena Climate Pledge Arena Intrust Bank Arena Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse Ball Arena Fiserv Forum PNC Arena |
| Second Round | March 22–23, 2025 | Amica Mutual Pavilion Rupp Arena Climate Pledge Arena Intrust Bank Arena Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse Ball Arena Fiserv Forum PNC Arena |
| Sweet 16 | March 27–28, 2025 | Prudential Center Chase Center State Farm Arena Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Elite 8 | March 29–30, 2025 | Prudential Center Chase Center State Farm Arena Lucas Oil Stadium |
| Final Four | April 5, 2025 | Alamodome |
| NCAA Championship Game | April 7, 2025 | Alamodome |
The best VPN to watch college basketball streams
ExpressVPN has all the features you need to stream live sports on any network, at home or away, in any resolution, without restrictions.
- Servers in 105 countries, including 18 U.S. cities: It’s easy to find a server that matches your streaming platform’s location.
- Streaming-compatible: Whichever streaming platform you prefer, you’ll always be able to connect securely with ExpressVPN.
- Ultra-fast speeds: The 10-Gbps network handles streaming traffic with ease, so you can watch college basketball streams smoothly, even in HD.
- Apps for major devices: Download native VPN apps for computers, mobile devices, Android TV, and TV box systems, or configure ExpressVPN on your router to watch the games on other smart TVs or gaming consoles.
- 24/7 support: Contact our helpful Support team via live chat for answers to any questions you might have.
- Money-back guarantee: Try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days.
FAQ: About streaming college basketball
Can I use a VPN to watch NCAA college basketball from another country?
Some users might watch NCAA college basketball by connecting to a VPN server in a country other than their own, but doing so may violate copyright or the streaming service’s terms of use. ExpressVPN is a privacy and security tool, and using it to circumvent copyright is against our Terms of Service. We cannot see or control what you do while connected to our VPN, so you are responsible for ensuring that your use complies with all relevant terms and laws.
Can I use a free VPN to watch NCAA college basketball?
Most free VPNs don’t provide fast enough speeds for live streaming, and they’ll usually cap your data so you won’t be able to stream for very long. ExpressVPN gives you blazing-fast speeds for smooth streaming quality and unlimited bandwidth so you can stream as many games as you want. Take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee and try it for yourself.
Where can I stream college basketball for free?
There are no completely free streaming platforms that carry major college basketball games. The best option is to claim a free trial with YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream, or another platform to watch select games for free.
Is there an app to watch all NCAA basketball games?
During the NCAA tournament, you can watch every game on the March Madness Live app, which requires a subscription to a cable or streaming service. If you don’t have cable, you can access live college basketball streams on YouTube TV, ESPN+, and Paramount+, all of which have mobile apps.
Does YouTube TV have NCAA basketball?
Yes. YouTube TV carries ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, and TruTV, all of which have live NCAA basketball streams. It comes with unlimited cloud DVR space, so you can record games and watch them at your convenience, which comes in handy during the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament when games are played in the afternoon.
How can I watch college basketball on Paramount Plus?
You will need to upgrade your account to the Showtime plan to access live TV. It gives you access to CBS, which broadcasts live college basketball streams. Paramount+ is only available in the U.S., but if you’re traveling abroad, you can connect to an ExpressVPN server in the U.S. and stream college basketball as if you never left home.
Can I stream college basketball on my computer?
You can access most streaming platforms that carry NCAA basketball games, such as YouTube TV, Paramount Plus, and ESPN+ on any computer. If you’re connected to a WI-Fi network that restricts streaming, download ExpressVPN for Windows, Mac, or Linux to bypass blocks, so you won’t miss a game.
Can I stream college basketball on my phone or tablet?
Yes, you can use one of the many apps that carry college basketball live streams, such as YouTube TV, ESPN+, March Madness Live, Paramount+, and Now. If you’re streaming on the go, use ExpressVPN to avoid exposing your personal data to cybercriminals on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
How can I stream college basketball on my TV with a VPN?
If you have a Fire TV or Android TV, download the ExpressVPN app and connect to a server location that matches your streaming platform—for example, Americans watching on ESPN+ can connect to a server in the U.S. If you have another kind of smart TV, configure ExpressVPN on your router and the settings will apply to every device connected to it, including your TV.
What channel can I watch NCAA basketball on?
In the U.S., you can watch NCAA basketball on ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, TBS, TNT, TruTV, The CW, and select regional sports networks.
Can I watch NCAA basketball on Amazon Prime?
Prime Video offers some basketball games on demand, but it doesn’t have any live coverage. If you want to watch through the platform, you can add Paramount+ or Max to your subscription, both of which give you access to NCAA March Madness.
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