How to watch college basketball live streams in 2024

Updated: November 11, 2024

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How to stream NCAA basketball with a VPN

Bypass streaming restrictions on your school or office Wi-Fi and watch NCAA college basketball live streams from anywhere:

  1. Get ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a server location that matches the broadcaster you want to watch. For example, American basketball fans can connect to a server in the U.S. to catch games on Hulu+Live TV, Fubo, and YouTube TV.
  3. It’s game time!

Watching on a computer? For the best streaming experience, use the ExpressVPN browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

Why you need a VPN to stream NCAA basketball

Your internet provider might slow your connection when it detects streaming activity, causing laggy streams and buffering. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, which hides your activity from your ISP. This means you can bypass this type of throttling and live stream college basketball games without any issues.

If you often find yourself stuck at work and the Wi-Fi at your job blocks streaming services, this doesn’t mean you have to miss any games. VPN encryption prevents the network from monitoring your activity, allowing you to unblock streaming platforms with ease. Just make sure you don’t cheer too loudly when your favorite team wins! 

The best VPN for watching college basketball in 2024

The ExpressVPN server network includes locations in 12 U.S. states, making it easy to find one where you need it. The 10-Gbps servers give you a blazing-fast VPN connection, so you can enjoy pixel-perfect video quality, even in UHD. You can connect seamlessly to sports streaming platforms that broadcast college basketball games, such as ESPN+, Fubo, and Peacock. 

A single ExpressVPN account lets you connect up to 8 devices at once, so you can watch a game on your smart TV while other members of your household stream on their own devices. Try ExpressVPN now with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. 

How to watch NCAA basketball online with free streaming trials

If you want to watch college basketball online, you can subscribe to a streaming service offering live TV channels. The channel lineups vary from platform to platform, so you may not find one that streams all the games you want to watch—which is where their free trial offers can come in handy. If a platform only has one or two games you want to watch, you can do it for free.   

ServiceChannelsFree trial length
DirecTV StreamABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNU (Max package), Fox, FS1, NBC, TBS, TNT, TruTV, The CW, select regional sports networks5 days
FuboABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, SEC Network, The CW, select regional sports networks7 days
Hulu + Live TVABC, 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 networks3 days
Paramount PlusCBS, CBS Sports Network7 days
YouTube TVABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, TruTV, The CWVaries

Want it on the big screen? Learn about all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your TV.

Other NCAA basketball streaming options

Several streaming services offer exclusive college basketball coverage throughout the 2024-25 season. Learn more about those options below.

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 there are some of the 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 a 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

Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, and the SEC Network

Sling TV provides access to most channels airing college basketball except for CBS. It also gives you access to ABC in select markets. In order to get the full complement 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 basketball in Canada

TSN

Channels: TS1, TS2, TS3, TS4, TS5

TSN offers many of the top college basketball games of the season to fans in Canada, including the NCAA tournament. If you don’t have cable, TSN+ carries all the same games, with the option to watch live or on-demand. In addition to college basketball, TSN+ has major pro sports such as the NBA, NHL, NFL. You can sign up for a monthly or annual subscription. 

How to watch NCAA basketball in the UK

NOW

Channels: Sky Sports channels

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. 

Want it on the big screen? Learn about all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your TV.

Watch college basketball live streams on all your devices

ExpressVPN is compatible with all major streaming devices, from smartphones and tablets to gaming consoles and smart TVs. You can easily watch your favorite college basketball team securely, at home or on the go. You can connect up to eight devices with a single account.

2025 March Madness Schedule

March will be here before you know it, and with it, the non-stop action of the NCAA tournament. Here’s a general schedule of when the games are, in case you need to plan your vacation days ahead of time. 

RoundDatesVenues
Selection SundaySunday, March 16, 2025CBS and Paramount Plus
First FourMarch 18 – 19, 2025University of Dayton
First RoundMarch 20 – 21, 2025Amica Mutual Pavilion
Rupp Arena
Climate Pledge Arena
Intrust Bank Arena
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Ball Arena
Fiserv Forum
PNC Arena
Second RoundMarch 22 – 23, 2025Amica Mutual Pavilion
Rupp Arena
Climate Pledge Arena
Intrust Bank Arena
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Ball Arena
Fiserv Forum
PNC Arena
Sweet 16March 27 – 28, 2025Prudential Center
Chase Center
State Farm Arena
Lucas Oil Stadium
Elite 8March 29 – 30, 2025Prudential Center
Chase Center
State Farm Arena
Lucas Oil Stadium
Final FourApril 5, 2025Alamodome
NCAA Championship GameApril 7, 2025Alamodome

ExpressVPN is a VPN service not intended to be used as a means of copyright circumvention. Please read the ExpressVPN Terms of Service and your content provider’s Terms of Use for more details.

FAQ: About watching college basketball live streams

Can I use a VPN to watch NCAA basketball from another country?
Can I use a free VPN to watch college basketball games?
How can I watch the men’s NCAA basketball tournament?
How can I watch NCAA basketball in Europe?
Does HBO Max have March Madness?
How can I watch NCAA basketball outside the U.S.?
Is there a streaming service for NCAA basketball?
stream on your phone with a VPN
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Comments

  1. I am from Greece and I am waiting to receive a tv-box with O.S. Android 11 in September. Then I will subscribe in your express vpn system because I would like to watching sports channels (college football and basketball) from Sling tv.
    The only problem is my internet connection speed approx. 12 Mpbs.
    Regards.

  2. Im living in Bangkok Thailand and looking to watch the NCAA
    College basketball lives games ( both men & women team
    I just want to know Im I in the right place to do all that ?
    If Can watch those games live … then please guideline me of what to do
    Thank you so much … 🙏

  3. your chat person sent a link for virtual connection; i don’t understand how to use the site to sign up to watch the ncaa basketball tourney that ends tonight

  4. My VPN is slowing down all of the apps on my computer. When I disengage the VPN everything’s back to normal. I have use disconnect in the past and never had issues like this. Now that I have express VPN and paid for it for the year how do I clear or speed up this VPN so that I can have Spotify and have normal usage of my Internet.

  5. Hello,

    I’m trying to watch Kansas vs. Auburn from the UK. I connected to the VPN and tried to access the website in an incognito browser but seems to be blocking me. Please help.

  6. I’m trying to watch March Madness from Canada. I tried to get the iOS app like you instructed, but it says I cannot get it from my app store. What should I do?

    Thx

  7. Down here in Uganda and would really love to watch this except l cnt coz of the limitations our isps impose on us. The damn bastards as if there overpriced things are not bad enough

    1. Hi ali,

      Don’t let that get in your way! Simply connect to an ExpressVPN U.S. location, open an incognito browser with cleared cookies, and you’ll be all set to watch!

      Which team are you cheering for? 🙂

    1. Hi Adam,

      It is possible there may be some minor loss of speed when connected to servers that are far from your location. However, ExpressVPN is constantly optimizing server speeds and you can use the speed test function to see which servers are best for your location!

  8. i am about to buy express vpn to watch march madness tonight. once I have the app on my macbook pro, how do I find the games?
    thanks

  9. I’m in BA Argentina and dying to watch the NCAA tournament; the DSL connection in the apartment is poor and there are no sports bars that can get the games. Do you have service here?

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