2020 deprived sports fans of quite a few events. Fans missing out on streaming March Madness was among the most notable of those. Its cancellation, in fact, ushered in a bleak sports-less spring that showed the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic in graspable terms for Americans.
This year, happily—among an improved, vaccine-filled landscape for sports, you can stream March Madness once more.
The 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament starts with the First Four games on Thursday, March 18.
Then, the First Round and Second Round, which had customarily run Thursday through Sunday in past years, now runs Friday, March 19 through Monday, March 22. By the end of Monday's action, the field of 68 teams will be winnowed to 16.
It'll be a little different in light of the pandemic—rather than action going coast-to-coast, all the games will be in Indiana, with most in Indianapolis venues to minimize travel, all the way to the last game in Indianapolis on Monday, April 5.
Here's the March Madness schedule for the First Four games and First Round. (Bookmark this page for schedule updates throughout the tournament.)
First Four
Thursday, March 18
- (16) Texas Southern vs. (16) Mount St. Mary's, 5:10pm ET, truTV
- (11) Drake vs. (11) Wichita State, 6:27pm ET, TBS
- (16) Appalachian State vs. (16) Norfolk State, 8:40pm ET, truTV
- (11) UCLA vs. (11) Michigan State, 9:57pm ET, TBS
First Round
Friday, March 19
- (7) Florida vs. (10) Virginia Tech, 12:15 p.m. CBS
- (3) Arkansas vs. (14) Colgate, 12:45 p.m., truTV
- (1) Illinois vs. (16) Drexel, 1:15pm, TBS
- (6) Texas Tech vs. (11) Utah State, 1:45pm ET, TNT
- (2) Ohio State vs. (15) Oral Roberts, 3pm ET, CBS
- (1) Baylor vs. (16) Hartford, 3:30pm ET, truTV
- (8) Loyola Chicago vs. (9) Georgia Tech, 4pm ET, CBS
- (5) Tennessee vs. (12) Oregon State, 4:30pm ET, TNT
- (4) Oklahoma State vs. (13) Liberty, 6:25pm ET, CBS
- (8) North Carolina vs. (9) Wisconsin, 7:10pm ET, CBS
- (2) Houston vs. (15) Cleveland State, 7:15pm ET, truTV
- (4) Purdue vs. (13) North Texas, 7:25pm ET, TNT
- (7) Clemson vs. (10) Rutgers, 9:20pm ET, CBS
- (6) San Diego State vs. (11) Syracuse, 9:40pm ET, CBS
- (3) West Virginia vs. (14) Morehead State, 9:50pm ET, truTV
- (5) Villanova vs. (12) Winthrop, 9:57pm, TNT
Saturday, March 20
- (5) Colorado vs. (12) Georgetown, 12:15pm ET, CBS
- (4) Florida State vs. (13) UNC Greensboro, 12:45pm ET, truTV
- (3) Kansas vs. (14) Eastern Washington, 1:15pm ET, TBS
- (8) LSU vs. (9) St. Bonaventure, 1:45pm ET, TNT
- (1) Michigan vs. (16) Mount St. Mary's/Texas Southern, 3pm ET, CBS
- (5) Creighton vs. (12) UC Santa Barbara, 3:30pm ET, truTV
- (2) Alabama vs. (15) Iona, 4pm ET, TBS
- (6) USC vs. (11) Wichita State/Drake, 4:30pm ET, TNT
- (2) Iowa vs. (15) Grand Canyon, 6:25pm ET, TBS
- (7) UConn vs. (10) Maryland, 7:10pm ET, CBS
- (4) Virginia vs. (13) Ohio, 7:15pm ET, truTV
- (8) Oklahoma vs. (9) Missouri, 7:25pm ET, TNT
- (1) Gonzaga vs. (16) Norfolk State/Appalachian State, 9:20pm ET, TBS
- (6) BYU vs. (11) Michigan State/UCLA, 9:40pm ET, CBS
- (3) Texas vs. (14) Abilene Christian, 9:50pm ET, truTV
- (7) Oregon vs. (10) VCU, 9:57pm ET, TNT
How to stream March Madness: NCAA Tournament live streaming
First off, if you have Paramount+, the streaming service previously known as CBS All Access, you're in luck for the Final Four, as CBS carries all three of those games. But the service will only cover you for CBS games; if you're looking to watch games carried on TBS, TNT, and TruTV, you'll want a streaming service that brings you those as well.
Here's the rundown on what's where.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu Live TV is a great way to stream live TV, as it comes with access to Hulu’s massive library of on-demand content. You’ll be able to choose from movies, shows, and Hulu's original programming, and keep up with what's new each month. Hulu plans even include a bundle option where you can access Disney+ and ESPN+ along with Hulu.
Hulu Live TV's sports coverage includes the full suite of ESPN channels (including ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, and ESPN College Extra), FS1 and FS2), NBSCN, the Olympic Channel, and the Big Ten Network. Hulu's also got you covered for news and entertainment in its nearly 70-channel package. All four channels of tournament action stream with Hulu Live TV.
FuboTV
FuboTV started as a streaming service geared toward sports fans. It's since evolved into a broadly-appealing option with entertainment and news options alongside its robust sports choices. It starts at $59.99 a month, and depending on the package, you can access as many as 180+ FuboTV channels. Fubo can entertain you with Bravo, IFC, MTV, and VH1 at even Fubo's most basic tier.
The Fubo channel list still includes plenty of sports, including the Fubo Sports Network, which has original programming mixing sports and humor. Fubo added the ESPN suite of channels in an agreement that also brought ABC and the Disney Channel. Pretty much every sports channel you could think of is available through Fubo, including BeIN Sports, CBS Sports Network, and TUDN. To get the most sports, consider adding the Sports Plus with NFL RedZone add-on at $10.99 a month to a robust Fubo Elite package. You'll find the CBS games on Fubo.
Sling TV
If you're looking for a streamlined, cost-effective streaming package, check out Sling TV. It offers two basic cable packages, Sling Orange and Sling Blue, each of which costs $30 per month. There's also the third option of getting Sling Orange + Blue for just $45 per month. You'll get more Sling TV channels by choosing Sling Blue, with its 40 channels including sports favorites like FS1 and NBCSN and cable mainstays like Food Network and Discovery Channel. But Sling Orange brings must-haves Disney Channel and ESPN as part of its package.
There's also a Sports Extras option for Orange + Blue subscribers, with MLB Network, NBA TV, and NHL Network part of the plan. There's also a Sports Extra add-on for the Sling Blue package, and another one for the Sling Orange package.
Pair Sling with AirTV, and you'll be able to add CBS to the other channels on the service.
AT&T TV Now
If you’re already looking to AT&T for your wireless needs, you might consider AT&T TV Now to cover streaming for you. AT&T TV Now channels start with Plus and Max, which even include HBO. Then, AT&T plans expand from there, approaching cable selection and pricing with AT&T TV Now's biggest packages. AT&T streaming also comes with Cloud DVR, letting you record up to 20 hours of TV per month.
At its most basic Plus tier, you can find sports staples like ESPN, ESPN2, and FS1. Considering that AT&TV TV Now plans include the loaded Ultimate and Premier tiers, as well as the Spanish-language Optimo Mas package, you can find whatever sports channel you're seeking in at least one of the AT&T TV Now plans. If you're looking to stream March Madness, AT&T TV Now will get you all four channels you need.
YouTube TV
The YouTube TV channel list includes local channels and plenty to keep kids (and kids at heart) occupied, including Disney Channel and its companion channels, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network—all in one easy-to-access package. It even comes with a few Spanish-language channels like Telemundo and NBC Universo. YouTube add-ons include HBO Max, Showtime, and Starz. YouTube TV packages have some advantages over their competitors, including a generous DVR and multiple screens package. From one account, each user can create an individual profile to track favorite shows.
It's a great option for college basketball fans, covering you for streaming the NCAA Tournament, and it's great in general for sports fans. It comes with ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, and NBCSN at the ready. Deeper sports cuts, like NBA TV, MLB Network, CBS Sports Network, and ESPNU are also part of the YouTube TV plan. For $10.99 more a month, upgrade to the Sports Plus plan to get NFL RedZone and six additional sports channels.
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