Here is how to watch the 2026-27 college basketball season on TV and streaming, laid out by network so you can find every game fast, from the November 1 tip-off through the first ever 76-team Final Four in Detroit. Below you will find which networks carry which conferences, a week-by-week look at the season’s biggest TV windows, and the full March Madness 2027 broadcast plan.
College basketball TV networks in 2026-27
Rather than sort by conference, here is the fast version by network. Find where your games live, then note the streaming home for cord-cutters.
| Network | Streaming home | What you will find |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ABC (plus SEC Network and ACC Network) | ESPN+ and the ESPN App | SEC and ACC in full, plus Big 12 games, marquee nonconference matchups, and the big Thanksgiving-week tournaments |
| FOX and FS1 | Fox Sports app | Big Ten, Big 12 and Big East headliners, including Saturday showcases |
| CBS and CBS Sports Network | Paramount+ | Big Ten games on CBS, plus heavy mid-major and conference coverage on CBS Sports Network |
| NBC and Peacock | Peacock | Big Ten basketball, with a large slate of games streaming exclusively on Peacock |
| TNT Sports (TNT, TBS, truTV) | Max | Big East games during the season, then the entire NCAA Tournament in March and April |
| Conference networks (Big Ten Network, SEC Network, ACC Network) | Fubo, YouTube TV, ESPN+ | Wall-to-wall league coverage, including weeknight games you will not find on the main channels |
The 2026-27 season on TV, week by week
College basketball builds all winter. These are the windows worth circling.
| When | What is on | Where to watch |
|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Opening night, headlined by Notre Dame vs Villanova from Rome | FOX |
| November 20 to 27 | Feast Week: Maui Invitational, Battle 4 Atlantis, Players Era Festival, Hall of Fame Classic and more | ESPN family, FS1 |
| December | Nonconference showcases and holiday rivalry games | ESPN, FOX, CBS, NBC and Peacock |
| Late December to early March | Conference play across every league, most nights of the week | ESPN family, FOX/FS1, CBS, Peacock, TNT Sports, league networks |
| Early to mid March 2027 | Championship Week: every conference tournament | ESPN, FOX, CBS and the conference networks |
| March 14, 2027 | Selection Sunday: the 76-team field is revealed | CBS |
March Madness 2027: the first 76-team bracket
The 2027 NCAA Tournament is the biggest in history. The field expands from 68 to 76 teams, with 32 automatic bids and 44 at-large selections, and a new 24-team Opening Round replaces the old First Four. For a bracket site, this is the headline change of the season.
| Round | Dates | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Selection Sunday | March 14, 2027 | CBS |
| Opening Round (24 teams) | March 16 and 17 | TNT Sports (truTV, TBS) |
| First and Second Rounds | March 18 to 21 | CBS and TNT Sports (TBS, TNT, truTV) |
| Sweet 16 and Elite Eight | March 25 to 28 | CBS and TBS |
| Final Four | April 3, Ford Field, Detroit | CBS |
| National Championship | April 5 | CBS |
Every tournament game airs across CBS and TNT Sports (TBS, TNT and truTV), and streams on Paramount+ and Max. CBS carries the Final Four and the national championship in Detroit.
How to watch college basketball without cable
You can follow the whole season without a cable box. ESPN+ and the ESPN App cover the ESPN family and hundreds of extra games, Peacock carries a big Big Ten slate, Paramount+ streams CBS, and Max streams TNT Sports and the NCAA Tournament. To get the linear channels and conference networks together, a live-TV bundle like YouTube TV, Fubo or Sling is the simplest one-stop option.
Build your 2027 bracket
Once the field is set on Selection Sunday, run your pool right here. Use our bracket maker to build and share a custom bracket, spin up a pool with the March Madness squares generator, and keep the full 2026-27 college basketball schedule hub handy for tip times and conference slates all season.
College basketball TV FAQ
What channel is college basketball on in 2026-27?
It depends on the conference. The SEC and ACC live on the ESPN family, the Big Ten is split across FOX, CBS, NBC and Peacock, the Big 12 runs on ESPN and FOX, and the Big East is on FS1 and TNT Sports. League networks (Big Ten Network, SEC Network, ACC Network) carry the rest.
How can I watch March Madness 2027?
The NCAA Tournament airs on CBS and TNT Sports (TBS, TNT, truTV), with streaming on Paramount+ and Max. The Final Four and title game are on CBS from Ford Field in Detroit.
How many teams make the 2027 NCAA Tournament?
76, up from 68. The new format adds a 24-team Opening Round and expands at-large bids to 44.
When does the 2026-27 college basketball season start?
Opening night is November 1, 2026, with Notre Dame vs Villanova in Rome on FOX.
