Where to Watch March Madness Basketball Games Online Without Cable

By Oscar Hartzog

Oscar Hartzog

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is wrapping up with just three games left. On Saturday, the Final Four will face off for a spot in Monday’s championship game. Up first is Illinois vs. UConn, following the Huskies’ stunning win over Duke. After that, No. 1 seeds Michigan and Arizona will clash for the second championship game berth.

At a Glance: Where to Watch March Madness

• Stream March Madness: DirecTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, HBO Max
• March Madness TV channels: TBS, TNT, and truTV
• Tournament Dates 2026: March 17 – April 6

As with past tournaments, figuring out how to watch March Madness is a bit tricky. Ahead is a quick guide on the best ways to livestream every remaining March Madness game online, including ways to get free March Madness livestreams.

Where to Watch March Madness Online, Free Streams, TV Channels (Final Four & Championship)

Final Four March Madness games will be broadcast on TBS and TruTV, and the championship game will be shown on TNT, TBS, and TruTV. HBO Max will have livestreams, but you can also watch all three remaining games using a live TV streaming service that carries TBS and/or TruTV.

Here’s a breakdown of all these options:

DirecTV

DirecTV is the best way to watch every March Madness game online, offering TBS, TNT, and truTV in multiple packages. The most affordable of these plans is the MySports Genre Pack, which carries 20-plus key sports channels for $69.99 a month ($44.99 for your first month). Best of all, DirecTV offers a five-day free trial on all plans.

Hulu + Live TV

Hulu + Live TV is another great way to stream every March Madness game. The service carries TBS, TNT, and truTV in its lineup of 90-plus channels and costs $89.99 a month. Get a three-day free trial to start.

HBO Max

HBO Max will have livestreams of all the March Madness games shown on TBS, TNT, and truTV, but not of the games shown on CBS. The good news: It’s more affordable than the options above. You’ll need HBO Max Standard or Premium to watch March Madness games. These packages start at $18.49 a month, but don’t come with a free trial (see our guide on how to get HBO Max for free here).

March Madness Schedule 2026 (Final Four & Championship Game)

Final Four March Madness games will take place on Saturday, April 4. The championship game will take place on Monday, April 6. Here’s a schedule for all three remaining games:

Final Four: Saturday, April 4

• (2) UConn vs. (3) Illinois, 6:09 p.m. | TBS/TNT/truTV
• (1) Michigan vs. (1) Arizona, 8:49 p.m. | TBS/TNT/truTV

NCAA championship game: Monday, April 6

• UConn / Illinois vs. Michigan / Arizona, 8:50 p.m. | TBS/TNT/truTV

March Madness Storylines 2026

Michigan is the top contender for the Naismith Trophy headed into the Final Four. The Wolverines have scored at least 90 points in every game this tournament, which hasn’t been done since 1995 by UConn. A win for Michigan or the underdog Fighting Illini would be the first national championship for a Big Ten team since Michigan State’s win in 2000.

But Michigan will have to get through Arizona if they want a chance at the championship, and that won’t be easy. The Wildcats are stacked with NBA prospects, and they’ve won all of their postseason games by 12 points or more. Arizona is also hungry for a championship, which has eluded the program since 1997.

UConn also has a shot at the championship, which would be their seventh. The Huskies are no doubt feeling hot after one of the best March Madness wins of all time on Sunday, when freshman Braylon Mullins hit a game-winning three-pointer with less than a second on the clock against No. 1 Duke. A 2026 championship for UConn would be their third in four years — a massive feat for coach Dan Hurley.