College football returns this weekend, and the Big Ten Network is doing its best to make sure you never have to leave your couch to find a game. The network broadcasts more than 550 events per year and streams approximately 1,700 more, and it carries Week 1 matchups for Ohio State, Iowa, Maryland, and Northwestern. But if you want to watch BTN without cable, the options pile up fast.
The simplest route is YouTube TV, which includes BTN in its Base plan ($59.99/month for the first three months, $82.99/month after) and its Sports plan ($44.99/month for the first six months, $64.99/month after). The service also offers a 10-day free trial.
Provider List
BTN shows up across a wide range of cable providers and over-the-top streamers. Optimum, Dish, Verizon, and Spectrum all carry it, along with Sling TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV, and FOX One. The network is also available through the FOX Sports App.
The Big Ten Network website runs a channel finder guide to help you track down the exact feed in your area. That is a useful tool if you are still tied to a traditional cable box and want to know which channel the signal lands on.
Week 2 Schedule
Week 1 kicks off with Ohio State, Iowa, Maryland, and Northwestern on BTN. Week 2 brings a slate of mid-major matchups:
- Howard @ No. 5 Indiana at 12:00 p.m. ET
- Utah State @ No. 19 Washington at 3:30 p.m. ET
- Eastern Michigan @ Michigan State at 3:30 p.m. ET
- San Diego State @ UCLA at 7:15 p.m. ET
- Western Illinois @ Wisconsin at 7:15 p.m. ET
- Louisiana @ No. 14 USC at 11:00 p.m. ET
| Game | Time |
|---|---|
| Howard @ No. 5 Indiana | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| Utah State @ No. 19 Washington | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| Eastern Michigan @ Michigan State | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| San Diego State @ UCLA | 7:15 p.m. ET |
| Western Illinois @ Wisconsin | 7:15 p.m. ET |
| Louisiana @ No. 14 USC | 11:00 p.m. ET |
Price Comparison
The Big Ten Network is not cheap on any platform. YouTube TV’s Base plan costs $59.99/month for the first three months and jumps to $82.99/month after. The Sports plan is slightly cheaper at $44.99/month for the first six months and $64.99/month after.
DIRECTV’s entry-level Choice package runs $94.99/month, with Ultimate at $124.99/month and Premier at $169.99/month. All three include BTN. The streamer is currently offering a discount for the first month: $30 off Choice ($64.99), $35 off Ultimate ($89.99), and $40 off Premier ($129.99).
Fubo’s Pro package costs $63.99/month for the first month and $88.99/month after. The Elite package runs $68.99/month for the first month and $98.99/month after. Fubo’s Sports and News package is $54.99/month for the first month and $64.99/month after. New subscribers get a free trial.
Hulu + Live TV charges $89.99/month and offers a three-day free trial. FOX One costs $19.99/month with a three-day free trial. Sling TV adds BTN for an extra $11/month.
The One Service That Isn’t BTN
B1G+ is a subscription-based streaming service that offers coverage of more than 1,700 non-televised Big Ten events. It is not a replacement for the network. Football games are not available on B1G+.
The comparison table below shows the full range of options, sorted by the streamer’s name.
| Streamer | Plan | Price | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | Base | $59.99/month (first 3 months) | 10 days |
| DIRECTV | Choice | $94.99/month | $30 off first month |
| Fubo | Pro | $63.99/month (first month) | Free trial |
| Hulu + Live TV | Hulu + Live TV | $89.99/month | 3 days |
| FOX One | FOX One | $19.99/month | 3 days |
| Sling TV | Sling TV | $11/month | Not listed |
The numbers stack up quickly. YouTube TV’s Base plan is the lowest monthly price after the first three months. DIRECTV’s Choice package is the cheapest overall, but the discount only applies to the first month. Fubo’s Pro package is the most expensive on the list, and its Elite and Sports and News packages are both higher.
The free trial on YouTube TV lasts 10 days, and the discounts on DIRECTV apply only to the first month.
The Big Ten Network is a 24-hour network that broadcasts more than 550 events and streams approximately 1,700 more. It is available on cable, on YouTube TV, on DIRECTV, on Fubo, on Hulu + Live TV, and on FOX One. It is also available through the FOX Sports App. It is not on B1G+.
The real cost of all these options is not the price tag on the plan. It is the time you spend choosing between them. The network is everywhere, and the choices are endless.
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