Importance Score: 15 / 100 🟠
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is reaching its climax with the Final Four, and if your tournament bracket remains accurate, congratulations! In a rare phenomenon, echoing only one prior occurrence in tournament history, all four No. 1 seeds have successfully advanced to the concluding stage. Basketball enthusiasts are preparing for captivating matchups as SEC rivals Auburn and Florida clash in Saturday’s opening Final Four contest, succeeded by a highly anticipated showdown between Houston and Duke in the evening.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to view or stream the Final Four games this Saturday and the national championship game on Monday.
Cooper Flagg and No. 1 Duke face No. 1 Houston on Saturday night in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.
Final Four Game Schedule and Broadcast Details
Below is the broadcast schedule for the Final Four semifinal games (all times Eastern Time):
Saturday, April 5th Final Four Matchups
- No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 1 Florida: 6:09 p.m. on CBS
- No. 1 Houston vs. No. 1 Duke: 8:49 p.m. on CBS
The victors will compete for the men’s NCAA basketball championship on Monday. The title game is scheduled to commence at 8:50 p.m. ET (5:50 p.m. PT) on CBS.
Streaming Options to Watch the Final Four Without Cable
The remainder of the tournament will be broadcast on CBS, accessible through a cable subscription or a live TV streaming service. The most budget-friendly approach is subscribing to Paramount Plus with Showtime for a month. The $13-a-month Paramount Plus with Showtime plan enables you to watch the final three games of the tournament via live stream.
To livestream March Madness games televised on CBS, you will require the $13 per month Paramount Plus with Showtime subscription. The tournament’s concluding two rounds alternate between TBS and CBS annually, and this year’s Final Four and national championship will be presented on CBS.
Refer to our Paramount Plus review for further details.
Devices Compatible for Streaming Final Four Games
An application for Paramount Plus is readily available for iPhones, Android phones, iPads, Android tablets, and Amazon Fire tablets. It is also accessible on popular streaming platforms, such as Roku, Apple TV, Android TV/Google TV, and Fire TV, as well as smart televisions from leading manufacturers like LG, Samsung, and Vizio. Paramount Plus can additionally be accessed through Xbox and PlayStation gaming consoles.
Read more: March Madness TV Deals
For more detailed information, consult the complete list of supported devices for Paramount Plus.
Free Methods to Watch the Final Four
Visit the NCAA’s March Madness Live website or utilize its March Madness Live application to watch games at no cost. March Madness Live is viewable on iOS and Android gadgets, along with Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and Xbox. The app also supports AirPlay and Chromecast. As is typical with complimentary offerings, there is a caveat. Without verification as a pay TV subscriber, you are granted only a three-hour preview, after which login credentials are required to continue viewing.
Alternatively, an indoor antenna connected to your TV can be employed to watch the men’s games on CBS. Quality antennas are available for as low as $20. Explore our comparison of indoor antennas here.
Watching the Final Four via Live TV Streaming Services
Another option for viewing March Madness is through a live TV streaming service. While several live TV providers feature CBS, it is important to remember that local network availability differs among services. Verify CBS availability in your locality using the provided links to ensure access in your area.
YouTube TV is priced at $83 monthly and incorporates CBS. Input your ZIP code on their welcome page to ascertain if CBS is accessible in your region. Currently, the initial two months are offered at a reduced rate of $60 per month.
Examine our YouTube TV review for further reading.
Hulu with Live TV is also available for $83 per month and includes CBS. On their live news section, you can input your ZIP code under the question “Can I watch local news in my area?” located at the bottom of the page to identify the local channels available.
View our Hulu with Live TV review for more details.
Fubo‘s Pro package is priced at $85 per month and includes CBS. Fubo is currently offering the first month for $65. Click here to check the local channels available in your area. Consult our Fubo review for further details.
The previously mentioned live TV streaming services offer the flexibility to cancel at any point and necessitate a reliable internet connection. Seeking additional details? Explore our live TV streaming services guide and our suggestions for the best sports streaming services.
Utilizing a VPN to Access Final Four Live Streams
Should you find yourself in a situation where convenient avenues to watch the games are limited in your location, a VPN coupled with a US-based server can grant access to the tournament. With a VPN, you have the capability to virtually alter your geographic location on your phone, tablet, or laptop, thereby gaining entry to the game. Therefore, if your internet service provider or mobile carrier has assigned an IP address incorrectly positioning you within a blackout region, a VPN can rectify this by furnishing you with an IP address in your accurate, non-blackout zone. Most VPNs, such as our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, are user-friendly.
Employing a VPN to view or stream sports content is permissible in nations where VPNs are legal, including the US and Canada, given you possess a valid subscription to the streaming service being used. It is essential to ensure your VPN is configured correctly to avert leaks. Even in regions where VPNs are legal, the streaming platform may terminate accounts of individuals deemed to be circumventing legitimately enforced blackout restrictions.
ExpressVPN is our top VPN choice for individuals seeking a dependable and secure VPN that functions across numerous devices. It is priced at $13 per month, but opting for an annual subscription at $100 reduces the monthly cost to $6.67 and includes three additional months free, resulting in a 49% saving. Notably, ExpressVPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Recap of the Previous Men’s March Madness Champion
Last year, the UConn Huskies triumphed over the Purdue Boilermakers with a 75-60 victory to secure consecutive national championships in college basketball. This marked the first instance of a school achieving back-to-back March Madness titles since the Florida Gators in 2007.