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LifestyleNCAA

How to watch the NCAA Championship Game for free—and without cable

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
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By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 7, 2025, 5:00 PM ET
The Florida Gators meet the Houston Cougars in the NCAA Championship Game.
The Florida Gators meet the Houston Cougars in the NCAA Championship Game. Alex Slitz/Getty Images

It all comes down to this. The final game of March Madness 2025 is set to be a barn burner, with two of the teams oddsmakers considered the most likely to win battling it out for the NCAA National Championship.

The Florida Gators and Houston Cougars will square off Monday night. At the start of this year’s tournament, Florida was favored to win with +350 odds. Houston was close behind at +600.

Now, the experts are split. FanDuel has the Gators slightly favored, while ESPN expects the Cougars to come out on top.

So settle in and give yourself a break. Ignore the economy for a couple of hours and catch the end of this college basketball season. Here’s when and where the game will be airing and ways to watch for free, without a cable subscription.

When and where does the 2025 NCAA Championship Game air?

Here’s when and where you can catch this year’s semifinal games- as well as the final.

April 7

Florida vs. Houson, 9:20 p.m. on CBS

How can I watch the NCAA Championship Game for free?

It’s easy, actually. CBS is the host for the National Championship, so you can watch the game without a cable subscription. All you need is a good HD antenna. To ensure you’re getting the most reliable signal for the CBS-carried games, you’ll want to test the antenna in multiple locations in your home.

Can I stream the NCAA Championship Game online?

Yep – and you’ve got a number of choices to do so.

Paramount+

CBS’s streaming service will give you a one-week free trial, followed by a $8 or $13 monthly charge.

Hulu with Live TV

The free trial on this service lasts three days. Afterward, it will cost you $77 per month.

YouTubeTV

After a free trial, you can expect monthly charges of $73.

DirecTV Stream

Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will run you $80 per month and up after the free trial option.

Fubo TV

This sports-focused cord-cutting service carries broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly charges of $80 and up, depending on the channels you choose.

Does the NCAA offer any service for me to watch the Final Four?

March Madness Live has streamed every game on the NCAA Website, as well as Apple, Android, Amazon and Roku devices and will continue to do so with the championship game. You’ll need to log in with your username and password from your TV provider.

Can I watch the NCAA Championship Game on Amazon?

No. NCAA Tournament games do not stream on Amazon.

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About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

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