There are plenty of ways for college soccer fans to watch their favorite team. Just like watching global soccer matches, there are various streaming services for different conferences and teams. Let’s take a look at some different services that you can use to watch college soccer. By Brian Ludden
ESPN/ESPN+
Many college soccer games can be found on the ESPN family of networks. ACC Network and ACCNX will show home games for ACC teams (men and women), while SEC Network and SECN+ will broadcast the SEC teams (women’s only). ESPNU also shows some games involving the nation’s top teams. Longhorn Network is also the home for Texas women’s soccer matches. However, it is important to note that you need a subscription to these channels via either cable or a cord-cutting service (Sling, Hulu, etc.). ESPN also broadcasts the College Cup on its linear networks.
ESPN+ is the home for many conferences, from the American Athletic Conference to the Western Athletic Conference. ESPN+ is ESPN’s subscription-based service, which offers plenty of live sporting events each year. The cost of ESPN+ has risen from its original price of $4.99 a month to its current price of $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year). I have had ESPN+ almost since it launched in 2018, and it is definitely worth the money, especially if you are an avid soccer fan.
At the end of the day, ESPN/ESPN+ has the most extensive coverage of college soccer, and with rarely any streaming issues, it is definitely the site that I personally watch the most games on.
Big Ten Network/BTN+
The Big Ten Network is the home to men’s and women’s soccer for Big Ten teams. Most Big Ten soccer games are shown on BTN+, which is an extra subscription service that does cost a bit more than ESPN+. However, there are various subscription options for fans. For fans only interested in college soccer, a soccer-only pass is available for $49.99 a year. If fans are only wanting to watch a certain team, they can buy a school-specific pass for $9.95 a month (or $79.95 a year). Personally, I do not have BTN+, so I cannot attest to the value of it. But if you are a fan looking for Big Ten soccer, you would find it on Big Ten Network and BTN+.
Pac-12 Network
The Pac-12 Network is the home to home matches for Pac-12 men’s and women’s college soccer. Various TV providers such as Cox, Dish, and Fubo all offer Pac-12 Networks, so fans with valid TV providers can access these games at no additional cost. Some matches are shown on the Pac-12 Network linear channel, while most are shown on Pac-12 Network regional channels. On nights where I stay up to watch Pac-12 soccer, I usually have no issues and can enjoy the game with no problems.
FloSports
FloSports is the home to college soccer in the Big East and Colonial Athletic Association as well as the DII South Atlantic Conference. FloSports allows you to watch live and on-demand matches. However, for fans of only college soccer, the cost may scare some away, as a monthly subscription would cost you $30 a month (or $150 a year). Again, I do not have a subscription to FloSports, so I do not have an opinion on it.
WCC Network
The first free site on our list is the WCC Network, which shows live and on-demand matches from the West Coast Conference. With an easy-to-use website, the WCC Network is definitely a good service, especially considering the fact that they do not charge for an additional subscription. Fans can just search “WCC network” and easily watch men’s and women’s matches. The WCC Network is also available for free through the Stadium app or website.
Mountain West Network
Like the WCC Network, the Mountain West Network is a free service that allows fans to watch live and on-demand matches. The website layout is very similar to the WCC Network website. Likewise, the WCC Network is also available for free through the Stadium app or website.
BYUtv
BYUtv is the home to BYU women’s soccer matches, both live and on-demand. BYU soccer is free to watch on BYUtv, and personally, I have not had any problems with it.
Brian Ludden is a contributing writer for College Soccer News. He can be reached at collegesoccernews@yahoo.com
