The Cord Cutting Report

16 Ways to Watch ESPNU Without Cable in 2023

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You can watch ESPNU without cable on six streaming services. 

DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV, YouTube TV, fubo, Hulu Live TV, and Vidgo all have the live ESPN channel without the need of a cable or satellite subscription. 

There are 15 plans that carry ESPNU within those live TV streaming services. You can also activate the ESPN app with a pay TV provider to watch ESPNU online on a P.C., Mac computer, smartphone or tablet. 

You can jump down to the summary of how to watch ESPNU without cable, check out Frequently Asked Questions below, or read through all your options.

DIRECTV STREAM, fubo and YouTube TV are the three live streaming services that have ESPNU and offer a free trial. Sling TV remains the cheapest option at $51 per month when you add the Sports Extra package to the Orange or Blue plan.

What is ESPNU?

ESPNU has been entertaining sports fans since March 4, 2005. The network was launched to compete with College Sports Television (now known as CBS Sports Network). ESPNU broadcasts college football, NCAA basketball, hockey and soccer. 

The network reached more than 51 million homes in 2021 across cable TV, satellite service and live TV streaming services. 

How to Watch ESPNU

All you need to start streaming ESPNU live is a Smart TV or streaming device. 

A Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Fire Stick or Apple TV will do the job. Smart TVs by Samsung, Sony Bravia, Vizio and LG support most live TV services. Game consoles including Xbox and PlayStation support watching live TV.

If you are a sports fan or cord-cutter in search of your ideal streaming service that has ESPNU, chances are you want other sports channels too.

ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ACC Network (ACCN), Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, SEC Network, NBA TV, Longhorn Network, MLB Network, ESPNews and ESPN Deportes cover NFL, MLB games and other professional and college sports.

ESPNU
(Photo illustration: The Cord Cutting Report)

You can get many of these networks without having to pay for an sports add-on package.

Local channels will matter, too. You may want ESPN for Monday Night Football during the NFL season. But you will need local broadcast networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX to watch NCAA football, or college basketball. 

Some of these services have a free trial that lasts a week without any obligation. Just remember to cancel before the trial ends if you decide that the streaming service isn’t for you.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the cheapest option to stream ESPNU live at $51 per month. 

You have three ways to watch ESPNU online without cable through Sling, but whatever package you choose will require the Sports Extra package. 

The Sling Orange plan includes 32 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2 and entertainment networks like AMC, A&E, Bravo, and History. A subscription to Sling Orange costs $40 per month. 

The Sling Blue plan has 40 channels, including Discovery, NFL Network, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, MSNBC, and Stadium, but doesn’t include ESPN.  

The Sports Extra package adds 15 channels, including ACC Network, ACCNX, NFL RedZone, SEC Network, SEC Network+, MLB Network, NBA TV, and ESPNU for $11 per month.

Subscribers can get half off for the first month of any plan.

You can combine Sling Orange and Sling Blue for $55 per month and add the Sports Extra package to maximize your channel lineup.

All subscribers get 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage. 

Sling TV works on just about any streaming device: Roku, Firestick, Apple TV and even an Xbox. It is supported by Samsung Smart TVs and Smart TVs operating on Android TV or Google TV. Sling TV has mobile apps for iPhones and iPads (with current iOS) and Android smartphones.

There are no hidden fees or contracts if you decide to keep the service. You can even use your subscription to activate the ESPN app after you sign up for service. You can look over the latest offer Sling TV has for new and returning customers.

Hulu Live TV

Hulu Live TV has 75+ live TV channels, including ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN College Extra, ACC Network, CBS Sports Network and SEC Network. 

You can find regional NBC Sports networks. 

Hulu Live TV has only one plan. You can watch live TV on up to two screens at once.

Hulu with Live TV comes with unlimited DVR storage so you can record sports, news, movies or whatever else you want. Hulu carries local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC across the U.S.

A subscription costs $69.99 per month. You get unlimited access to ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu’s on-demand library of movies and TV shows. 

College football fans will be able to watch a lot more conferences and games with ESPN Plus. 

There are more than 300 live college football games on ESPN Plus throughout the season. Southeastern Conference, LSU, Auburn, Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee are among the teams with select live games.   

With a Hulu Live TV subscription, you can activate the ESPN app for ESPNU, ESPN3, and unlock all live sports on ESPN Plus.

Hulu no longer offers a free trial for live TV, but you can look over the channel lineup before deciding whether to sign up.

DIRECTV STREAM

DIRECTV STREAM (formerly AT&T TV) has ESPNU in three of its channel packages along with other cable networks that are important to college football or NCAA basketball fans.

You can sign up for a free 5-day trial on every plan without any obligations.  DIRECTV STREAM is offering $10 off the first three months of service on any plan. 

The Choice has more than 105 channels for $99.99 per month. Choice subscribers get a wide selection of 40 regional sports channels, including YES Network, Bally Sports networks, NBC Sports and Marquee Sports Network. 

The Ultimate package has more than 140 channels, including locals, and sports channels such as NHL Network. The Ultimate package is $109.99 per month. 

The Premier Package has over 150 channels, including premium channels such as HBO, Cinemax and Showtime. A subscription is $154.99 per month.

All of these channel lineups are virtually identical to DIRECTV satellite service, but with a slight price difference.

Subscribers can get three months of Max, Showtime, Cinemax and MGM+ for free before the monthly rates kick in.

All subscribers get unlimited hours of Cloud DVR storage and 40,000 on-demand movies and shows. You can watch live TV on unlimited screens within your home. 

DIRECTV STREAM works on Roku, Android TV, Fire TV devices, Apple TV and smartphones and tablets. You can use apps on supported Smart TVs running on Google TV and Android TV. Subscriptions run month to month and so you can cancel whenever you want.

You can look over the different channel lineups before deciding whether to sign up.

YouTube TV

YouTube TV has 128 channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and NBA TV for $72.99 per month.

YouTube TV only has one way to get ESPNU through its base plan.

The YouTube TV base plan carries other key sports channels for fans such as TNT, TBS, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPNews, FS1, FS2, NFL Network, and MLB Network. YouTube TV carries entertainment networks such as Bravo and Disney Junior.

You’ll be able to watch CNN, Golf Channel and FX. Unlimited Cloud DVR is included with a subscription. And you can create up to 6 profiles for a household per account.

The service works with Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, NVIDIA Shield TV, Apple TV and Chromecast. You can get a free 7-day trial, or look over the channel lineup for your area. 

fubo

Fubo (formerly fuboTV) can be added to an ESPNU subscription as an add-on, or through a premium channel bundle. 

Fubo offers three plans, Pro, Elite and Premium. 

ESPNU is available to Elite and Premium subscribers. But you can add ESPNU to the entry-level Pro plan with the Fubo Extra, or Sports Plus add-on.

The Pro channel package costs $74.99 per month and has 167 channels. The channel lineup includes local ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX in most areas of the U.S. ESPN, ESPN2, Food network, Fox News, HGTV, Big Ten Network, Disney Junior, and Comedy Central are part of the Pro bundle.

The Fubo Extra bundle adds 59 more channels for $7.99 per month. It includes NBA TV, INSP, Tennis Channel, MTV Live, MTV Classic, FXM, Pac 12 Networks, and ESPNews.

The Sports Plus bundle adds 32 more channels and costs $10.99 per month. It includes NFL RedZone, all four Stadium networks, Sports Illustrated TV, Golf TV English, Golf TV Spanish, PAC 12 Arizona, PAC 12 Bay Area, PAC 12 Los Angeles, PAC 12 Mountain, PAC 12 Oregon, PAC 12 Washington, FOX College Sports Atlantic, FOX College Sports Pacific, FNTSY, Fight Network and TyC Sports.

All subscribers get 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR storage. You can watch live TV on 10 screens at once. If you miss a game, you can use Fubo’s “look back” feature to watch sporting events that aired in the last 72 hours

The Elite plan is $84.99 per month, and has 65 more sports, news and entertainment channels. The Premier plan has 231 channels, including Showtime, for $94.99 per month

Fubo has a library of on-demand content, including movies and TV shows. Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV and Smart TVs all carry the Fubo app.

The fuboTV Elite package adds 60 more channels, including the Pac-12 Network.

Fubo has mobile apps for iPhone and Android so you can watch ESPN live on your smartphone. Subscribers can watch live TV through their web browser.

You can get a free 7-day trial and try out watching ESPNU without a cable subscription.

Vidgo

Vidgo lets you live stream ESPNU on three different plans. 

The Vidgo Plus plan is $69.99 per month, and comes with 110 channels, including Big Ten Network, CMT, Disney Channel, Food Network, Hallmark Channel, Great American Family, SEC Network, ESPN Deportes and ESPNews.

The Premium package adds 40 more channels, and costs $84.99 per month. The Ultimate plan has more than 200 channels, and has all 45 Spanish-language channels.

If you’re someone who likes to weigh in online during sporting events, Vidgo’s mobile app is worth a try because you can participate in ‘watch parties’ for TV shows and sporting events.

Subscribers get local FOX and ABC affiliates in some markets.  

Vidgo works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and iPhone. You can look over the channel packages before deciding whether to sign up.

How to Watch ESPNU without cable FAQs

Here are some questions that sports fans ask when searching for ways to watch ESPNU online without cable.

How to watch ESPNU for free

DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, and YouTube TV all stream ESPNU, and offer a free trial that lasts up to a week. 

During the trial period, you can watch ESPNU on a supported Smart TV or streaming device along with other local channels and cable TV networks. 

You will need to cancel service before the free trial ends so you won’t get billed. Be sure to check each streaming service for details.

Can you watch ESPNU on ESPN Plus?

No. ESPN+ is a standalone streaming service that has daily MLB and NHL games and other programs for $9.99 per month. The service does not get you the ESPNU cable network. ESPN+ likewise does not include ESPN, ESPN3, ESPNews or its sibling networks. 

The caveat is that ESPN+ subscribers can occasionally watch some simulcasts from ESPN, including Golf, MMA fights, NFL and NBA games. 

ESPN+ subscribers get hundreds of exclusive college football, NCAA basketball games and UFC fights. A subscription to ESPN Plus costs $9.99 per month, or get it with Hulu and Disney+ for $12.99 per month as part of the Disney Plus bundle.

ESPN+ streams live games and on-demand shows through the ESPN app. Once you sign up to ESPN+, you can stream live sports and popular series such as “30 for 30” and “The Captain” in the ESPN app.

Can you watch ESPNU on the ESPN app?

DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Hulu Live TV and fubo support activating the ESPN app so you can watch ESPNU live.

The only requirement is that ESPNU is in the channel lineup of your live TV plan.

You can use the ESPN app on your Smart TV, tablet, smartphone, and iPad (current iOS) to live stream ESPN.

Pay-TV subscribers can use your TV provider to watch ESPNU on a PC or Mac through a web browser. Click on the “Watch” tab on the ESPN website, and sign in using your pay TV provider.

Is ESPNU on Amazon Prime?

No. ESPNU is not on Amazon Prime. ESPNU is only available only through a cable TV, satellite service or a live TV streaming service. DIRECTV STREAM, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo and YouTube TV all include ESPNU in their channel lineups.

How to watch ESPNU on Roku

You can subscribe to DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Vidgo, or the Spectrum TV app and start watching ESPNU on any Roku device or Roku TV. 

But prices and channel lineups for each live TV streaming service varies. 

Can I watch ESPNU on my computer?

Yes. You can watch ESPNU on a PC or Mac by subscribing to DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, Vidgo, or the Spectrum TV app.

Can I watch ESPNU on my phone?

You can use a live TV streaming service to watch ESPNU on your iPhone or Android smartphone. 

DIRECTV STREAM, Sling TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu Live TV, and Vidgo all have mobile apps for their live TV service. You can likewise use the ESPN app, and activate the app through your pay TV provider.

Where to watch ESPNU without cable

There are six live TV streaming services that stream ESPNU live without a cable subscription. 

Sling TV is the cheapest way to watch ESPNU and it is an overall solid budget option at $51 per month. You need to add the Sports Extra bundle to any plan you choose to stream ESPNU. You can check the latest offer Sling TV is making to new and returning customers. Subscribers get half off for the first month of service. 

Hulu Live is the second cheapest option at $69.99 per month, and includes ESPN Plus and Disney Plus. 

Out of the six live streaming services, the DIRECTV STREAM Choice package, Fubo with Extra or Sports Plus bundles or YouTube TV offer ESPNU and a free trial. 

For more news on streaming, how-to guides and reviews, head over to the main page of The Cord Cutting Report or follow the CCR on Google News.

Note: This article was published November 24, 2020, and has been updated with new plans and pricing.