skip to main content
We may earn money when you click our links.

How To Watch the 2025 NCAA Basketball National Championship Game

We break down schedules and more for the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball National Championship Game.

March Madness is barreling toward its grand finale, where one final game will determine this year’s college basketball champions. After battling through the single-elimination tournament and surviving the Final Four, two teams remain in the men’s and women’s competitions—one step away from cutting down the nets.

This year, the NCAA women’s basketball national championship will air on ABC, while the men’s final will be on CBS. No matter how you prefer to watch—whether through antenna TV, cable, or streaming—there are plenty of ways to tune in. Keep reading for everything you need to know about watching the 2025 NCAA basketball national championship games.

When is the NCAA basketball national championship game?

The women’s NCAA basketball championship will happen on Sunday, April 6, while the men’s final will occur the next day on Monday, April 7. Check out our table below for start times and channel listings.

Game Day Time (ET) Channels
Women's NCAA Championship Game:
(2) UConn vs. (1) South Carolina
Sunday, April 6 3:00 p.m. ABC, ESPN, ESPN+
Men's NCAA Championship Game:
(1) Florida vs. (1) Houston
Monday, April 7 8:50 p.m. CBS, Paramount+

Data effective as of post date.

Watch 2025 NCAA basketball championship game for free

You don’t need a pricey subscription to catch the men’s and women’s national championship games. An over-the-air (OTA) antenna lets you watch ABC and CBS for free, as long as you’re within range of local broadcasts. If you prefer streaming, several live TV services offer free trials. We recommend DIRECTV STREAM’s five-day trial, which covers both ABC and CBS.

Check out the table below for more free trial options, including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, which streams the men’s championship game via CBS.

Provider Price Deals Details
DIRECTV STREAM $84.99–$164.99/mo. 5-day free trial View Plans for DIRECTV STREAM

Read DIRECTV STREAM review
Fubo $14.99–$94.99/mo. 7-day free trial View Plans for FuboTV

Read Fubo review
Hulu + Live TV $81.99–$95.99/mo. Trial length varies View Plans for Hulu

Read Hulu + Live TV review
Paramount+ $7.99–$12.99/mo. 7-day free trial View Plans for Paramount Plus

Read Paramount+ review
YouTube TV $82.99/mo. Trial length varies View Plans for YouTube TV

Read YouTube TV review

Data effective as of post date.

How to watch the NCAA basketball national championship game FAQ

Where will the championship basketball game be played?

The 2025 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game will be played on Sunday, April 6, at 3:00 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The 2025 NCAA men’s basketball national championship game will be played on Monday, April 7, at 8:50 p.m. ET at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Where can I watch the NCAA Final?

CBS and TBS alternate annually as the exclusive broadcasters of the men’s Final Four and NCAA Championship Game. TBS gets the even years while CBS has the odd ones—meaning CBS will air this season’s final rounds come April 2025. The Women’s National Championship Game will air on ABC in 2025.

Who were the last men's March Madness champions?

The UConn Huskies are the two-time reigning champions of the men’s March Madness tournament, having won the national championship game in 2023 and 2024.

Who were the last women's March Madness champions?

The South Carolina Gamecocks won the 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 87–75.

Why you should trust us

We analyzed this year’s NCAA March Madness schedule to break down dates, broadcast times, and more. We also cross-referenced this information with our existing streaming and TV deals coverage to ensure you get the most coverage without paying more than you need to.

Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.

CableTV.com Sports logo featuring animated athlete with raised hands.

Don't miss an update

Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime anywhere.