Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Entertainment
  3. Deals

Oakland vs NC State live stream: Can you watch for free?

Add as a preferred source on Google

No. 14 seed Oakland became the story of the first round thanks to their thrilling upset of Kentucky. Now they look to continue the magic today against a red-hot NC State squad. The Wolfpack have won six in a row after their thrashing of No. 6 Texas Tech on Thursday, but they’ll need to find a way to slow down Jack Gohlke and Co. if they want to make their first Sweet 16 since 2015.

This one is about to begin, at 7:10 p.m. ET, and will be televised on TBS/truTV. Fortunately, if you don’t have cable you want to watch March Madness online, there are a bevy of ways you can watch a live stream of Oakland vs NC State for free.

Is There a Free Oakland vs NC State State Live Stream?

YouTube TV on Roku.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Of all of the live-TV streaming services that include TBS and/or truTV, there are only two that offer a free trial: YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream. After signing up, each will let you watch for five days before you need to either cancel your subscription or pay for the first month.

Both of these also include CBS (live in most markets) and TNT, giving you every channel you need to watch every tournament game. That means, if you time things correctly, you could use one streaming service for the remainder of this weekend’s Round of 32 games, and then try out the other streaming service for next week’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games without ever having to pay anything.

A third free option if you just want to watch this game is the March Madness Live app or website. You can actually watch every game of the tourney this way if you’re able to sign in with a cable provider. Of course, even if you don’t have that, you can watch for three hours–enough to watch Oakland vs NC State barring several overtimes–without signing in.

Other Ways to Watch the Oakland vs NC State State Live Stream

Max logo
Max / Max

If you’ve already used up all your free trials and previews, the cheapest way to watch the game is with a subscription to Max, which has every truTV, TBS and TNT game. Though there’s no free trial, it costs just $10 per month, and a single month will get you through the entire tournament.

The second-cheapest long-term option would be Sling TV. The “Sling Orange” channel plan costs just $30 for your first month ($40 per month after that) and includes both TNT and TBS, while the “Entertainment Extra” add-on is another $6 per month and will get you truTV.

How to Watch the Oakland vs NC State State Live Stream from Abroad

NordVPN running on a MacBook Pro.
NordVPN

If you want to watch any of those streaming services from outside of the United States, you’ll need NordVPN or some other VPN service. Once signed up, you’ll use your VPN to hide your IP address and connect to a digital server located in the US. This allows you to operate online as if you were actually in the country, getting you around the location-blocks that all of those streaming services have.

Tim Keeney
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Tim is a long-time sports journalist who has written about everything from the NFL to more popular sports such as chess…
Topics
Letterboxd could find a new home at Netflix, but Sony is fighting for it, too
Netflix wants Letterboxd, but Hollywood isn't letting it go without a fight
Letterboxd

Letterboxd, the fast-growing social network for film lovers, could soon have a new owner. According to a report by Puck News, the New Zealand-based platform has been exploring a potential sale, attracting interest from several major entertainment companies, including Netflix, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Paramount Skydance.

While no deal has been confirmed, the discussions highlight how valuable online fan communities have become as streaming platforms compete not just for viewers, but also for the audiences that influence what people watch next.

Read more
Disney+ is exploring a free tier to fight back against YouTube’s growing TV dominance
Disney is eyeing a free tier as YouTube keeps stealing its TV audience
The Disney+ app on a TV screen while blue lights illuminate the wall behind.

Watching Disney+ without paying for a subscription could eventually become an option. According to Business Insider, Disney is considering a free tier that would let people watch some content without a paywall.

The idea is still in the early stages, with no timeline or launch details, but it reflects a growing challenge. YouTube and other free, ad-supported platforms like Tubi and Roku are attracting more TV viewers, forcing streaming services to rethink how they compete.

Read more
Netflix is worried people aren’t watching enough so its next move could change the app forever
Netflix's next big update could look a lot more like cable TV
Netflix on TV couple watching

Netflix has spent years telling the entertainment industry that binge-worthy originals and a simple user experience were enough to stay ahead. That strategy helped make it the world's biggest streaming service. But according to a Wall Street Journal report, the company is increasingly concerned about a different metric: engagement.

While Netflix continues to post healthy profits and retains one of the lowest subscriber cancellation rates in the industry, executives are reportedly seeing early signs that people are spending less time watching content. That matters because engagement - not just subscriber numbers - has become one of the biggest indicators of whether customers will stick around, watch ads, and continue paying for the service.

Read more