How to Watch Big Ten Network With Sling
If you’re a fan of Oregon, Washington, UCLA, or USC, games on the Big Ten Network may be blacked out on cable. Here’s how to watch the Big Ten Network all season long with Sling.
It’s a glorious era for Big Ten college football. Not only did the conference gain Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington in 2024, but the Big Ten has now won three straight national championships. Michigan and Ohio State were already established powerhouses, but last year’s championship for Indiana (the losingest program in college football) capped one of the greatest turnarounds in the sport’s history.
As the most cutthroat and competitive conference in college football, every week brings a must-see matchup. You can watch the Big Ten Network with a number of different Sling packages in 2026; here’s everything you need to know.
How to watch the Big Ten Network with Sling
Big Ten Network is available on Sling with any of the following subscriptions:
Sling Select (Best Budget Value)
- Base Package: Sling Select ($19.99/month)
- Add-on Pack: Select Sports Extra (+$11/month)
- Total Cost: $30.99/month
- Big Ten Channels Included: Big Ten Network (BTN), FS1, and local FOX/NBC/ABC (in select markets).
- Note: Select Sports Extra also includes NFL RedZone and FS2.
This is the most affordable way to get BTN. It is built specifically for fans who primarily want Fox Sports, NBC, and Big Ten action without paying for general entertainment channels.
Sling Blue (The Standard Option)
- Base Package: Sling Blue ($45.99/month)
- Add-on Pack: Blue Sports Extra (+$11/month)
- Total Cost: $56.99/month
- Big Ten Channels Included: Big Ten Network (BTN), Big Ten Network Alternate, BTN 4K, Big Ten Network Alternate 2, FS1, FS2, and local FOX/NBC/ABC (in select markets).
If you want a wider selection of sports and entertainment channels (like USA Network, TNT, TBS, and NFL Network) alongside your Big Ten coverage, this is the standard option.
Sling Orange & Blue (The "Watch Everything" Option)
- Base Package: Sling Orange + Blue ($60.99/month)
- Add-on Pack: Orange + Blue Sports Extra (+$15/month)
- Total Cost: $75.99/month
- Big Ten Channels Included: Big Ten Network (BTN), Big Ten Network Alternate, BTN 4K, Big Ten Network Alternate 2, FS1, and FS2.
If you are a multi-conference household and want both the Big Ten Network (BTN) and the SEC Network/ACC Network, plus ESPN/ESPN2, you must combine the base packages and get the joint sports add-on. This will also get you top entertainment channels like AMC, HGTV, Food Network and more. If you just want to keep it to top sports channels like ESPN/ESPN2, FS1, and the Sports Extra channels like Big Ten Network and ACC/SCC Network, subscribe to Sling Essentials & Select (starting at $34.99/mo.).
Follow this link for more information on how to watch college football with Sling.
What teams are playing on the Big Ten Network this weekend?
Unlike the NFL, which releases its full 18-week schedule all at once, the college football schedule is largely put together week-to-week. Heading into Week 0, here are the upcoming football matchups on Big Ten Network:
Games on Big Ten Network (BTN)
To watch these games, you will need Sling Select with Sports Extra or Sling Blue with Sports Extra:
- Week 1:
- UMass at Rutgers (Thurs, Sept. 3, 6:00 P.M. ET)
- UAB at Illinois (Thurs, Sept. 3, 9:00 P.M. ET)
- Indiana State at Purdue (Fri, Sept. 4, 7:00 P.M. ET)
- Ball State at Ohio State (Sat, Sept. 5, 12:30 P.M. ET)
- Northern Illinois at Iowa (Sat, Sept. 5, 4:15 P.M. ET)
- Hampton at Maryland (Sat, Sept. 5, 8:00 P.M. ET)
- South Dakota State at Northwestern (Sat, Sept. 5, 8:00 P.M. ET)
- Week 2:
- Howard at Indiana (Sat, Sept. 12, 12:00 P.M. ET)
- Eastern Michigan at Michigan State (Sat, Sept. 12, 3:30 P.M. ET)
- Utah State at Washington (Sat, Sept. 12, 3:30 P.M. ET)
- San Diego State at UCLA (Sat, Sept. 12, 7:15 P.M. ET)
- Western Illinois at Wisconsin (Sat, Sept. 12, 7:15 P.M. ET)
- Louisiana at USC (Sat, Sept. 12, 11:00 P.M. ET)
- Week 3:
- Portland State at Oregon (Fri, Sept. 18, 10:30 P.M. ET)
- Akron at Minnesota (Sat, Sept. 19, 12:00 P.M. ET)
- Buffalo at Penn State (Sat, Sept. 19, 12:00 P.M. ET)
- UTEP at Michigan (Sat, Sept. 19, 3:30 P.M. ET)
- North Dakota at Nebraska (Sat, Sept. 19, 7:15 P.M. ET)
- Eastern Washington at Washington (Sat, Sept. 19, 7:15 P.M. ET)
- Purdue at UCLA (Sat, Sept. 19, 11:00 P.M. ET)
Games on FOX, FS1, NBC, and ABC
To watch these games, you will need Sling Select or Sling Blue. (Note: Local broadcast channels like NBC, FOX, and ABC are available on Sling in select major markets; if they are not offered in your area, you can pull them in for free with an over-the-air HD antenna).
- Week 0:
- San José State at USC (Sat, Aug. 29, 3:00 P.M. ET | NBC)
- Week 1:
- Toledo at Michigan State (Fri, Sept. 4, 8:00 P.M. ET | FS1)
- Fresno State at USC (Fri, Sept. 4, 9:00 P.M. ET | FOX)
- North Texas at Indiana (Sat, Sept. 5, 12:00 P.M. ET | FOX)
- Ohio at Nebraska (Sat, Sept. 5, 12:00 P.M. ET | FS1)
- Marshall at Penn State (Sat, Sept. 5, 3:30 P.M. ET | FS1)
- Western Michigan at Michigan (Sat, Sept. 5, 7:30 P.M. ET | NBC)
- Washington State at Washington (Sun, Sept. 6, 4:00 P.M. ET | NBC)
- Wisconsin at Notre Dame (Sun, Sept. 6, 7:30 P.M. ET | NBC)
- Week 2:
- Oklahoma at Michigan (Sat, Sept. 12, 12:00 P.M. ET | FOX)
- Wake Forest at Purdue (Sat, Sept. 12, 12:00 P.M. ET | FS1)
- Duke at Illinois (Sat, Sept. 12, 3:30 P.M. ET | FS1)
- Bowling Green at Nebraska (Sat, Sept. 12, 7:00 P.M. ET | FS1)
- Iowa State at Iowa (Sat, Sept. 12, 7:30 P.M. ET | NBC)
- Ohio State at Texas (Sat, Sept. 12, 7:30 P.M. ET | ABC)
- Week 3:
- Kent State at Ohio State (Sat, Sept. 19, 12:00 P.M. ET | FOX)
- UNI at Iowa (Sat, Sept. 19, 4:00 P.M. ET | FS1)
- Virginia Tech at Maryland (Sat, Sept. 19, 7:30 P.M. ET | FOX or FS1)
- Michigan State at Notre Dame (Sat, Sept. 19, 7:30 P.M. ET | NBC)
- Colorado at Northwestern (Sat, Sept. 19, 7:30 P.M. ET | FOX or FS1)
Games on ESPN and ESPN2
To watch these games, you will need Sling Essentials or Sling Orange:
- Week 1:
- UCLA at California (Sat, Sept. 5, 10:30 P.M. ET | ESPN)
- Week 2:
- Rutgers at Boston College (Fri, Sept. 11, 7:30 P.M. ET | ESPN2)
- Oregon at Oklahoma State (Sat, Sept. 12, 12:00 P.M. ET | ESPN)
- Penn State at Temple (Sat, Sept. 12, 12:00 P.M. ET | ESPN2)
Big Ten football schedule by week
Week 0
- Saturday, Aug. 29:
- San José State at USC | 3:00 P.M. | TV: NBC
- Sling Package: Sling Select or Sling Blue.
- San José State at USC | 3:00 P.M. | TV: NBC
Week 1
- Thursday, Sept. 3:
- UMass at Rutgers | 6:00 P.M. | TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Sling Package: Sling Select + Sports Extra or Sling Blue + Sports Extra.
- UAB at Illinois | 9:00 P.M. | TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Sling Package: Sling Select + Sports Extra or Sling Blue + Sports Extra.
- UMass at Rutgers | 6:00 P.M. | TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Friday, Sept. 4:
- Indiana State at Purdue | 7:00 P.M. | TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Sling Package: Sling Select + Sports Extra or Sling Blue + Sports Extra.
- Toledo at Michigan State | 8:00 P.M. | TV: FS1
- Sling Package: Sling Select or Sling Blue.
- Fresno State at USC | 9:00 P.M. | TV: FOX
- Sling Package: Sling Select or Sling Blue (FOX is available in select local markets; otherwise, pair with an OTA HD Antenna).
- Indiana State at Purdue | 7:00 P.M. | TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Saturday, Sept. 5:
- North Texas at Indiana | 12:00 P.M. | TV: FOX
- Sling Package: Sling Select or Sling Blue.
- Ohio at Nebraska | 12:00 P.M. | TV: FS1
- Sling Package: Sling Select or Sling Blue.
- Ball State at Ohio State | 12:30 P.M. | TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Sling Package: Sling Select + Sports Extra or Sling Blue + Sports Extra.
- Marshall at Penn State | 3:30 P.M. | TV: FS1
- Sling Package: Sling Select or Sling Blue.
- Northern Illinois at Iowa | 4:15 P.M. | TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Sling Package: Sling Select + Sports Extra or Sling Blue + Sports Extra.
- Western Michigan at Michigan | 7:30 P.M. | TV: NBC
- Sling Package: Sling Select or Sling Blue (NBC is available in select local markets; otherwise, pair with an OTA HD Antenna).
- Hampton at Maryland | 8:00 P.M. | TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Sling Package: Sling Select + Sports Extra or Sling Blue + Sports Extra.
- South Dakota State at Northwestern | 8:00 P.M. | TV: Big Ten Network (BTN)
- Sling Package: Sling Select + Sports Extra or Sling Blue + Sports Extra.
- UCLA at California | 10:30 P.M. | TV: ESPN
- Sling Package: Sling Essentials or Sling Orange.
- North Texas at Indiana | 12:00 P.M. | TV: FOX
- Sunday, Sept. 6:
- Washington State at Washington | 4:00 P.M. | TV: NBC
- Sling Package: Sling Select or Sling Blue (NBC is available in select local markets; otherwise, pair with an OTA HD Antenna).
- Wisconsin at Notre Dame | 7:30 P.M. | TV: NBC
- Sling Package: Sling Select or Sling Blue (NBC is available in select local markets; otherwise, pair with an OTA HD Antenna).
- Washington State at Washington | 4:00 P.M. | TV: NBC
Week 2
- Friday, Sept. 11:
- Rutgers at Boston College | 7:30 P.M. | TV: ESPN2
- Sling Package: Sling Essentials or Sling Orange .
- Rutgers at Boston College | 7:30 P.M. | TV: ESPN2
- Saturday, Sept. 12:
Howard at Indiana | 12:00 P.M. | TV: BTN
What teams are in the Big Ten?
With the addition of the four new schools in 2024, there are now a total of 18 teams that play in the Big Ten:
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Michigan State
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Northwestern
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- Penn State
- Purdue
- Rutgers
- UCLA
- USC
- Washington
- Wisconsin