Last Updated on October 23, 2023 by Jhonni Jets
How to Watch ESPNU on YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a popular live TV streaming service that offers a wide variety of sports channels, including ESPNU. ESPNU is a cable sports channel owned by ESPN that focuses on college athletics. It features live games, studio shows, documentaries, and more from various college sports.
If you’re a fan of college sports, especially college football, basketball, and other NCAA sports, you’ll want access to ESPNU. Here’s a guide on how to watch ESPNU on YouTube TV.
Table of Content
Overview of YouTube TV
YouTube TV is a subscription-based online service that provides live streaming and on-demand access to TV channels and shows. It offers over 85 channels, including major broadcast networks like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. For sports fans, it has options like ESPN, FS1, NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV and more.
Some key things to know about YouTube TV:
- Requires a monthly subscription fee of $64.99 per month as of 2023. No long-term contracts.
- Allows for up to 6 user accounts per subscription, with unlimited cloud DVR storage.
- Streams in high-definition quality with a 60fps frame rate for most channels.
- Works on many devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs with the YouTube TV app.
- Allows for 3 simultaneous streams at once. Can create user profiles to personalize DVR.
- Offers a 2-week free trial for new members so you can test it out risk-free.
Checking if ESPNU is Available in Your Area
The channel lineups on YouTube TV vary slightly by geographic region. So the first thing you’ll want to do is make sure that ESPNU is actually included with YouTube TV in your local area.
Here are two easy ways to check:
Method 1:
- Go to tv.youtube.com and click on “Live” at the top.
- Scroll down on the left sidebar and look under the Sports section for ESPNU. If you see it listed, then it’s available in your area.
Method 2:
- Go to YouTube TV’s channel lineup page and enter your zip code.
- Search the results for ESPNU. If it displays in the list for your local area, then you’re good to go.
If you don’t see ESPNU listed by either method, try entering some nearby zip codes from surrounding areas. The availability can vary between neighboring towns and regions.
Signing Up for YouTube TV
Once you’ve confirmed that ESPNU is available in your area with YouTube TV, you can proceed to sign up:
- Go to tv.youtube.com and click “Try it Free” to start a free trial or click “Subscribe” to directly purchase a subscription.
- Select your package preferences:
- The base YouTube TV plan ($64.99/month) already includes ESPNU, so no add-ons are needed.
- Add any extra channel packs if desired, like Sports Plus for NFL RedZone.
- Choose options for unlimited DVR, simultaneous streams, etc.
- Enter your Google/Gmail account information or create a new Google account.
- Provide your payment information by entering credit/debit card details.
- Enter your address to confirm your YouTube TV eligibility.
- That’s it! Your YouTube TV membership is now active.
Accessing ESPNU on YouTube TV
Once you’ve signed up, here are the different ways to watch ESPNU using your YouTube TV subscription:
On the YouTube TV Website:
- Go to tv.youtube.com and log in.
- Click “Live” at the top.
- Scroll down the left sidebar and select the ESPNU channel under Sports to start watching live.
YouTube TV App:
- Download and install the YouTube TV app on your device like a smartphone, tablet, streaming device, or smart TV.
- Sign in with your YouTube TV credentials.
- Go to the Live tab and scroll down to find ESPNU under Sports. Select it to tune into the live broadcast.
- You can also search for ESPNU in the app search bar to quickly find it.
Using Google Assistant Voice Commands:
If you have a Google Assistant device like a Google Home speaker, you can change channels with your voice:
- Say “Hey Google, watch ESPNU on YouTube TV.”
- Google Assistant will tune your streaming device or smart TV to the channel.
Using YouTube TV’s Channel Flip Feature:
- While watching ESPN or a related sports channel, you may see a channel flip icon in the stream.
- Select the icon and choose ESPNU from the pop-up list of sports channels to quickly change over.
Key Shows and Programming on ESPNU
Here’s an overview of some of the top shows, games, and original programming you’ll gain access to with ESPNU on YouTube TV:
Live College Sports
- College football games like MACtion on weeknights
- Men’s and women’s college basketball featuring top teams
- College lacrosse, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, and more
Studio Shows & Analysis:
- The Experts with analysis from former players and coaches
- The Huddle showcasing the biggest stories and highlights
- Recruiting updates and coverage of top high school players
- College sports news, rankings, and predictions from analysts
Original Programming & Documentaries:
- College sports All-Access shows going behind the scenes
- 30 for 30 documentaries on famous college sports stories
- ESPN Films covering iconic NCAA moments and figures
- SEC Storied chronicling college football history in the SEC conference
Other Notable Programming:
- Replays of classic college football games and bowl games
- ESPN Classic archival games and moments
- ESPN Radio shows give the latest college sports talk and commentary
Using YouTube TV for College Sports
Beyond just watching ESPNU, a YouTube TV membership provides a ton of value for college sports superfans looking to stream live games and content.
NCAA Football
YouTube TV offers many of the major conference channels airing college football games in fall Saturdays:
- ESPN networks: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network
- Fox Sports: FS1, Big Ten Network
- Stadium network for smaller conferences
- Local channels like ABC, CBS, and NBC for big matchups
NCAA Basketball
For college hoops, you’ll have options like:
- ESPN channels showing top-25 matchups
- FS1 for Big East and Pac-12 games
- TBS, TNT, and TruTV for the NCAA March Madness tournament
- AT&T regional sports networks for local team broadcasts
NCAA Olympic Sports
YouTube TV also airs live events and meets for less publicized college sports:
- College baseball on ESPN channels and conference networks
- Lacrosse, soccer, softball, volleyball, etc. on ESPNU and conference channels
- Local RSNs for college hockey, gymnastics, swimming, and more
ESPN+ Add-On
For additional college games, you can attach the standalone ESPN+ service to your YouTube account for just $9.99/month. ESPN+ provides live streams for hundreds of extra college matchups and events.
Optimizing YouTube TV for College Sports
To get the most out of YouTube TV for watching college athletics, here are some settings and features you can utilize:
- Make sure your streaming quality is set to HD 1080p60fps for best picture.
- Add favorite teams and conferences to personalize recommendations and alerts.
- Set recordings for upcoming games so they are saved to your DVR.
- Hide spoilers on your Home tab so scores aren’t revealed early.
- Utilize MultiView on big games to watch multiple simultaneous live streams.
- Subscribe to the Sports Plus add-on ($10.99/month) for access to NFL RedZone. Useful for following your fantasy team and highlights on Saturdays.
- Use YouTube TV credentials to sign in to ESPN apps for additional content like ESPN3 streams or replays.
Troubleshooting YouTube TV for College Sports
If you run into any issues while trying to watch college games and ESPNU on YouTube TV, here are some troubleshooting tips:
Can’t find a game that should be airing:
- Check for blackout restrictions in your area, especially for conference networks like SEC Network or Big Ten Network. You may need to use location spoofing to bypass the blackout.
- Ensure your billing ZIP code is properly set in your YouTube TV account to match your actual location. This affects channel availability.
Streaming issues like buffering or lag:
- Make sure you meet the recommended internet speeds of at least 15 Mbps for smooth streaming. Test your speeds at speedtest.net.
- Try restarting your streaming device or router if connections seem stuck.
- Adjust video quality in the app settings to a lower resolution if speeds are slow.
- Check for issues with your ISP or peak local usage times that may be congesting networks.
Can’t access ESPN/ESPNU app with YouTube TV login:
- Link your YouTube TV membership to your ESPN account. You can do this online or via the ESPN app.
- Make sure you’re logging in with the same email for both YouTube TV and ESPN.
- Try uninstalling and reinstalling the ESPN app if your login still does not work.
Blacked out on ESPN3 streams:
- Check that your IP address matches your geographic location. If not, you’ll need a VPN to avoid blackout restrictions based on IP location tracing.
- Ensure your billing information still correctly matches your current area.
Alternative Options for Watching ESPNU
If for some reason getting YouTube TV is not feasible, here are a couple of alternative options for accessing ESPNU:
Traditional Cable/Satellite Providers
- Major pay TV providers like DIRECTV, Xfinity, Dish Network, and AT&T TV all include ESPNU in bundle packages. You’d have to contact them for pricing.
Live TV Streaming Services
Options like Hulu + Live TV ($69.99/month), FuboTV ($69.99/month), and Sling TV (starting at $35/month) also carry ESPNU and other college sports channels. Each has free trial periods.
ESPN+ Standalone Subscription
While it doesn’t include ESPNU with its base plan, ESPN+ does provide some college sports live streams and replays for $9.99/month. It could supplement over-the-air ABC/ESPN games.
TV Antennas
You may be able to access some nationally televised ESPNU games over the air on ABC with a digital HDTV antenna if available in your area.
Pay-Per-View College Sports Packages
Some college athletic departments offer individual live-streaming access to their team’s games on a pay-per-view basis.
Conclusion
YouTube TV makes it easy for college sports fans to gain affordable access to must-have channels like ESPNU to catch all the NCAA action. After confirming ESPNU is offered in your area with YouTube TV, simply sign up for a membership. You can then start streaming live games and original shows from ESPNU across your devices.
Take advantage of YouTube TV’s cloud DVR, multiple streams, and add-ons to optimize your experience. While a cable subscription or antenna remains an option for ESPNU access, YouTube TV delivers the most seamless modern streaming package for cord-cutters looking to watch college athletics.