I liked when the games were free, even if the production quality was not very good. I found out today that UC Davis is requiring viewers to register with a service that requires payment. I think I'll do a survey of BW and San DIego area teams in the next few days to see who is still free.
I refuse to pay for BTN+ to watch the Hoosiers. I just had to switch from ESPN+ to Paramount+ to get the Milan games. Thankfully, P+ includes CONCACAF qualifiers and Champions League. I'll be watching a lot less college soccer this season without ESPN+ though.
I've had a love-hate relationship with BTN+ for years. I justify limited timeframe BTN+ subscriptions by thinking about the cost to attend a single game - usually about $10 or so. That's the monthly cost of an IU-specific BTN+ subscription. I know there are away games I won't be able to attend, so I bite the bullet and sub.
Strangely, only through BigSoccer. I keep inviting stphnsn down for a tailgate (and the tailgate last night was the highlight of the otherwise bleak evening)!
Good video and audio, knowledgeable announcer (sounds like a student). Single camera, no replay, but bug on the progress bar can be moved back to make your own.
UC Irvine at LMU -- Free after a couple of commercials. Video looks bandwidth-limited (blotchy colors and discontinuous glitches; audio is good with fair commentator. Replays after significant plays and a little highlights collection at halftime.
Creighton used to produce home games in-house and stream them for free, and the quality was good. Now, the Big East bundles all the schools' in-house productions and sells them through Flosports, which is expensive. Hence, fewer people watching Big East soccer.
And I always tell myself "next time," but life's complications always seem to get in the way. At this point I'll be lucky if I make it down for a game at all this season.
USD home games are free streaming, after a too-long commercial about WCC. UC Irvine games require ESPN+ subscription.
On the other hand -- Pitt at Penn State is live now on FS1. Not exactly free, but included in my (too-expensive) cable package,
So I watched the UC Davis at USD game (all but the first few minutes. Davis won 3-0. I then read the writeups on both schools websites -- https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2021/9/12/mens-soccer-aggies-shutout-toreros-for-first-victory.aspx https://usdtoreros.com/news/2021/9/12/mens-soccer-toreros-defeated-by-uc-davis.aspx Apparently written by people not at the game. A few more details -- Davis' first goal came after a left-side corner led to some kicking the ball around, then a long shot from outside the left of the PA. The second goal was a long pass to a header. The last was a ball brought up the right side, passed to a shooter in front whose shot was blocked but not controlled, and he put in the rebound.
Cal Poly home games require a subscription to sidearm sports, which is free until at least next June.
I have been watching some of the UCSB home games this season, but now that it is Big West Tournament time, an ESPN+ subscription is required.
I was hoping that since UCSB and Cal Poly did not require an ESPN+ account to view their home games that they would continue the practice into the conference playoffs. Any idea what will happen in the NCAA tournament?
Conference contracts will drive the events when it comes to postseason. Regular season can be different, as some schools may choose to stream through their own internal capacities, but conferences can also sign deals where it all goes through a media source (like the Horizon League does with ESPN+). NCAA tournament is typically up to the host school isn’t it? Or, it also could be streamed on the NCAA website, which was what several were shown on in previous years. Those were free too.
Last year, IIRC, it was a mix of free, pay and not available. For example, I know some were unavailable to me (PAC12 NCAA) specifically since I don't have the PAC12 Network - though I'd be willing to pay for it if available. Many were on ESPN+ which I have. I believe that almost all the matches were free a few years ago. Hopefully this returns - but I'm not holding my breath. Good luck.
A last note -- the D1 semis and finals are on ESPNU, a channel that requires an additional subscription cost on both of our cable hookups.