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How to Watch Wisconsin Football Without Cable

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Wisconsin Badgers football fans can stream all of their games online. Read on to get all the details!

In a hurry? If you just want to start watching the Badgers, these streaming services provide the channels you need:

  • Fubo: The best streaming service for international sports also provides 150+ well-selected channels. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
  • DIRECTV STREAM: Get a great channel lineup with the best selection of RSNs in the industry. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
  • Sling TV: This low-cost service allows you to select just the channel lineup you want. Save 50% on Sling TV now.

If you can’t watch your favorite sports because of your location, get ExpressVPN to access the content you deserve.

In a hurry? Unfortunately, we don’t know a streaming service in that offers this TV channel/sport. But if you’ve already paid for the right service, and just can’t watch because of your location, there is an easy way to get the sports, movies, and TV you deserve. You need a VPN, like one of the following.

ExpressVPN

1. ExpressVPN: Established VPN provider in 105 countries. Smart DNS, a built-in ad-blocker, and unlimited bandwidth. Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Private Internet Access

3. Private Internet Access: The only no-logs VPN with a location for every US state. Get 82% off + 2 months free.

If you’re overwhelmed and not sure where to begin, you’ll find all the answers in our full VPN guide.

The Badgers are the pride of Wisconsin, but if you live in or are from Wisconsin, of course, you already know that. Perhaps you even start humming, “On, Wisconsin!” the school’s fight song that dates to the Civil War, without realizing it!

Regardless of whether you are a devoted fan looking to watch all of the school’s games or just want to check out its biggest ones, we will show you how you can do so without cable.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Superpower Your Sports Streaming With a VPN

For the sake of privacy, security, and access, you should be using a VPN. They are low-cost and easy to use. We’ve been using them for years and our top pick is ExpressVPN. Other brands worth checking out include Hotspot Shield and CyberGhost.

i Our VPN Buyer’s Guide provides a complete introduction and all you need to know to choose the best VPN for your needs.
Wisconsin Beats UTEP
Image cropped from Wisconsin Beats UTEP by Phil Roeder under CC BY 2.0.

This Week’s Wisconsin Badgers Football Game

  • The 2023 Wisconsin Badgers football season is over.

Wisconsin Channels

All home games and Big Ten away contests are under the same broadcasting umbrella. As a result, possible outlets for the vast majority of Wisconsin games include Fox, FS1, CBS, NBC/Peacock, and the Big Ten Network.

The Badgers’ first game of 2023, against Buffalo on September 2, and their Big Ten opener, at Purdue on September 22, will be shown on FS1. The September 16 matchup with Georgia Southern, which will be played in Madison, will be featured on the Big Ten Network. Meanwhile, in 2022, the Badgers were broadcast on FS1 (two games), the Big Ten Network (four), Fox (two), ABC (one), and ESPN (four).

However, due to changing broadcasting rights, ABC and ESPN are no longer options except for non-conference games that are played away from Madison. For example, Wisconsin’s September 9 contest at Pac-12 opponent Washington State is slated for ABC coverage while the vast majority of bowl games are shown on ESPN.

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Stream Wisconsin Football

To stream all Wisconsin Badgers football games in 2023 and beyond, including any possible postseason contests, make sure to get a streaming service that offers the major broadcast networks as well as FS1, Big Ten Network, and ESPN.

Live TV Streaming Services

Fubo offers access to Fox, NBC, CBS, and ABC while it also provides livestreams for FS1, ESPN, and Big Ten Network. This should allow you to watch all Wisconsin games. It provides 150+ TV channels in its base plan for $79.99/mo — a huge number of those being sports channels including the vast majority of regional sports networks (RSNs). (Fubo Review)

If you want to enjoy extensive coverage of the Badgers with DIRECTV STREAM, get its Entertainment plan ($79.99/mo), which includes Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, ESPN, and FS1. However, an upgrade to its Choice plan is required for Big Ten Network access. This also gets you access to its industry-leading selection of RSNs. (DIRECTV STREAM Review)

Sling Blue offers ABC, Fox, and NBC local affiliates in select markets for $40.00/mo (without ABC) or $45.00/mo (with ABC). The plan also comes with FS1, NFL Network, and roughly 35 other top-quality channels. The Sports Extra add-on is $11/mo and Big Ten Network. If you also want the ESPN channels, you can get Sling Orange & Blue starting at $55.00/mo. (Sling TV Review)

Hulu + Live TV is one of the best options for watching the Badgers play on Saturdays this fall as it offers Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, FS1, ESPN, and the Big Ten Network. Note that an ESPN+ subscription is also included although the Badgers are not often featured on that service. (Hulu Live Review)

Unfortunately, unless you have an antenna, Vidgo is not a good option for Badgers fans as it does not offer access to NBC. However, you can get ABC and Fox (select markets) along with FS1, Big Ten Network, and ESPN through it. You could also combine Vidgo with Paramount+ and Peacock (deal) subscriptions. (Vidgo Review)

YouTube is a solid option for Wisconsin fans as it offers its subscribers access to NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, FS1, ESPN, and the Big Ten Network.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

OTT Streaming Services

Peacock will stream three of the Badgers games this fall. The first of these will be the game with the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 14th.

A Paramount+ (deal) subscription gives you the opportunity to stream any CBS-broadcast Wisconsin contests. None are currently scheduled.

A B1G+ subscription is highly useful for Wisconsin fans who support other Badgers teams beyond the major sports of football and men’s basketball, but it is useless for live UW football games.

Devices for Live Streaming Wisconsin Badgers Football

We live in a streaming world now. Most people own at least three devices they can stream on: a web browser on their computer, a smartphone, and a television. The live TV streaming services support almost all devices in use. These include all of the following:

  • Amazon Fire TV Devices
  • Android TV smart TVs
  • Android Mobile Devices
  • Apple TV Devices
  • Chromecast
  • iOS Mobile Devices
  • Roku Devices
  • Web browsers

Samsung smart TVs are supported by all services except Vidgo. Smart TVs from LG and Vizio and gaming systems from Xbox are supported by Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.

Sling TV supports the Oculus VR system. Hulu supports the Nintendo Switch. And Hulu + Live TV and YouTube support the PlayStation versions 4 and 5.

Our streaming reviews contain complete lists of supported devices. See those for details.

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Hawkeyes Lose to Wisconsin Badgers
Image cropped from Hawkeyes Lose to Badgers by Phil Roeder under CC BY 2.0.

Wisconsin Football

Wisconsin football lore dates to its inaugural 1889 season and includes moments such as the Badgers winning their first Big Ten title in 1896 and claiming back-to-back-to-back conference championships from 2010-12 and the stories that are told about when Heisman Trophy winners Ron Dayne and Alan Ameche played here.

In total, the Badgers have won 14 Big Ten championships while they are still seeking their initial national championship other than one that was awarded by the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1942 (they do not claim it).

As of late, the program has been recording stellar records when times are good, such as a 13-1 mark in 2017, and hovering around the .500 mark when they are not, such as the school’s 7-6 record a year ago. However, the Badgers have been able to stay above .500 every year dating to a 5-7 season in 2001.

This following fact may not exactly be a source of pride as it is frustrating to Badgers fans as well, but it does show Wisconsin’s overall strength as a program. The Badgers have won the most games of any Power Five team in the College Football Playoff era to have never advanced to those playoffs.

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Rivalry With Minnesota

Wisconsin’s biggest rivalry is with Minnesota. Although the Badgers have generally dominated this as of late, going 16-3 in their last 19 meetings, two of those defeats came in their last two meetings, including a 23-16 setback last season.

This is the FBS’s most-played rivalry; their meeting in 2023 will be their 133rd. They enter the campaign with an even rivalry as each team has won this showdown on 62 occasions while there were eight ties that were recorded in the pre-overtime days.

Fourth-Oldest Stadium

Wisconsin’s Camp Randall Stadium, which was built in 1917, is the oldest in the Big Ten and the fourth-oldest across all of the FBS. It has a capacity of 76,118, and home attendances are always at or near that number. Perhaps its best-known tradition is “Jump Around,” during which fans, well, jump around prior to the start of the fourth quarter.

What Does 2023 Hold?

Most prognosticators do predict that Wisconsin will bounce back from last year’s mediocre campaign and be among the Big Ten’s best in 2023. The team’s home game with Ohio State on October 28 will likely do a lot to show whether the Badgers belong in the Big Ten’s elite while Iowa’s visit two weeks before that may ultimately decide the West Division title.

This season will also be head coach Luke Fickell’s first in charge. He had served in the same role with Cincinnati from 2017-22, recording a 57-18 mark with the Bearcats. Between the lines, the player who will likely have the most impact on how well UW does this year is running back Braelon Allen. Many experts believe that he will be the best at his position in college football this season.

2023 Wisconsin Badgers Football Schedule

  • Sat Sep 2 : Buffalo Bulls (FS1)
  • Sat Sep 9 : at Washington State Cougars (ABC)
  • Sat Sep 16 : Georgia Southern Eagles (BTN)
  • Fri Sep 22 : at Purdue Boilermakers (FS1)
  • Sat Oct 7 : Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Peacock)
  • Sat Oct 14 : Iowa Hawkeyes (NBC)
  • Sat Oct 21 TBD: at Illinois Fighting Illini (Fox
  • Sat Oct 28 : Ohio State Buckeyes (NBC)
  • Sat Nov 4 : at Indiana Hoosiers (BTN)
  • Sat Nov 11 TBD: Northwestern Wildcats
  • Sat Nov 18 TBD: Nebraska Cornhuskers (NBC)
  • Sat Nov 25 TBD: at Minnesota Golden Gophers

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Other Wisconsin Sports

Wisconsin fans also come out in high numbers to support other UW sports teams. Its men’s basketball squad, which plays in the 17,287-capacity Kohl Center, is particularly popular. Also playing at the facility are the school’s women’s basketball and men’s ice hockey teams. Meanwhile, its powerhouse women’s ice hockey team plays at 2,273-capacity LaBahn Arena, which was specially built for it.

In fact, ice hockey is quite popular at Wisconsin, and the school has won 13 national championships in that sport, six by the men’s squad and seven by the women’s, including in 2023.

Other NCAA titles of note were claimed by the men’s basketball (1941), men’s soccer (1995), and women’s volleyball (2021) programs.

Unblock Your Favorite Events & Teams With a VPN

If you can’t watch your favorite events or teams because of your location, a VPN will allow you to get the access you are entitled to, plus extra security and unequaled privacy. Check out our VPN Guide for everything you need to know, including our top pick ExpressVPN.

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Summing Up

The Wisconsin Badgers football team is expected to be a force in 2023 and has been ranked in the top 25 in both the AP Poll (19th) and USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll (21st).

Of course, this team enjoys massive support within the Badger State and beyond with many wanting to watch its games without cable regardless of its record or expectations.

Fubo is our top choice for Badgers fans. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

Sign Up for a Free Fubo Trial

Frank Moraes
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