You can watch UMBC vs Howard on truTV, with several legal streaming options that carry the channel live.

Where to watch UMBC vs Howard

  • TV channel: truTV (national broadcast in the U.S.).
  • Tipoff time: 6:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
  • Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio.

Streaming options (legal services)

  • DIRECTV (streaming):
    • Carries truTV and is explicitly listed as a way to watch UMBC vs Howard live.
* Offers a free trial, which can let you watch the game at no extra cost if you’re a new user.
  • Sling TV:
    • Also listed as a live streaming option for UMBC vs Howard, with truTV included on eligible packages.
* Typically does **not** offer a free trial, and is currently around mid‑$40 per month according to recent write‑ups.
  • NCAA March Madness Live app/site:
    • The game is available through the official March Madness Live experience (UMBC vs Howard game page is listed there).
* Often requires authentication with a participating TV provider, but is an official way to stream.

Quick HTML table of options

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Option</th>
      <th>How to watch UMBC vs Howard</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>truTV (cable/satellite)</td>
      <td>Tune in at 6:40 p.m. ET on truTV. [web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>Standard TV channel carrying the First Four game. [web:1][web:3]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>DIRECTV (streaming)</td>
      <td>Sign up and stream truTV live; UMBC vs Howard is specifically promoted. [web:1][web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>Free trial available for new users, covers all March Madness channels. [web:1][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Sling TV</td>
      <td>Subscribe to a package with truTV to stream the game. [web:3][web:5]</td>
      <td>No free trial; monthly fee applies. [web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>March Madness Live</td>
      <td>Use NCAA’s March Madness Live app/site and select the UMBC vs Howard game. [web:6]</td>
      <td>Usually requires login with a TV provider. [web:6]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Mini “forum-style” scoop

“If you’ve got regular cable, just flip to truTV at 6:40 p.m. ET and you’re set. If you cut the cord, a free trial of DIRECTV is probably the easiest way to stream UMBC vs Howard legally, since it includes truTV and the other March Madness channels. Sling works too if you already have it, but it doesn’t usually give you a free trial.”

UMBC vs Howard is one of the First Four games that kicks off March Madness, so the same services that carry the rest of the tournament (truTV, CBS, TBS, TNT via live TV streamers) will have this matchup too.

TL;DR: Tune into truTV at 6:40 p.m. ET or stream via DIRECTV (free trial) , Sling TV , or the March Madness Live app/site to watch UMBC vs Howard.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.