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How to watch today's Illinois vs. UConn men's NCAA March Madness Elite 8 game: Livestream options, more

By Meredith Gordon

Edited By Fox Van Allen

March 30, 2024 / 3:22 AM EDT / Essentials

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

Hassan Diarra #10 of the Connecticut Huskies reacts during the second half of the game against the Stetson Hatters during the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 22, 2024 in New York City. Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Welcome to the Elite 8. The Illinois Fighting Illini face the UConn Huskies today for a showdown that will test each team. Illinois plays for the Final Four for the first time in 19 years, while UConn advances to the Elite 8 for the second consecutive season. San Diego State couldn't keep it close during their Sweet 16 showdown against the Huskies. UConn has all but strutted through the tournament, but Illinois is on a mission making this one of the most exciting showdowns of the 2024 Elite 8.

Keep reading below for how and when to watch or stream today's game, even if you don't have cable.

Watch today's game on SlingTV

CBS Essentials, CBS and Paramount+ are all subsidiaries of Paramount. CBS is one of the broadcast homes of the 2024 men's March Madness tournament.

When is March Madness 2024?

The 2024 NCAA men's college basketball tournament is being played from March 19, 2024 through April 8, 2024.

How to watch Illinois vs. UConn March Madness Elite 8 game

The Illinois vs. UConn men's college basketball NCAA March Madness Elite 8 game will be played on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 6:09 p.m. ET (3:09 p.m. PT). The game will broadcast live on TBS and TruTV and stream on the platforms featured below.

How to watch the Illinois vs. UConn game without cable

If you've given up your cable subscription, or your cable provider doesn't include the channels carrying March Madness this year, you can subscribe to one of the streaming or live TV platforms featured below.

Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle: The one way to stream every March Madness game

You can watch March Madness 2024, including both the men's and women's tournaments, with the Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle. The bundle features 95 channels, including CBS, ESPN, TNT, TBS, ABC and TruTV, and includes the ESPN+ streaming service, so you'll be able to watch every game of both tournaments. The women's Final Four will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every March Madness game on every network this season with Hulu + Live TV/ESPN+ bundle.

Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+. It's priced at $77 per month.

$77 per month at Hulu

Sling TV: The most cost-effective way to stream March Madness 2024

If you don't have cable TV that includes TBS and TruTV one of the most cost-effective ways to stream the March Madness tournament this year is through a subscription to Sling TV. The streamer offers access to your local network affiliate's live feed (excluding CBS) and also includes the NFL Network and ESPN with its Orange + Blue tier plan. Also worth noting: Sling TV comes with 50 hours of cloud-based DVR recording space included, perfect for recording all the season's top NFL matchups.

You can watch today's game with Sling TV Orange. Sling TV is currently offering a prepaid deal where you can get four months of the Orange tier for $120, a discount of $40. The Orange tier is also available for $40 per month -- you can cancel anytime. To watch both men's and women's games, except those airing on CBS, you'll want to subscribe to the Orange + Blue tier for $60 per month.

Note: Because some men's March Madness 2024 will be broadcast on CBS, you won't be able to watch all the men's March Madness 2024 games with a Sling TV subscription. If you're looking to stream the entire men's tournament, we suggest a subscription to Hulu + Live TV.

Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue tier:

There are 46 channels to watch in total, including ESPN, TNT, TBS and ABC. (where available).
You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games next season at the lowest price.
All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.

$60 per month at Sling TV

Men's NCAA tournament full schedule

If you're looking for more March Madness Sweet 16 games, and looking ahead to the national championship game, below are the winners, losers and upcoming schedule for the men's tournament. All times Eastern.

March Madness 2024: Elite 8 games schedule

The Elite 8 games will be played from Saturday, March 30, 2024 through Sunday, March 31, 2024.

Saturday March 30 (Elite 8)

(1) UConn vs. (3) Illinois | 6:09 p.m. | TBS/truTV
(4) Alabama vs. (6) Clemson | 8:49 p.m. | TBS/truTV

Sunday, March 31 (Elite 8)

(2) Tennessee vs. (1) Purdue | 2:20 p.m. | CBS
(11) NC State vs. (4) Duke | 5:05 p.m. | CBS

March Madness 2024: Final Four games schedule

The Final Four will be played on Saturday, April 6, 2024. The games will be played at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, AZ.

March Madness 2024: NCAA Tournament Championship Game

The NCAA Tournament Championship Game will be played on Monday, April 8, 2024. The game will be played at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, AZ at 9:20 p.m. ET. The game will air on TBS.

Completed March Madness rounds: Dates and scores

The First Four games were played from March 19 through March 20, 2024. All games were played at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, OH.

First Four winners: March 19, 2024

Below are the men's First Four matchups and scores for Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

Tuesday, March 19 (First Four)

(16) Wagner vs. (16) Howard (Wagner, 71-68)
(10) Colorado State vs. (10) Virginia (Colorado State, 67-42)

First Four winners: March 20, 2024

Below are the men's First Four matchups and scores for Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

Wednesday, March 20 (First Four)

(16) Grambling vs. (16) Montana State (Grambling, 88-81)
(10) Colorado vs. (10) Boise State (Colorado, 60-53)

March Madness 2024: First round

The NCAA March Madness Round of 64 began on Thursday, March 21, 2024 with the Mississippi State vs. Michigan State game and ended on Friday, March 22, 2024.

March Madness first round: Thursday, March 21 game times and network

Below are the March Madness first-round matchups, winners, scores and networks that aired each men's March Madness game on Thursday, March 21, 2024. All times Eastern.

(8) Mississippi State vs. (9) Michigan State | 12:15 p.m. | CBS (Michigan, 69-51)
(6) BYU vs. (11) Duquesne | 12:40 p.m. | truTV (Duquense, 71-67)
(3) Creighton vs. (14) Akron | 1:30 p.m. | TNT (Creighton 77-60)
(2) Arizona vs. (15) Long Beach State | 2 p.m. | TBS (Arizona, 85-65)
(1) North Carolina vs. (16) Wagner | 2:45 p.m. | CBS (North Carolina, 90-62)
(3) Illinois vs. (14) Morehead State | 3:10 p.m. | truTV (Illinois, 85-69)
(6) South Carolina vs. (11) Oregon | 4 p.m. | TNT (Oregon, 87-73)
(7) Dayton vs. (10) Nevada | 4:30 p.m. | TBS (Dayton, 63-60)
(7) Texas vs. (10) Colorado State | 6:50 p.m. | TNT (Texas, 56-44)
(3) Kentucky vs. (14) Oakland | 7:10 p.m. | CBS (Oakland, 80-76)
(5) Gonzaga vs. (12) McNeese | 7:25 p.m. | TBS (Gonzaga, 86-65)
(2) Iowa State vs. (15) South Dakota State | 7:35 p.m. | truTV (Iowa State, 82-65)
(2) Tennessee vs. (15) Saint Peter's | 9:20 p.m. | TNT (Tennessee, 83-49)
(6) Texas Tech vs. (11) NC State | 9:40 p.m. | CBS (NC State, 80-67)
(4) Kansas vs. (13) Samford | 9:55 p.m. | TBS (Kansas, 93-89)
(7) Washington State vs. (10) Drake | 10:05 p.m. | truTV (Washington State, 66-61)

March Madness first round: Friday, March 22 game times and network

Below are the game times, matchups, scores and networks that aired each first-round men's March Madness game on Friday, March 22, 2024. All times Eastern.

(8) Florida Atlantic vs. (9) Northwestern | 12:15 p.m. | CBS (Northwestern, 77-65)
(3) Baylor vs. (14) Colgate | 12:40 p.m. | truTV (Baylor, 92-67)
(5) San Diego State vs. (12) UAB | 1:45 p.m. | TNT (San Diego State, 69-65)
(2) Marquette vs. (15) Western Kentucky | 2 p.m. | TBS (Marquette, 87-69)
(1) UConn vs. (16) Stetson | 2:45 p.m. | CBS (UConn, 91-52)
(6) Clemson vs. (11) New Mexico | 3:10 p.m. | truTV (Clemson, 77-56)
(4) Auburn vs. (13) Yale | 4:15 p.m. | TNT (Yale, 78-76)
(7) Florida vs. (10) Colorado | 4:30 p.m. | TBS (Colorado, 102, 100)
(8) Nebraska vs. (9) Texas A&M | 6:50 p.m. | TNT (Texas, 98-83)
(4) Duke vs. (13) Vermont | 7:10 p.m. | CBS (Duke, 64-47)
(1) Purdue vs. (16) Grambling/Montana State | 7:25 p.m. | TBS (Purdue, 78-50)
(4) Alabama vs. (13) College of Charleston | 7:35 pm. | truTV (Alabama, 109-96)
(1) Houston vs. (16) Longwood | 9:20 p.m. | TNT (Houston, 86-46)
(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) James Madison | 9:40 p.m. | CBS (James Madison, 72-61)
(8) Utah State vs. (9) TCU | 9:55 p.m. | TBS (Utah State, 88-72)
(5) Saint Mary's vs. (12) Grand Canyon | 10:05 p.m. | truTV (Grand Canyon, 75-66)