How to watch Louisville Cardinals
Every Louisville Cardinals game in 2026 and the cheapest legal way to stream them. 6 of 12 games have a TV network so far (ABC, ACCN, ESPN, ESPN2). School page: University of Louisville.
Cheapest single package
ESPN Unlimited: $31.99/mo, $159.95 for 5 months [MD1] [MD3] [MD43] [MD20] [MD21]. Keep it all five billing windows (Aug. 29 - Jan. 28).
2026 schedule and networks
| Date | Kickoff | Opponent | TV | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Sep 6 played | 7:30 PM ET | vs (neutral) Ole Miss Rebels | ABC | ESPN |
| Fri Sep 11 played | 7:00 PM ET | vs Villanova Wildcats | ACCN | ESPN |
| Sat Sep 19 played | 3:30 PM ET | vs SMU Mustangs conf. | ESPN2 | ESPN |
| Sat Sep 26 played | 12:00 PM ET | vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons conf. | ESPN | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 3 | 3:30 PM ET | at NC State Wolfpack conf. | ACCN | ESPN |
| Fri Oct 9 | 7:00 PM ET | vs Florida State Seminoles conf. | ESPN | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 17 | TBD | at Syracuse Orange conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 31 | TBD | vs Stanford Cardinal conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 7 | TBD | at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 14 | TBD | at North Carolina Tar Heels conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 21 | TBD | vs Pittsburgh Panthers conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 28 | TBD | at Kentucky Wildcats | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / SECN / SECN+ | ESPN |
6 of 12 games have no TV network yet. They are priced worst case: you must be able to watch every network in the host conference's TV pool (shown in the schedule). Networks usually announce 6-12 days ahead, so in practice you can often buy less. Pools [SP1] [M-S57] [SP8] [SP9] [SP10] [SP2] [MD20] [MD22] [MD24].
Cheapest month by month
Regular season, full season (with day passes)
| Billing window | Games | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29 - Sep 28 | 4 | Sling Orange day pass Fri Sep 11 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 19 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 26 ($4.99) [MD16] [MD15] | $15.97 |
| Sep 29 - Oct 28 | 3 | Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 3 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Fri Oct 9 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 17 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] | $16.97 |
| Oct 29 - Nov 28 | 5 | Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 31 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 7 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 14 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 21 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 28 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] | $29.95 |
| Nov 29 - Dec 28 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Dec 29 - Jan 28, 2027 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Total | $62.89 |
Variants (full season): without day passes $95.97; without an antenna $95.97. Month-by-month assumes you subscribe and cancel each billing window with perfect timing. A free antenna is assumed for ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC/CW (antenna price not researched).
Starting Oct. 1, 2026 (rest of the regular season)
| Billing window | Games | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 - Oct 31 | 4 | Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 3 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Fri Oct 9 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 17 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 31 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] | $22.96 |
| Nov 1 - Nov 30 | 4 | Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 7 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 14 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 21 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 28 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] | $23.96 |
| Dec 1 - Dec 31 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Jan 1, 2027 - Jan 31, 2027 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Total | $46.92 |
Worst case including a conference title game and bowl/CFP run
| Billing window | Games | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29 - Sep 28 | 4 | Sling Orange day pass Fri Sep 11 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 19 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 26 ($4.99) [MD16] [MD15] | $15.97 |
| Sep 29 - Oct 28 | 3 | Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 3 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Fri Oct 9 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 17 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] | $16.97 |
| Oct 29 - Nov 28 | 5 | Sling Orange day pass Sat Oct 31 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 7 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 14 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 21 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Nov 28 ($5.99) [MD16] [MD15] | $29.95 |
| Nov 29 - Dec 28 | 6 | ESPN Unlimited + Sling Orange day pass Sat Dec 19 ($4.99) [MD16] [MD15] [MD1] [MD3] [MD43] [MD20] [MD21] | $36.98 |
| Dec 29 - Jan 28, 2027 | 8 | Sling Orange [MD15] [MD16] | $45.99 |
| Total | $145.86 |
Postseason worst case = conference title game + every CFP network (ABC/ESPN and TNT) + ESPN-family bowls [MD22] [MD24]. Holiday Bowl network TBD, not modeled.
Free trials and student discounts
Shown separately and not used in the cost math above. Offers change often; check before buying.
| Service | Free trial / promo | Student discount |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN Unlimited | — | No ESPN student price found. Disney+/Hulu student bundle $6.49/mo does not include ESPN Unlimited [MD37] |
| Sling Orange | Day passes: 1-day $4.99, 3-day $9.99, 7-day $14.99 (+$1/$2/$3 Sports Extra) [MD16]; 50% off first month (affiliate claim) [MD16] | — |
| HBO Max Standard | — | HBO Max student $5.49/mo applies to Basic with Ads only, which excludes live sports [MD38][MD8] |
Prices: all services and sources. Conference: ACC watch guide.