How to watch California Golden Bears
Every California Golden Bears game in 2026 and the cheapest legal way to stream them. 7 of 12 games have a TV network so far (ACCN, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2). School page: University of California, Berkeley.
Cheapest single package
YouTube TV Sports Plan: $64.99/mo, $324.95 for 5 months [MD10] [MD11] [MD12] [MD47]. Keep it all five billing windows (Aug. 29 - Jan. 28).
2026 schedule and networks
| Date | Kickoff | Opponent | TV | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Sep 5 played | 10:30 PM ET | vs UCLA Bruins | ESPN | ESPN |
| Sat Sep 12 played | 3:30 PM ET | at Syracuse Orange conf. | ACCN | ESPN |
| Sat Sep 19 played | 3:30 PM ET | vs Wagner Seahawks | ACCN | ESPN |
| Fri Sep 25 played | 10:30 PM ET | vs Clemson Tigers conf. | ESPN | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 3 played | 3:30 PM ET | at UNLV Rebels | CBSSN | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 10 played | 3:30 PM ET | vs Virginia Tech Hokies conf. | ACCN | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 17 | 10:30 PM ET | vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons conf. | ESPN2 | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 24 | TBD | at SMU Mustangs conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
| Sat Oct 31 | TBD | at NC State Wolfpack conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 14 | TBD | at Virginia Cavaliers conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 21 | TBD | vs Stanford Cardinal conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
| Sat Nov 28 | TBD | vs Pittsburgh Panthers conf. | TBD worst case: ABC / ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU / ACCN / ACCNX / CW | ESPN |
5 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 (Sling day passes only for games through Oct. 1; discontinued Oct. 2)
| Billing window | Games | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29 - Sep 28 | 4 | Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 5 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 12 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 19 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Fri Sep 25 ($4.99) [MD46] [MD15] [MD16] | $21.96 |
| Sep 29 - Oct 28 | 4 | YouTube TV Sports Plan [MD10] [MD11] [MD12] [MD47] | $64.99 |
| Oct 29 - Nov 28 | 4 | ESPN Unlimited [MD1] [MD3] [MD43] [MD20] [MD21] | $31.99 |
| Nov 29 - Dec 28 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Dec 29 - Jan 28, 2027 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Total | $118.94 |
Variants (full season): without day passes $128.97; without an antenna $118.94. 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. 12, 2026 (rest of the regular season)
| Billing window | Games | Buy | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12 - Oct 31 | 3 | ESPN Unlimited [MD1] [MD3] [MD43] [MD20] [MD21] | $31.99 |
| Nov 1 - Nov 30 | 3 | ESPN Unlimited [MD1] [MD3] [MD43] [MD20] [MD21] | $31.99 |
| Dec 1 - Dec 31 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Jan 1, 2027 - Jan 31, 2027 | 0 | nothing (no games) | $0.00 |
| Total | $63.98 |
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 Sat Sep 5 ($4.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 12 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Sat Sep 19 ($5.99), Sling Orange day pass Fri Sep 25 ($4.99) [MD46] [MD15] [MD16] | $21.96 |
| Sep 29 - Oct 28 | 4 | YouTube TV Sports Plan [MD10] [MD11] [MD12] [MD47] | $64.99 |
| Oct 29 - Nov 28 | 4 | ESPN Unlimited [MD1] [MD3] [MD43] [MD20] [MD21] | $31.99 |
| Nov 29 - Dec 28 | 6 | Sling Orange [MD15] [MD16] | $45.99 |
| Dec 29 - Jan 28, 2027 | 8 | Sling Orange [MD15] [MD16] | $45.99 |
| Total | $210.92 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV Sports Plan | 21 days for $0 shown on Sports Plan page [MD11]; new users $54.99/mo first 12 months [MD10] | — |
| ESPN Unlimited | — | No ESPN student price found. Disney+/Hulu student bundle $6.49/mo does not include ESPN Unlimited [MD37] |
| Sling Orange | Day/3-day/7-day passes discontinued Oct 2, 2026 [MD46][MD15]; 50% off first month (affiliate claim, not re-verified) [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.