ESPN-YouTube TV saga: How fans can still watch Tennessee’s season-opener vs. Mercer
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The ongoing carriage dispute between YouTube TV and ESPN has left millions of sports fans across the country without access to numerous high-profile sporting events for the foreseeable future.
This include the season opener for the Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball team, who are slated to tip things off at 7 p.m. ET tonight against the Mercer Bears on SEC Network+. Given the current state of the ongoing dispute between ESPN and YouTube TV, Volunteer fans will have to find another way to stream their favorite team’s season opener.
How to watch Tennessee vs. Mercer
Fans may not be able to stream Tennessee vs. Mercer on YouTube TV, but SlingTV has provided a solution for those who wish to get their college hoops fill. SlingTV offers access to ESPN channels through its basic package. Customers can also access SEC Network+, which is set to broadcast Monday’s Tennessee game, for an add-on subscription fee.
- Tip off time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
- TV: SEC Network+ (via SlingTV)
Additionally, FuboTV could be a viable alternative for fans who are looking to move on from YouTube TV. Fubo is currently offering a free trial to new users.
Tennessee vs. Mercer betting odds
The Volunteers are massive betting favorites in this matchup against the Bears, entering the season as the No. 18 team in the country and coming off an Elite 8 appearance last March. Mercer, on the other hand, is coming off a 14-19 campaign, and haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2014.
Here’s a look at the latest betting odds for this game:
Interested in betting on this game? Here’s a full breakdown of all the best Tennessee betting apps you can choose from in 2025!
Tennessee vs. Mercer history
Despite the massive gap in program success between these 2 squads, Mercer has actually fared very well against Tennessee all time, with the series record currently standing at 4-4. The last meeting in the series came back in 2017, where Vols handed the Bears an 84-60 beatdown in Knoxville.
