Getty Images Keve Aluma of the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Virginia Tech looks to make a strong statement in its opener as Maine comes to town for a matchup on Tuesday at Cassell Coliseum.
The game (8 p.m. ET start time) isn’t on regular TV, but it will stream live on both ACC Network Extra (this can be watched on the ESPN app or website if you have a cable package or streaming service that includes ACC Network) and ESPN+.
Here’s a more in-depth rundown of all the different ways you can watch Maine vs Virginia Tech:
Note: Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
ESPN+
Most games that are on ACC Network Extra (which is different from the regular ACC Network TV channel) are also available on ESPN+, including this one:
ESPN+ will have exclusive coverage of 2,000+ college basketball games during the 2021-22 season. It also includes dozens of other live sports, every 30-for-30 documentary and additional original content (both video and written) all for $6.99 for a month or $69.99 for a year.
Or, if you also want Disney+ and Hulu, you can get all three for $13.99 per month. Separately, the three streaming services would cost a total $20.97 per month, so you’re saving about 33 percent:
Get the ESPN+, Disney+ and Hulu Bundle
Once signed up for ESPN+, you can watch Maine vs Virginia Tech live on the ESPN app on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 or 5, Xbox One or Series X/S, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), Samsung Smart TV, Oculus Go, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet.
You can also watch on your computer via ESPN.com.
FuboTV
You can watch ACC Network Extra with a subscription to FuboTV. You’ll need the Sports Plus add-on, but you can include the main channel package and any add-ons with your free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch Maine vs Virginia Tech live on the ESPN app (not the FuboTV app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Fubo credentials to do that.
Vidgo
You can watch ACC Network Extra with a subscription to Vidgo. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but you can get your first month for just $10:
Once signed up for Vidgo, you can watch Maine vs Virginia Tech live on the ESPN app (not the Vidgo app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Vidgo credentials to do that.
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of ACC Network Extra with a subscription to Sling TV — you’ll need the “Sling Orange + Sports Extra” bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with ACC Network Extra, and you can get your first month for just $21:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch Maine vs Virginia Tech live on the ESPN app (not the Sling TV app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Sling credentials to do that.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV) has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” You’ll need “Choice” or above to watch ACC Network Extra, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free 14-day trial.
Note that the free trial isn’t advertised as such, but your “due today” amount will be $0 when signing up. If you watch on your computer, phone or tablet, you won’t be charged for 14 days. If you watch on a streaming device on your TV (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, etc.), you will be charged for the first month, but you can get still get a full refund if you cancel before 14 days:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch Maine vs Virginia Tech live on the ESPN app (not the DirecTV Stream app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your DirecTV Stream credentials (may still be listed as AT&T on the list of cable providers) to do that.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of ACC Network Extra with a subscription to Hulu With Live TV, which comes with a free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch Maine vs Virginia Tech live on the ESPN app (not the Hulu app), which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, PlayStation 4 or 5, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), various smart TVs, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the ESPN website.
You’ll be asked to sign in to a cable provider to watch this way, but you can use your Hulu credentials to do that.
Maine vs Virginia Tech Preview
Virginia Tech made some big strides under Mike Young last year, going 15-7 overall and 9-4 in the ACC. The Hokies made the NCAA Tournament but were upended in the first round by Florida.
Experience will be key for the Hokies, who are starting a trio of fifth-year seniors in center Keve Aluma, power forward Justyn Mutts and point guard Storm Murphy.
“With Keve, Justyn and Storm, it’s been really good to have them as our leaders because they just have that mindset of this year is the winning year,” junior guard Nahiem Alleyne said. “We’ve got all the pieces this year to get things rolling and try to win the ACC, try to win the natty [national championship].”
Murphy — who averaged 17.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists at Wofford last season — echoed that sentiment.
“We all have the belief and confidence that we can win a whole lot of games this year.”
Young expects to be a deep team will rely on his most talented players to get the job done when need be.
“[Are there] going to be nights that Mutts and Aluma and those starters are playing 32, 33, 34 minutes a night? Maybe. Maybe. I hope not,” Young said. “I don’t like playing that way.
“I need the [nonconference] season to get John Ojiako more minutes, Sean Pedulla more minutes, others more minutes in hopes that when conference play rolls around, we have the ability to play nine, hopefully 10 [guys]. Time will tell.”
It’s just a second time Maine and Virginia Tech are meeting up, with the Hokies winning the only previous game. The Black Bears have not had a winning season in over a decade.
The Black Bear to watch will be Stephane Ingo, a 6-foot-9 junior forward from Canada.
“We want to look for good players wherever we can find them,” coach Richard Barron said. “I don’t know if we’ll just look in the portal or be exclusively looking to recruit a region, but I do think there are going to be programs that are going to be changing their recruiting philosophies because of this.”
The Hokies are a 26-point favorite for the matchup.