By Adeniyi Precious 
Get ready for a big showdown! The No. 5 Texas Longhorns are hosting the No. 18 Alabama Crimson Tide tonight (Thursday, Jan. 9) at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Both teams are 15-1 this season and undefeated in SEC play so far. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. EST, and you can stream it live on ESPN+ through SEC Network+.
How to Watch
Time: 8 p.m. EST
Streaming: ESPN+ ($11.99/month or $16.99/month with Hulu and Disney+ bundle)
Free options: Check out FuboTV (free trial + $30 off first month) or DirecTV Stream (also offers a free trial).
What’s at Stake?
The Crimson Tide are crushing it this season with just one loss to No. 24 California. Meanwhile, Texas’ only hiccup was against powerhouse No. 3 Notre Dame. Both teams are riding high and ready to prove themselves in this top-25 clash.
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Streaming Services Breakdown
ESPN+: A sports lover’s dream! Beyond basketball, you’ll get exclusive access to college football, NHL, soccer, UFC, and even ESPN’s original series.
FuboTV: Offers 200+ channels of sports and entertainment. Free trial + $30 off for new users.
DirecTV Stream: Like DirecTV, but streamed. Comes with three free months of premium channels like MAX and Showtime.
SlingTV: Budget-friendly with no long-term contracts. Starts at $20/month for the first month, with options to add sports packages.
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Quick Hits Around the College Hoops World
Big Ten & SEC Battle for Dominance: Both conferences have seven teams in the AP Top 25, with Texas (No. 5) and Oklahoma (No. 10) making the SEC even stronger.
Alabama’s Hot Start: The Crimson Tide are off to their best SEC start since 2003-04. They’ll look to keep the momentum going against Texas.
Games to Watch:
No. 4 USC vs. No. 8 Maryland on Wednesday
No. 14 Duke vs. No. 19 North Carolina on Thursday
No. 5 Texas vs. No. 2 South Carolina on Sunday
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Don’t miss this action-packed week of college basketball!
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