Detailed Review
B1G+ serves as the official streaming platform for Big Ten Conference athletics, offering subscribers access to over 2,700 annual sporting events that are not broadcast on national television. The app occupies a specialized niche in the sports streaming market, focusing exclusively on conference content while deferring premium football and nationally televised events to partner networks like Fox Sports.
The core functionality centers around live streaming of conference sports including volleyball, basketball, wrestling, softball, and baseball, complemented by next-day replays and original Big Ten Network programming. The service operates without requiring traditional cable or TV provider authentication, utilizing a direct subscription model. Streaming quality adapts to available bandwidth, with options for managing data usage during mobile viewing.
User experience varies significantly across devices, with the iOS version featuring a clean interface that organizes content by sport, team, and schedule. Navigation proves intuitive for finding specific games or browsing upcoming events, though video playback occasionally suffers from buffering during peak viewing times. The absence of live football remains a notable interface consideration, with clear signposting directing users to Fox platforms for those events.
User feedback reflects mixed reception, with the 2.59/5 rating indicating substantial dissatisfaction primarily regarding the paywall structure. Luke Fortner's January 2025 review typifies this sentiment, repeatedly stating 'I don't like that you have to pay for the big 10+. I wish it was free.' This pricing criticism appears consistently across recent evaluations, though some users acknowledge the value of accessing otherwise unavailable content.
The platform's primary strength lies in its comprehensive coverage of non-premium Big Ten sports, providing unprecedented access to games that traditionally received limited broadcast attention. However, the subscription cost relative to content limitations—particularly the exclusion of football—creates value perception challenges. The service best serves die-hard conference fans who follow multiple sports beyond football and seek deeper team coverage throughout entire seasons.
Perfect for: Dedicated Big Ten Conference fans following multiple sports beyond football