Sports fans will tell you that there’s one major downside to cutting the cord to watch Super Bowl 2026: lag time. Now, unless you’re literally going to be in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, to watch Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, any streaming service or cable alternative is going to be slightly behind the action. Heck, even over-the-air broadcasts are delayed by a few seconds to avoid … well, wardrobe malfunctions, among other things.
But live TV streaming services are far behind what you get from an over-the-air broadcast, at least according to data from Phenix. If you used Fubo to watch Super Bowl 2025, you were 78 seconds behind the live game. Even last year’s free Tubi livestream of Super Bowl 2025, which was a revelation, was 26 seconds behind the game.
(Image credit: Phenix)
Now, this year, you won’t have to worry about either of those options. Fubo currently doesn’t offer NBC livestreams due to an ongoing contract dispute, and Tubi won’t offer a livestream of Super Bowl 2026. If you want to watch Super Bowl LX on one of the best streaming services, you’re going to need Peacock, which is broadcasting the game in 4K.
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Still, there’s really only one solution to watching the game with the least lag time possible: Buy a TV antenna. Specifically, buy one of our choices for the best TV antennas we’ve tested.
No, you won’t get features like multiview and catching up with key plays with an antenna, but you will be able to stream channels over the air for free, even in 4K. That includes NBC’s broadcast of Seahawks vs. Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Malcolm McMillan
Streaming Editor
Malcolm has been with Tom’s Guide since 2022, and as a Niners fan, will be rooting for the Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show instead of choosing to cheer for the Seahawks.
If you’re looking for the best we’ve ever tested, you’ll want the Mohu Gateway Plus HDTV Indoor Antenna. Its built-in FirstStage amplifier allows you to pull in channels broadcast over-the-air within a 60-mile radius. It’s not the cheapest at $79.99, but it outperforms both cheaper and more expensive models.
If you’re looking to save a little money by picking up our former pick for the best TV antenna overall, we recommend the Mohu Leaf 50 Amplified. This antenna has the same range of 60 miles, but the excellent reception dips a bit towards the fringes compared to the Gateway Plus. It also doesn’t have a built-in stand or amplifier, like the Gateway Plus, so there’s some assembly required.
But, you still get 1080p HD, 4K and even 8K broadcasts, so the performance difference isn’t massive. And while you need to connect the in-line amplifier and find a home to hang your antenna, it’s still relatively easy to install. Its 12-foot detachable cable could even be considered an advantage over the pricier Gateway Plus.
Opting for an antenna is nothing new. In fact, it’s the way things used to be done. But despite cable and satellite nearly killing over-the-air broadcasts for good, antennas are now growing in popularity again. Particularly for watching live sports broadcasts. That’s because over-the-air broadcasts have a decreased lag time, and they’re free to watch once you account for the cost of the antenna itself.
Of course, an antenna isn’t the only watch to watch Super Bowl LX. So make sure to check out our guide on how to watch the Super Bowl 2026 livestream from anywhere for free to find the best solution for you.
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