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Eight precious tickets remain for next week’s Sweet 16 as the NCAA Tournament enters the final day of its first weekend on Sunday. Fans won’t have to wait long for the excitement to ramp up with (7) Miami and (2) Purdue kicking things off (12:10 p.m ET CBS, March Madness Live)
The second game on the slate features is shrouded with injury intrigue as No. 2 seed Iowa State faces uncertainty around All-American big Joshua Jefferson ahead of its tilt with dangerous No. 7 seed Kentucky (2:45 p.m. ET, CBS, March Madness Live).
Later in the evening, No. 7 seed UCLA takes on No. 2 seed UConn (8:45 p.m. ET TNT, March Madness Live) in a battle of coaching wits between the Bruins’ Mick Cronin and the Huskies’ Dan Hurley.
No. 5 Texas Tech and No. 4 seed Alabama will serve as a much-anticipated finale (9:45 p.m. ET CBS, March Madness Live). The winner gets a date with No. 1 seed Michigan in next week’s Sweet 16.
Here is the full schedule and beyond to get you ready for the NCAA Tournament, and be sure to follow the live bracket throughout March Madness.
2026 NCAA Tournament schedule, dates
Second round
Sunday, March 22
Benchmark International Arena (Tampa), Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia), Viejas Arena (San Diego), Enterprise Center (St. Louis)
| Time (ET) | Game | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|
| 12:10 p.m. | (7) Miami (FL) vs. (2) Purdue | CBS (watch live) |
| 2:45 p.m. | (7) Kentucky vs. (2) Iowa State | CBS (watch live) |
| 5:15 p.m. | (5) St. John’s vs. (4) Kansas | CBS (watch live) |
| 6:10 p.m. | (6) Tennessee vs. (3) Virginia | TNT (watch live) |
| 7:10 p.m. | (9) Iowa vs. (1) Florida | TBS (watch live) |
| 7:50 p.m. | (9) Utah State vs. (1) Arizona | truTV (watch live) |
| 8:45 p.m. | (7) UCLA vs. (2) UConn | TNT (watch live) |
| 9:45 p.m. | (5) Texas Tech vs. (4) Alabama | TBS (watch live) |
Saturday, March 21
KeyBank Center (Buffalo), Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Greenville), Paycom Center (Oklahoma City), Moda Center (Portland)
Sweet 16
Thursday, March 26 — 7:10 p.m. start (CBS, TBS)
Toyota Center (Houston), SAP Center (San Jose)
Friday, March 27 — 7:10 p.m. start (CBS, TBS)
United Center (Chicago), Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 28 — 6:09 p.m. start (TBS)
Toyota Center (Houston), SAP Center (San Jose)
Sunday, March 29 — 2:15 p.m. start (CBS)
United Center (Chicago), Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
Final Four
Saturday, April 4 — 6:09 p.m. start (TBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
National Championship
Monday, April 6 — 8:50 p.m. (TBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
First round
Thursday, March 19
KeyBank Center (Buffalo), Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Greenville), Paycom Center (Oklahoma City), Moda Center (Portland)
| Time (ET) | Game | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|
| 12:15 p.m. | (9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64 | Highlights |
| 12:40 p.m. | (4) Nebraska 76, (13) Troy 47 | Highlights |
| 1:30 p.m. | (6) Louisville 83, (11) South Florida 79 | Highlights |
| 1:50 p.m. | (12) High Point 83, (5) Wisconsin 82 | Highlights |
| 2:50 p.m. | (1) Duke 71, (16) Siena 65 | Highlights |
| 3:15 p.m. | (5) Vanderbilt 78, (12) McNeese 68 | Highlights |
| 4:05 p.m. | (3) Michigan State 92, (14) North Dakota State 67 | Highlights |
| 4:25 p.m. | (4) Arkansas 97, (13) Hawaii 78 | Highlights |
| 6:50 p.m. | (11) VCU 78, (6) North Carolina 82 (OT) | Highlights |
| 7:10 p.m. | (1) Michigan 101, (16) Howard 80 | Highlights |
| 7:25 p.m. | (11) Texas 79, (6) BYU 71 | Highlights |
| 7:35 p.m. | (10) Texas A&M 63, (7) Saint Mary’s 50 | Highlights |
| 9:25 p.m. | (3) Illinois 105, (14) Penn 70 | Highlights |
| 9:45 p.m. | (9) Saint Louis 102, (8) Georgia 77 | Highlights |
| 10 p.m. | (1(3) Gonzaga 73, (14) Kennesaw State 64 | Highlights |
| 10:10 p.m. | (2) Houston 78, (15) Idaho 47 | Highlights |
Friday, March 20
Benchmark International Arena (Tampa), Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia), Viejas Arena (San Diego), Enterprise Center (St. Louis)
| Time (ET) | Game | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|
| 12:15 p.m. | (7) Kentucky 89, (10) Santa Clara 84 | Highlights |
| 12:40 p.m. | (5) Texas Tech 91, (12) Akron 71 | Highlights |
| 1:35 p.m. | (1) Arizona 92, (16) LIU 58 | Highlights |
| 1:50 p.m. | (3) Virginia 82, (14) Wright State 73 | Highlights |
| 2:50 p.m. | (2) Iowa State 108, (15) Tennessee State 74 | Highlights |
| 3:15 p.m. | (4) Alabama 90, (13) Hofstra 70 | Highlights |
| 4:10 p.m. | (9) Utah State 86, (8) Villanova 76 | Highlights |
| 4:25 p.m. | (6) Tennessee 78, (11) Miami (Ohio) 56 | Highlights |
| 6:50 p.m. | (9) Iowa 67, (8) Clemson 61 | Highlights |
| 7:10 p.m. | (5) St. John’s 79, (12) Northern Iowa 53 | Highlights |
| 7:25 p.m. | (10) UCF vs. (7) UCLA | Highlights |
| 7:35 p.m. | (2) Purdue 104, (15) Queens 71 | Highlights |
| 9:25 p.m. | (1) Florida 114, (16) Prairie View A&M 55 | Highlights |
| 9:45 p.m. | (4) Kansas 68, (13) Cal Baptist 60 | Highlights |
| 10 p.m. | (2) UConn 82, (15) Furman 71 | Highlights |
| 10:10 p.m. | (7) Miami (FL) 80, (10) Missouri 66 | Highlights |
