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March Madness 2026: How to watch the First Four games at the men's NCAA basketball tournament

βœ‡Yahoo! Sports - News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games
By:Liz Kocan

The teams and seeds have been set for March Madness 2026 and now the only thing left to do (besides finish up your fantasy bracket) is tune in to the First Four. The men's First Four will whittle the current field of 68 teams down to 64 with games being played on March 17 and 18. This year's First Four matchups will be UMBC vs Howard, Texas vs. NC State, Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh, and Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU. Every first four game will be broadcast on TruTV, which means you'll also be able to stream them on HBO Max, DirecTV and more.Β 

For a list of key dates, teams and how to watch every game, we've got you covered. Here's a look at how to watch the entire tournament, starting with the First Four and going right up to the Championship Final.Β 

How to watch the men's First Four March Madness games in 2026:

Dates: March 17-18, 2026

Times: 6:40 p.m./9:10 p.m.

TV channels: TruTV

Streaming: DirecTV, HBO Max, Hulu + Live TV and more

When does March Madness start?

The 2026 men's NCAA basketball tournament begins Tuesday, March 17. The First Four games take place on March 17 and 18, witΒ 

March Madness men's First Four schedule:Β 

Tuesday, March 17

  • 6:40 p.m.: No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard (TruTV)

  • 9:10 p.m.: No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State (TruTV)

Wednesday, March 18

  • 6:40 p.m.: No. 16 Prairie View A&M vs. No. 16 Lehigh (TruTV)

  • 9:10 p.m.: No. 11 Miami (Ohio) vs. No. 11 SMU (TruTV)

Where to watch men's March Madness games:

All men's tournament games will be available across TBS, truTV, TNT, and CBS.

Where to stream March Madness games without cable:

Every game of the 2026 men's March Madness Tournament will stream on HBO Max. You'll also be able to access every game on live TV services like Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV.

Which teams are competing in the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament?

The following is a breakdown of every First Round game schedule including who's playing and how to watch.Β 

All times Eastern

Thursday, March 19

  • 12:15 p.m.: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU (CBS)

  • 12:40 p.m.: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy (TruTV)

  • 1:30 p.m.: No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida (TNT)

  • 1:50 p.m.: No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point (TBS)

  • 2:50 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena (CBS)

  • 3:15 p.m.: No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese (TruTV)

  • 4:05 p.m.: No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State

  • 4:25 p.m.: No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii (TBS)

  • 6:50 p.m.: No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU (TNT)

  • 7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 UMBC or Howard (CBS)

  • 7:25 p.m.: No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas or NC State (TBS)

  • 7:35 p.m.: No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (TruTV)

  • 9:25 p.m.: No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn (TNT)

  • 9:45 p.m.: No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis (CBS)

  • 10 p.m.: No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (TBS)

  • 10:10 p.m.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho (TruTV)

Friday, March 20

  • 12:15 p.m.: No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 10 Santa Clara (CBS)

  • 12:40 p.m.: No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron (TruTV)

  • 1:35 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU (TNT)

  • 1:50 p.m.: No. 3 Virginia vs. No. 14 Wright State (TBS)

  • 2:50 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State (CBS)

  • 3:15 p.m.: No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra (TruTV)

  • 4:10 p.m.: No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State (TNT)

  • 4:25 p.m.: No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio) or SMU (TBS)

  • 6:50 p.m.: No. 8 Clemson vs. No. 9 Iowa (TNT)

  • 7:10 p.m.: No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa (CBS)

  • 7:25 p.m.: No. 7 UCLA vs. No. 10 UCF (TBS)

  • 7:35 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens (TruTV)

  • 9:25 p.m.: No. 16 Prairie View A&M or Lehigh vs. No. 1 Florida (TNT)

  • 9:45 p.m.: No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist (CBS)

  • 10 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 15 Furman (TBS)

  • 10:10 p.m.: No. 7 Miami vs. No. 10 Missouri (TruTV)

2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament schedule:

The schedule and locations for the men's tournament:

  • Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. ET Sunday, March 15 on CBS

  • First Four: Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18

  • First round: Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20

  • Second round: Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22

  • Sweet 16: Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27

  • Elite Eight: Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29

  • Final Four: Saturday, April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

  • NCAA championship game: Monday, April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

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