2026 March Madness TV schedule, full list of First Round NCAA Tournament games

[ASFN Admin]

The 68-team field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament is set, with March Madness officially getting underway on Tuesday, March 17, as the First Four kicks off. Two days later, on Thursday, March 19, the First Round, aka Round of 64, gets underway.

Entering March Madness, the Duke Blue Devils are the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and will lead the way in the East Region. Duke takes the court on Thursday afternoon against the No. 16 Siena Saints.

The Round of 64 will conclude on Friday, March 20, with another full slate of games across the country, including the Arizona Wildcats, who are the tournament’s No. 2 overall seed and top team in the West Region. Arizona starts its tournament run against the No. 16 LIU Sharks.

MORE: Printable March Madness bracket, 2026 NCAA Tournament field set

One of the most exciting 48-hour spans on the sports calendar comes during the first round of the NCAA Tournament, so it’s important to know which games should have your attention.

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Mar 26, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; General view of an NCAA March Madness logo during a practice session in preparation for an East Regional semifinal game at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Every game will air across the CBS family of networks: CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV.

When and where will your favorite team be taking the court?

A full look at the First Round TV schedule for the 2026 NCAA Tournament can be seen below.

MORE: 7 college basketball favorites that will bust 2026 March Madness brackets

2026 March Madness TV Schedule – Round 1​

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Mar 14, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; The Duke Blue Devils celebrate after defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in the men’s ACC Conference Tournament Championship at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Thursday, March 19​

Round of 64

• EAST REGION: No. 8 Ohio State (21-12) vs. No. 9 TCU (22-11) | 12:15 p.m. | CBS
• SOUTH REGION: No. 4 Nebraska (26-6) vs. No. 13 Troy (22-11) | 12:40 p.m. | truTV
• EAST REGION: No. 6 Louisville (23-10) vs. No. 11 South Florida (25-8) | 1:30 p.m. | TNT
• WEST REGION: No. 5 Wisconsin (24-10) vs. No. 12 High Point (30-4) | 1:50 p.m. | TBS
• EAST REGION: No. 1 Duke (32-2) vs. No. 16 Siena (23-11) | 2:50 p.m. | CBS
• SOUTH REGION: No. 5 Vanderbilt (26-8) vs. No. 12 McNeese (28-5) | 3:15 p.m. | truTV
• EAST REGION: No. 3 Michigan State (25-7) vs. No. 14 North Dakota State (27-7) | 4:05 p.m. | TNT
• WEST REGION: No. 4 Arkansas (26-8) vs. No. 13 Hawai’i (24-8) | 4:25 p.m. | TBS
• SOUTH REGION: No. 6 North Carolina (24-8) vs. No. 11 VCU (27-7) | 6:50 p.m. | TNT
• MIDWEST REGION: No. 1 Michigan (31-3) vs. No. 16 UMBC/Howard | 7:10 p.m. | CBS
• WEST REGION: No. 6 BYU (23-11) vs. No. 11 Texas/NC State | 7:25 p.m. | TBS
• SOUTH REGION: No. 7 Saint Mary’s (27-5) vs. No. 10 Texas A&M (21-11) | 7:35 p.m. | truTV
• SOUTH REGION: No. 3 Illinois (24-8) vs. No. 14 Penn (18-11) | 9:25 p.m. | TNT
• MIDWEST REGION: No. 8 Georgia (22-10) vs. No. 9 Saint Louis (28-5) | 9:45 p.m. | CBS
• WEST REGION: No. 3 Gonzaga (30-3) vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State (21-13) | 10 p.m. | TBS
• SOUTH REGION: No. 2 Houston (28-6) vs. No. 15 Idaho (21-14) | 10:10 p.m. | truTV

Friday, March 20​

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Mar 14, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; The Arizona Wildcats celebrate after defeating the Houston Cougars during the men’s Big 12 Conference Tournament Championship at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images


Round of 64

• MIDWEST REGION: No. 7 Kentucky (21-13) vs. No. 10 Santa Clara (26-8) | 12:15 p.m. | CBS
• MIDWEST REGION: No. 5 Texas Tech (22-10) vs. No. 12 Akron (29-5) | 12:40 p.m. | truTV
• WEST REGION: No. 1 Arizona (32-2) vs. No. 16 LIU (24-10) | 1:35 p.m. | TNT
• MIDWEST REGION: No. 3 Virginia (29-5) vs. No. 14 Wright State (23-11) | 1:50 p.m. | TBS
• MIDWEST REGION: No. 2 Iowa State (27-7) vs. No. 15 Tennessee State (23-9) | 2:50 p.m. | CBS
• MIDWEST REGION: No. 4 Alabama (23-9) vs. No. 13 Hofstra (24-10) | 3:15 p.m. | truTV
• WEST REGION: No. 8 Villanova (24-8) vs. No. 9 Utah State (28-6) | 4:10 p.m. | TNT
• MIDWEST REGION: No. 6 Tennessee (22-11) vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio)/SMU | 4:25 p.m. | TBS
• SOUTH REGION: No. 8 Clemson (24-10) vs. No. 9 Iowa (21-12) | 6:50 p.m. | TNT
• EAST REGION No. 5 St. John’s (28-6) vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa (23-12) | 7:10 p.m. | CBS
• EAST REGION: No. 7 UCLA (23-11) vs. No. 10 Central Florida (21-11) | 7:25 p.m. | TBS
• WEST REGION: No. 2 Purdue (27-8) vs. No. 15 Queens (21-13) | 7:35 p.m. | truTV
• SOUTH REGION: No. 1 Florida (26-7) vs. No. 16 Prairie View A&M/Lehigh | 9:25 p.m. | TNT
• EAST REGION: No. 4 Kansas (23-10) vs. No. 13 Cal Baptist (25-8) | 9:45 p.m. | CBS
• EAST REGION: No. 2 UConn (29-5) vs. No. 15 Furman (22-12) | 10 p.m. | TBS
• WEST REGION: No. 7 Miami (25-8) vs. No. 10 Missouri (20-12) | 10:10 p.m. | truTV

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