March Madness 2026: How to watch the North Carolina vs. VCU first-round game in the men's NCAA basketball tournament

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The North Carolina Tar Heels play the VCU Rams at the first round of the men's March Madness tournament. Here's how to watch. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Jacob Kupferman via Getty Images

The North Carolina Tar Heels earned a No. 6 seed at the men's 2026 March Madness tournament, and they'll open Thursday night against No. 11 seed VCU in the first round at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. VCU earned their second straight Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Championship and Thursday's game marks the first time they'll meet UNC in the NCAA tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:50 p.m. ET, and the game airs on TNT and streams on HBO Max.

For a list of key dates, teams, and how to watch every March Madness game, we've got you covered. Here's a look at how to watch the entire tournament, from the first round right up to the Championship Final.

How to watch North Carolina vs. VCU in the first round of March Madness:​

Dates: March 19, 2026

Time: 6:50 p.m. ET

TV channel: TNT

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

When is the North Carolina vs. VCU game? ​

The North Carolina vs. VCU game is this Thursday, March 19. Tipoff is at 6:50 p.m. ET.

Where to watch the North Carolina vs. VCU game:​

Thursday's North Carolina vs. VCU game airs on TNT.

Where to stream March Madness games without cable: ​

Every game of the 2026 men's March Madness Tournament that's on TBS, TNT or truTV will also stream on HBO Max. You'll also be able to access the game on live TV services like DirecTV and YouTube TV.

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.

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 (TNT)
  
  
• 
  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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