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What channel is truTV? How to watch 2026 NCAA Tournament games on DIRECTV, Dish, Spectrum & more originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The wait is finally over for college basketball fans — March Madness is underway, and much of the action will go down on truTV.
It doesn't matter who you root for, the NCAA Tournament is always a thrilling time in sports. While dominant programs like Duke and Florida look to make it back to the Final Four, others like Queens and Cal Baptist are dancing for the first time in school history.
Similarly to recent years, broadcasting for the entirety of the NCAA Tournament falls in the hands of CBS and TNT Sports, with channels like TNT, TBS and truTV showing matchups throughout the coming weeks.
Here's how to watch March Madness games on truTV, including streaming options for channels like DIRECTV, Dish, Spectrum and more.
What channel is truTV?
The NCAA agreed to a multi-billion dollar deal with CBS and TNT Sports in April of 2010 regarding the rights to the men's NCAA Tournament. That deal has been extended through 2032.
Fans wanting to watch the excitement of March Madness can find games on CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV. Here's how to find truTV on every cable and satellite provider:
| Provider | Channel (SD/HD) |
| AT&T U-Verse | 164/1164 |
| Verizon FIOS | 183/683 |
| DISH Network | 242 |
| DIRECTV | 246 |
| Spectrum | Varies by location (area code search) |
| Xfinity | Varies by location (area code search) |
How to live stream March Madness games for free online
With the rise in streaming popularity, cord-cutters certainly have a fair share of options when it comes to streaming March Madness games. NCAA Tournament games will be available to watch on DIRECTV, as well as handful of other services.
Below is a full rundown (not every option includes TNT, TBS and truTV):
| Streaming option | Cable subscription needed? | Free? | Cost | Free trial? |
| Paramount+ | No | No | $8.99/month | No |
| NCAA March Madness Live | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Fubo | No | No | $55.99/month | Yes |
| DIRECTV | No | No | $89.99/month | Yes |
NCAA Tournament games on truTV
TruTV will air the entirety of the First Four, and several games in the first round. This year, truTV will also provide coverage during the Elite Eight, Final Four and National Championship.
First Four
Tuesday, March 17
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard | 6:40 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
| No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State | 9:15 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
Wednesday, March 18
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| No. 16 Prairie View A&M vs. No. 16 Lehigh | 6:40 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
| No. 11 Miami (Ohio) vs. No. 11 SMU | 9:15 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
First Round
Thursday, March 19
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy | 12:40 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
| No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese | 3:15 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
| No. 7 Saint Mary's vs. No. 10 Texas A&M | 7:35 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
| No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho | 10:10 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
Friday, March 20
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
| No. 5 Texas Tech vs. No. 12 Akron | 12:40 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
| No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 13 Hofstra | 3:15 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
| No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens | 7:35 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
| No. 7 Miami (FL) vs. No. 10 Missouri | 10:10 p.m. | truTV, DIRECTV |
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 28
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, truTV, DIRECTV |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, truTV, DIRECTV |
Final Four
Saturday, April 4
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, truTV, DIRECTV |
| TBD vs. TBD | TBD | TBS, truTV, DIRECTV |
National championship
Monday, April 6
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs. TBD | 8:50 p.m. | TBS, truTV, DIRECTV |
NCAA Tournament round-by-round schedule 2026
The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four on March 18 and March 19, and it concludes with the championship game on April 7.
See below for a complete round-by-round schedule.
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| First Four | March 17-18 |
| First Round | March 19-20 |
| Second Round | March 21-22 |
| Sweet 16 | March 26-27 |
| Elite Eight | March 28-29 |
| Final Four | April 4 |
| Championship | April 6 |
Related Links
- 2026 NCAA men's tournament bracket
- Men's college basketball scores, schedule
- Latest men's college basketball news
- How to bet on college basketball
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