2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket: March Madness Schedule, Scores by Region, TV Channels, and Tip Times
The 2026 NCAA Tournament has officially arrived! Following a wild Selection Sunday, the 68-team field is set, and the “Road to the Final Four” begins this Tuesday in Dayton. Duke enters the dance as the No. 1 overall seed, but with heavyweights like Arizona, Florida, and Michigan rounding out the top line, the 87th edition of March Madness promises to be one of the most unpredictable yet.
Below is your comprehensive guide to the ncaa bracket, including tip times, TV channels, and regional locations.
The 2026 First Four
Dayton, Ohio — UD Arena
| Matchup | Region | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (16) Howard vs. (16) UMBC | Midwest | Tue, Mar 17 | 6:40 PM | truTV |
| (11) Texas vs. (11) NC State | West | Tue, Mar 17 | 9:15 PM | truTV |
| (16) Lehigh vs. (16) Prairie View | South | Wed, Mar 18 | 6:40 PM | truTV |
| (11) SMU vs. (11) Miami (OH) | Midwest | Wed, Mar 18 | 9:15 PM | truTV |
### East Region: Road to Washington, D.C.
Greenville, SC | Buffalo, NY | Philadelphia, PA | San Diego, CA
- (1) Duke vs. (16) Siena | Thursday, 2:50 PM | CBS
- (8) Ohio State vs. (9) TCU | Thursday, 12:15 PM | CBS
- (5) St. John’s vs. (12) Northern Iowa | Friday, 7:10 PM | CBS
- (4) Kansas vs. (13) Cal Baptist | Friday, 9:45 PM | CBS
- (6) Louisville vs. (11) South Florida | Thursday, 1:30 PM | TNT
- (3) Michigan State vs. (14) North Dakota St. | Thursday, 4:05 PM | TNT
- (7) UCLA vs. (10) UCF | Friday, 7:25 PM | TBS
- (2) UConn vs. (15) Furman | Friday, 10:00 PM | TBS
West Region: Road to San Jose
Portland, OR | San Diego, CA | St. Louis, MO
- (1) Arizona vs. (16) LIU | Friday, 1:35 PM | TNT
- (8) Villanova vs. (9) Utah State | Friday, 4:10 PM | TNT
- (5) Wisconsin vs. (12) High Point | Thursday, 1:50 PM | TBS
- (4) Arkansas vs. (13) Hawaii | Thursday, 4:25 PM | TBS
- (6) BYU vs. (11) Texas/NC State | Thursday, 7:25 PM | TBS
- (3) Gonzaga vs. (14) Kennesaw State | Thursday, 10:00 PM | TBS
- (7) Miami (FL) vs. (10) Missouri | Friday, 10:10 PM | truTV
- (2) Purdue vs. (15) Queens | Friday, 7:35 PM | truTV
South Region: Road to Houston
Tampa, FL | Oklahoma City, OK | Greenville, SC
- (1) Florida vs. (16) Lehigh/Prairie View | Friday, 9:25 PM | TNT
- (8) Clemson vs. (9) Iowa | Friday, 6:50 PM | TNT
- (5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) McNeese | Thursday, 3:15 PM | truTV
- (4) Nebraska vs. (13) Troy | Thursday, 12:40 PM | truTV
- (6) North Carolina vs. (11) VCU | Thursday, 6:50 PM | TNT
- (3) Illinois vs. (14) Penn | Thursday, 9:25 PM | TNT
- (7) Saint Mary’s vs. (10) Texas A&M | Thursday, 7:35 PM | truTV
- (2) Houston vs. (15) Idaho | Thursday, 10:10 PM | truTV
Midwest Region: Road to Chicago
Buffalo, NY | Tampa, FL | Philadelphia, PA | St. Louis, MO
- (1) Michigan vs. (16) Howard/UMBC | Thursday, 7:10 PM | CBS
- (8) Georgia vs. (9) Saint Louis | Thursday, 9:45 PM | CBS
- (5) Texas Tech vs. (12) Akron | Friday, 12:40 PM | truTV
- (4) Alabama vs. (13) Hofstra | Friday, 3:15 PM | truTV
- (6) Tennessee vs. (11) SMU/Miami (OH) | Friday, 4:25 PM | TBS
- (3) Virginia vs. (14) Wright State | Friday, 1:50 PM | TBS
- (7) Kentucky vs. (10) Santa Clara | Friday, 12:15 PM | CBS
- (2) Iowa State vs. (15) Tennessee State | Friday, 2:50 PM | CBS
How to Watch & Stream
Every game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will be broadcast across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.
- Streaming: All CBS games are available via Paramount+ (Premium plan).
- TBS, TNT, and truTV: Can be streamed via the March Madness Live app or Max.
Stay organized throughout the tournament with these frequently asked questions and official reference hubs for the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Where can I download a printable ncaa bracket? A: You can find a high-resolution, printable PDF version of the 2026 bracket at NCAA.com or through CBS Sports.
Q: What is the official TV schedule for the first round? A: Games are spread across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV.
- Thursday, March 19: Action begins at 12:15 PM ET with (8) Ohio State vs. (9) TCU on CBS.
- Friday, March 20: Action begins at 12:15 PM ET with (7) Kentucky vs. (10) Santa Clara on CBS.
Q: How do I stream March Madness live without cable? A: You have several options:
- March Madness Live App: Streams all games (requires provider login for Turner channels; CBS games are free).
- Paramount+: Streams all games broadcast on CBS (requires Premium plan).
- Max (formerly HBO Max): Streams all games broadcast on TBS, TNT, and truTV via the B/R Sports Add-on.
Q: When and where is the 2026 Final Four? A: The Final Four will take place on Saturday, April 4, with the National Championship on Monday, April 6. Both will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Essential Reference Links
- Official NCAA Men’s Tournament Hub: The primary source for live scores, official bracket updates, and highlights.
- CBS Sports Bracket Challenge: The best place to join pools, track your “Bracket Power,” and see expert analysis.
- ESPN Tournament Challenge: One of the most popular platforms for creating and managing your bracket groups.
- NCAA Ticket Exchange: The official marketplace for buying and selling verified tournament tickets.
Would you like me to look up the specific announcer pairings for a certain region or help you find the current betting lines for the First Four games?
2026 NCAA Tournament Bracket Reveal
This video provides a visual walkthrough of the 2026 bracket reveal, helping you understand the seeding and regional placements discussed in the FAQs.