2026 NCAA Tournament second round schedule: March Madness bracket, game dates, tip times, TV channels


                        2026 NCAA Tournament second round schedule: March Madness bracket, game dates, tip times, TV channels
By: CBS Sports Posted On: March 22, 2026 View: 2

Eight precious tickets remain for next week's Sweet 16 as the NCAA Tournament enters the final day of its first weekend on Sunday. Fans won't have to wait long for the excitement to ramp up with (7) Miami and (2) Purdue kicking things off (12:10 p.m ET CBS, March Madness Live)

The second game on the slate features is shrouded with injury intrigue as No. 2 seed Iowa State faces uncertainty around All-American big Joshua Jefferson ahead of its tilt with dangerous No. 7 seed Kentucky (2:45 p.m. ET, CBS, March Madness Live). 

Later in the evening, No. 7 seed UCLA takes on No. 2 seed UConn (8:45 p.m. ET TNT, March Madness Live) in a battle of coaching wits between the Bruins' Mick Cronin and the Huskies' Dan Hurley. 

No. 5 Texas Tech and No. 4 seed Alabama will serve as a much-anticipated finale (9:45 p.m. ET CBS, March Madness Live). The winner gets a date with No. 1 seed Michigan in next week's Sweet 16.

Here is the full schedule and beyond to get you ready for the NCAA Tournament, and be sure to follow the live bracket throughout March Madness.

2026 NCAA Tournament schedule, dates

Second round

Sunday, March 22
Benchmark International Arena (Tampa), Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia), Viejas Arena (San Diego), Enterprise Center (St. Louis)

Time (ET)GameTV / Stream
12:10 p.m.(7) Miami (FL) vs. (2) PurdueCBS (watch live)
2:45 p.m.(7)  Kentucky vs. (2) Iowa StateCBS (watch live)
5:15 p.m.(5) St. John's vs. (4) KansasCBS (watch live)
6:10 p.m.(6) Tennessee vs. (3) VirginiaTNT (watch live)
7:10 p.m.(9) Iowa vs. (1) FloridaTBS (watch live)
7:50 p.m.(9) Utah State vs. (1) ArizonatruTV (watch live)
8:45 p.m.(7) UCLA vs. (2) UConnTNT (watch live)
9:45 p.m.(5) Texas Tech vs. (4) AlabamaTBS (watch live)

Saturday, March 21
KeyBank Center (Buffalo), Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Greenville), Paycom Center (Oklahoma City), Moda Center (Portland)

Sweet 16

Thursday, March 26 -- 7:10 p.m. start (CBS, TBS)
Toyota Center (Houston), SAP Center (San Jose)

Friday, March 27 -- 7:10 p.m. start (CBS, TBS)
United Center (Chicago), Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)

Elite Eight

Saturday, March 28 -- 6:09 p.m. start (TBS)
Toyota Center (Houston), SAP Center (San Jose)

Sunday, March 29 -- 2:15 p.m. start (CBS)
United Center (Chicago), Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)

Final Four

Saturday, April 4 -- 6:09 p.m. start (TBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)

National Championship

Monday, April 6 -- 8:50 p.m. (TBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)


First round

Thursday, March 19
KeyBank Center (Buffalo), Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Greenville), Paycom Center (Oklahoma City), Moda Center (Portland)

Time (ET)GameTV / Stream
12:15 p.m.(9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64 Highlights
12:40 p.m.(4) Nebraska 76, (13) Troy 47 Highlights
1:30 p.m.(6) Louisville 83, (11) South Florida 79 Highlights
1:50 p.m.(12) High Point  83, (5) Wisconsin 82 Highlights
2:50 p.m.(1) Duke 71, (16) Siena 65
Highlights
3:15 p.m.(5) Vanderbilt 78, (12) McNeese  68
Highlights
4:05 p.m.(3) Michigan State 92, (14) North Dakota State 67
Highlights
4:25 p.m.(4) Arkansas 97, (13) Hawaii 78
Highlights
6:50 p.m.(11) VCU 78, (6) North Carolina 82 (OT) Highlights
7:10 p.m.(1) Michigan 101, (16) Howard 80 Highlights
7:25 p.m.(11) Texas 79, (6) BYU 71
Highlights
7:35 p.m.(10) Texas A&M 63, (7) Saint Mary's 50 Highlights
9:25 p.m.(3) Illinois 105, (14) Penn 70  Highlights
9:45 p.m.(9) Saint Louis 102, (8) Georgia 77
Highlights
10 p.m.(1(3) Gonzaga 73, (14) Kennesaw State 64 
Highlights
10:10 p.m.(2) Houston 78, (15) Idaho 47
Highlights

Friday, March 20
Benchmark International Arena (Tampa), Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia), Viejas Arena (San Diego), Enterprise Center (St. Louis)

Time (ET)GameTV / Stream
12:15 p.m.(7) Kentucky 89, (10) Santa Clara 84
Highlights
12:40 p.m.(5) Texas Tech 91, (12) Akron 71
Highlights
1:35 p.m.(1) Arizona 92, (16) LIU 58
Highlights
1:50 p.m.(3) Virginia 82, (14) Wright State 73
Highlights
2:50 p.m.(2) Iowa State 108, (15) Tennessee State 74
Highlights
3:15 p.m.(4) Alabama 90, (13) Hofstra 70
Highlights
4:10 p.m.(9) Utah State  86, (8) Villanova 76 Highlights
4:25 p.m.(6) Tennessee 78, (11) Miami (Ohio) 56 Highlights
6:50 p.m.(9) Iowa 67, (8) Clemson 61 Highlights
7:10 p.m.(5) St. John's 79, (12) Northern Iowa 53 Highlights
7:25 p.m.(10) UCF vs. (7) UCLA
Highlights
7:35 p.m.(2) Purdue 104, (15) Queens 71 Highlights
9:25 p.m.(1) Florida 114, (16) Prairie View A&M 55 Highlights
9:45 p.m.(4) Kansas 68, (13) Cal Baptist 60 Highlights
10 p.m.(2) UConn 82, (15) Furman 71 Highlights
10:10 p.m.(7) Miami (FL) 80, (10) Missouri 66
Highlights

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