March Madness 2026 Schedule

March Madness 2026 Schedule: Full NCAA Tournament Game Dates, Times & Matchups

March Madness has officially arrived. After Selection Sunday revealed the full 68‑team bracket, the 2026 NCAA Tournament schedule is now set and basketball fans across the country are preparing for three weeks of nonstop action.

Every year the NCAA Tournament delivers unforgettable moments: buzzer‑beaters, Cinderella stories, and championship runs that become part of college basketball history. Understanding the complete March Madness schedule is essential for fans following the games, filling out bracket pools, or tracking betting odds throughout the tournament.

Below is the full March Madness 2026 schedule including the First Four play‑in games, the Round of 64, and the path all the way to the Final Four and national championship.

Fans following the tournament closely often monitor betting lines before tip‑off. Current NCAA Tournament odds and matchup lines can be viewed at YouWager, where bettors compare prices across the full March Madness board.

SELECTION SUNDAY

Selection Sunday officially revealed the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket on Sunday, March 15 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.

The selection committee determined the full 68‑team field and placed teams into four regions: East, West, Midwest, and South.

Once the bracket is revealed, fans begin analyzing matchups, predicting upsets, and preparing their March Madness brackets.

2026 NCAA TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

Selection Sunday – Sunday, March 15 (6 p.m. ET, CBS)

First Four – March 17-18
Round of 64 – March 19-20
Round of 32 – March 21-22
Sweet 16 – March 26-27
Elite Eight – March 28-29
Final Four – April 4
National Championship – April 6

The Final Four and national championship will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

FIRST FOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, March 17 – Dayton, Ohio

(16) UMBC vs. (16) Howard – 6:40 p.m. ET – truTV
(11) Texas vs. (11) NC State – 9:15 p.m. ET – truTV
Wednesday, March 18 – Dayton, Ohio
(16) Prairie View A&M vs. (16) Lehigh – 6:40 p.m. ET – truTV
(11) Miami (Ohio) vs. (11) SMU – 9:15 p.m. ET – truTV

These games determine the final four teams that advance into the main tournament bracket.

ROUND OF 64 – THURSDAY, MARCH 19

(8) Ohio State vs. (9) TCU – 12:15 p.m. – CBS
(4) Nebraska vs. (13) Troy – 12:40 p.m. – truTV
(6) Louisville vs. (11) South Florida – 1:30 p.m. – TNT
(5) Wisconsin vs. (12) High Point – 1:50 p.m. – TBS
(1) Duke vs. (16) Siena – 2:50 p.m. – CBS
(5) Vanderbilt vs. (12) McNeese – 3:15 p.m. – truTV
(3) Michigan State vs. (14) North Dakota State – 4:05 p.m. – TNT
(4) Arkansas vs. (13) Hawai’i – 4:25 p.m. – TBS
(6) North Carolina vs. (11) VCU – 6:50 p.m. – TNT
(1) Michigan vs. TBD – 7:10 p.m. – CBS
(6) BYU vs. TBD – 7:25 p.m. – TBS
(7) Saint Mary’s vs. (10) Texas A&M – 7:35 p.m. – truTV
(3) Illinois vs. (14) Penn – 9:25 p.m. – TNT
(8) Georgia vs. (9) Saint Louis – 9:45 p.m. – CBS
(3) Gonzaga vs. (14) Kennesaw State – 10:00 p.m. – TNT
(2) Houston vs. (15) Idaho – 10:10 p.m. – truTV

ROUND OF 64 – FRIDAY, MARCH 20

(7) Kentucky vs. (10) Santa Clara – 12:15 p.m. – CBS
(5) Texas Tech vs. (12) Akron – 12:40 p.m. – truTV
(1) Arizona vs. (16) Long Island University – 1:35 p.m. – TNT
(3) Virginia vs. (14) Wright State – 1:50 p.m. – TBS
(2) Iowa State vs. (15) Tennessee State – 2:50 p.m. – CBS
(4) Alabama vs. (13) Hofstra – 3:15 p.m. – truTV
(8) Villanova vs. (9) Utah State – 4:10 p.m. – TNT
(6) Tennessee vs. TBD – 4:25 p.m. – TBS
(8) Clemson vs. (9) Iowa – 6:50 p.m. – TNT
(5) St. John’s vs. (12) Northern Iowa – 7:10 p.m. – CBS
(7) UCLA vs. (10) UCF – 7:25 p.m. – TBS
(2) Purdue vs. (15) Queens – 7:35 p.m. – truTV
(1) Florida vs. TBD – 9:25 p.m. – TNT
(4) Kansas vs. (13) Cal Baptist – 9:45 p.m. – CBS
(2) UConn vs. (15) Furman – 10:00 p.m. – TBS
(7) Miami (FL) vs. (10) Missouri – 10:10 p.m. – truTV

Many fans follow the schedule while monitoring betting lines and matchup odds throughout the tournament. Sportsbooks such as YouWager update NCAA Tournament odds as games approach, allowing bettors to evaluate matchups before tip‑off.

SECOND ROUND SCHEDULE

Saturday, March 21
Sunday, March 22

The winners from the Round of 64 advance to the Round of 32. These games determine which teams reach the Sweet 16.
Momentum and matchups often create some of the most exciting games of the tournament during this round.

SWEET 16 SCHEDULE

Thursday, March 26
Friday, March 27

At this stage of the tournament only sixteen teams remain. The Sweet 16 often features powerhouse programs facing emerging Cinderella teams.

ELITE EIGHT SCHEDULE

Saturday, March 28
Sunday, March 29

The winners of the Sweet 16 advance to the Elite Eight where regional champions are crowned and the Final Four field is determined.

FINAL FOUR SCHEDULE

Saturday, April 4, Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis

Final Four Game 1 – 6:00 p.m. ET – TBS
Final Four Game 2 – 8:30 p.m. ET – TBS

The Final Four represents the pinnacle of the NCAA Tournament where four teams compete for a spot in the national championship game.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Monday, April 6, Lucas Oil Stadium – Indianapolis, 8:30 p.m. ET – TBS

The national championship game determines the 2026 NCAA basketball champion.

MARCH MADNESS BETTING AND ODDS

Many basketball fans follow the tournament schedule not only to watch games but also to track odds and betting opportunities.

March Madness provides unique betting scenarios, including

live betting during fast scoring runs
underdog opportunities
tournament futures bets
matchup‑based wagering

Sportsbooks like YouWager provide updated NCAA Tournament lines throughout the event, allowing bettors to compare odds and evaluate potential value during each round of the tournament.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament promises another thrilling edition of March Madness with 67 games played over three weeks of intense competition.

From the First Four in Dayton to the Final Four in Indianapolis, the tournament schedule provides nonstop basketball action as teams chase a national championship.

Fans tracking the full tournament schedule can also follow updated matchup odds and tournament betting lines throughout March Madness at YouWager.

Enjoy the games and expect the unexpected – because in March Madness, anything can happen.