2026 First Four TV Schedule: Matchups, Times, and Channels – Sports Brackets
The wait is over. The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament officially tips off Tuesday, March 17, with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. These eight teams are fighting for the final four spots in the 64-team bracket, and the action starts now.
Note: All First Four games will be broadcast exclusively on truTV.
2026 First Four TV Schedule
Here’s the 2026 First Four TV schedule for you. All of the men’s games for this round of the tournament are being shown on truTV.
Tuesday, March 17 – Opening Night
The tournament begins with a battle of 16-seeds followed by a high-stakes matchup between two “Power 4” programs.
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Seed | Region | TV Channel |
| 6:40 PM | UMBC vs. Howard | 16 | Midwest | truTV |
| 9:10 PM* | Texas vs. NC State | 11 | West | truTV |
*Approximate tip-off time; game will start 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
Wednesday, March 18 – The Final Spots
Wednesday features the final two play-in games to determine which 16-seed faces Florida and which 11-seed takes on Tennessee.
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Seed | Region | TV Channel |
| 6:40 PM | Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh | 16 | South | truTV |
| 9:10 PM* | Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU | 11 | Midwest | truTV |
*Approximate tip-off time; game will start 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
What’s on the Line?
The winners of these games move directly into the primary bracket:
- UMBC/Howard winner advances to face (1) Michigan on Thursday.
- Texas/NC State winner advances to face (6) BYU on Thursday.
- Prairie View/Lehigh winner advances to face (1) Florida on Friday.
- Miami (OH)/SMU winner advances to face (6) Tennessee on Friday.
📥 Finish Your Bracket Before Tip-Off!
Don’t get caught without a bracket when the first ball is tipped in Dayton. Download the Official 2026 Men’s March Madness Bracket Bundle (PDF) now.
Our bundle includes:
- High-Res 1-Page Printable Bracket
- First Four to Final Four Tracking Sheet
- 2026 Tournament TV Grid
How to Watch truTV for the First Four
If you don’t have cable, you can stream truTV on the following platforms:
- YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DIRECTV STREAM (All include truTV).
- Max (formerly HBO Max): Subscribers can stream all TBS, TNT, and truTV games live via the B/R Sports Add-on.
- March Madness Live App: Available on iOS, Android, and most connected TV devices (requires provider login).
