2026 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight schedule: March Madness bracket, game dates, tip times, TV channels



2026 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight schedule: March Madness bracket, game dates, tip times, TV channels

We’re just two games away from setting the field for the 2026 Final Four in Indianapolis, with a pair of exciting regional final matchups set to close out the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. 

While the madness is dwindling in terms of the number of games, the intensity continues to crank up with two exciting Sunday clashes. First, No. 1 seed Michigan takes on No. 6 seed Tennessee in Chicago. 

The weekend culminates with a matchup between two of the best programs over the last 30 years in No. 1 seed Duke and No. 2 seed UConn.  Tennessee is seeking its first Final Four appearance in program history, while Michigan can return to the final weekend of the college basketball season for the first time since 2018 with a win.

Here is a full breakdown of the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Be sure to follow the live bracket throughout March Madness. The Blue Devils can reach the Final Four for the second consecutive year with a win, while UConn can make it three trips in four seasons with an upset.

2026 NCAA Tournament schedule, dates

Elite Eight

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

Time (ET) Game TV / Stream
2:15 p.m. (1) Michigan vs. (6) Tennessee || Chicago CBS (watch live)
5:05 p.m. (1) Duke vs. (2) UConn || Washington DC CBS (watch live)

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 Four

Tuesday, March 17
UD Arena (Dayton)

Wednesday, March 18
UD Arena (Dayton)

First round

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

Time (ET) Game TV / 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 82, (6) North Carolina 78 (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) Game TV / 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

Second round

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

Time (ET) Game TV / Stream
12:10 p.m. (2) Purdue 79, (7) Miami (FL) 69 Highlights
2:45 p.m. (2) Iowa State  82, (7)  Kentucky 63  Highlights
5:15 p.m. (5) St. John’s 67, (4) Kansas 65 Highlights
6:10 p.m. (6) Tennessee 79, (3) Virginia 72 Highlights
7:10 p.m. (9) Iowa 73, (1) Florida 72 Highlights
7:50 p.m. (1) Arizona 78, (9) Utah State 66 Highlights
8:45 p.m. (2) UConn 73, (7) UCLA 57 Highlights
9:45 p.m. (4) Alabama 90, (5) Texas Tech 65 Highlights

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

Sweet 16

Sweet 16

Friday, March 27

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)