March Madness schedule today: Times, TV channels, live streams, scores for Thursday Round 1 NCAA tournament games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The First Four games marked the official start of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, but college basketball fans know that March Madness isn’t in full swing until they can sit down and watch an entire day of action.
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Thursday’s slate will feature 16 games, beginning with No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU in the afternoon and concluding with No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho in the evening. No. 1 seeds Duke and Michigan will also hit the court and take on Siena and Howard, respectively.
Here is everything you need to know about the first round of the NCAA Tournament, including TV and streaming options for Thursday’s March Madness games.
March Madness schedule today
Thursday, March 19
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|
Game |
Time (ET) |
TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
|
No. 9 TCU 66, No. 8 Ohio State 64 |
— |
— |
|
No. 4 Nebraska 76, No. 13 Troy 47 |
— |
— |
|
No. 6 Louisville 83, No. 11 South Florida 79 |
— |
— |
|
No. 12 High Point 83, No. 5 Wisconsin 82 |
— |
— |
|
No. 1 Duke 71, No. 16 Siena 65 |
— |
— |
|
No. 5 Vanderbilt 78, No. 12 McNeese 68 |
— |
— |
|
No. 3 Michigan State 92, No. 14 North Dakota State 67 |
— |
— |
|
No. 4 Arkansas 97, No. 13 Hawaii 78 |
— |
— |
|
No. 11 VCU 82, No. 6 North Carolina 78 (OT) |
— |
— |
|
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Howard |
7:10 p.m. |
CBS, Fubo, Paramount+ |
|
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas |
7:25 p.m. |
TBS, DIRECTV |
|
No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M |
7:35 p.m. |
truTV, DIRECTV |
|
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn |
9:25 p.m. |
TNT, DIRECTV |
|
No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis |
9:45 p.m. |
CBS, Fubo, Paramount+ |
|
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State |
10 p.m. |
TBS, DIRECTV |
|
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho |
10:10 p.m. |
truTV, DIRECTV |
MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more
March Madness bracket 2026
You can download Sporting News’ printable NCAA Tournament bracket (PDF) by clicking here.
Printable March Madness bracket 2026 (first four)
How to watch 2026 March Madness games: TV channels, live streams
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TV channels: CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV
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NCAA Tournament games will air on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Viewers can also stream March Madness games on DIRECTV (CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV), Fubo (CBS) and Paramount+ (CBS).
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|
Round |
TV channel |
Live stream |
|
First Four |
truTV |
|
|
First Round |
CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV |
DIRECTV, Fubo, Paramount+ |
|
Second Round |
CBS, TBS, TNT, truTV |
DIRECTV, Fubo, Paramount+ |
|
Sweet 16 |
CBS, TBS, truTV |
DIRECTV, Fubo, Paramount+ |
|
Elite Eight |
CBS, TBS, truTV |
DIRECTV, Fubo, Paramount+ |
|
Final Four |
TBS, truTV |
DIRECTV |
|
Championship |
TBS, truTV |
DIRECTV |
How to listen to NCAA Tournament games on the radio
You can listen to NCAA Tournament games live on SiriusXM. Channels for games are listed below.
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Thursday, March 19
|
Game |
Time (ET) |
SiriusXM channel |
|---|---|---|
|
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 TCU |
12:15 p.m. |
201 |
|
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy |
12:40 p.m. |
202 |
|
No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida |
1:30 p.m. |
203 |
|
No. 5 Wisconsin vs. No. 12 High Point |
1:50 p.m. |
204 |
|
No. 1 Duke vs. No. 16 Siena |
2:50 p.m. |
201 |
|
No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese |
3:15 p.m. |
202 |
|
No. 3 Michigan State vs. No. 14 North Dakota State |
4:05 p.m. |
203 |
|
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 13 Hawaii |
4:25 p.m. |
204 |
|
No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU |
6:50 p.m. |
201 |
|
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 16 Howard |
7:10 p.m. |
203 |
|
No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas |
7:25 p.m. |
204 |
|
No. 7 Saint Mary’s vs. No. 10 Texas A&M |
7:35 p.m. |
202 |
|
No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn |
9:25 p.m. |
201 |
|
No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 9 Saint Louis |
9:45 p.m. |
203 |
|
No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State |
10 p.m. |
204 |
|
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 15 Idaho |
10:10 p.m. |
202 |
