It’s been a wild week for the men’s March Madness tournament that has seen the exit of powerhouse teams like Florida, Virginia and Gonzaga, but only, well, 16 can make it to the Sweet 16, which begins today. Among tonight’s biggest matchups is the game between No. 2 Houston and No. 3 Illinois at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX. The game will tip off at 10:05 p.m. ET and it will air on TBS and truTV, and streams on HBO Max.
For a list of key dates, teams, and how to watch every March Madness game, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a look at how to watch the entire NCAA tournament all the way up to the Championship Final.
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How to watch Houston vs. Illinois in the March Madness Sweet 16:
Dates: Thursday, March 26, 2026
Time: 10:05 p.m.
TV channel: TBS/truTV
Streaming: DirecTV, HBO Max and more
When is the Houston vs. Illinois game?
The Houston vs. Illinois game is this Thursday, March 26. Tipoff is at 10:05 p.m. ET.
Where to watch the Houston vs. Illinois game:
Thursday’s Houston vs. Illinois game airs on TBS and truTV.
Where to stream March Madness games without cable:
Every game of the 2026 men’s March Madness Tournament that’s on TBS, TNT or truTV will stream on HBO Max. You’ll also be able to access the game on live TV services like DirecTV.
HBO Max is the streaming home for tons of great sports programming, including NCAA sports like the men’s March Madness tournament. That means that games that are broadcast on networks like TNT, TBS, and truTV will also be available to stream for HBO Max subscribers.
In addition to great sports programming, HBO Max is also home to great shows like The Pitt, Industry, and more. Subscriptions to the platform begin at $10.99, but to watch live sports, you’ll need a Standard or Premium plan, which run $18.49/month or $22.99/month respectively.
Which teams are competing in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament?
The following is a breakdown of every Sweet 16 game schedule including who’s playing and how to watch.
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All times Eastern
Thursday, March 26
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7:10 p.m.: No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 11 Texas (CBS)
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7:30 p.m: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 9 Iowa (TBS/truTV)
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9:45 p.m.: No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 4 Arkansas (CBS)
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10:05 pm.: No. 2 Houston vs. No. 3 Illinois (TBS/truTV)
Friday, March 27
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7:10 p.m.: No. 1 Duke vs. No. 5 St. John’s (CBS)
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7:35 p.m.: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama (TBS/truTV)
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9:45 p.m.: No. 2 UConn vs. No. 6 Michigan State (CBS)
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10:10 p.m.: No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 6 Tennessee (TBS/truTV)
2026 NCAA men’s basketball tournament schedule:
The schedule and locations for the men’s tournament:
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Selection Sunday: 6 p.m. ET Sunday, March 15 on CBS
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First Four: Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18
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First round: Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20
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Second round: Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22
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Sweet 16: Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27
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Elite Eight: Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29
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Final Four: Saturday, April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
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NCAA championship game: Monday, April 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis
