Today is the defining day of the college basketball calendar before the bracket is revealed. Championship Saturday features the final automatic bids that determine the field of 68.
With significant finals in the Big 12, ACC, and Big East, today’s results will dictate the final order of our Selection Sunday Bubble Tracker.
2026 Championship Saturday Schedule (Men’s Division I)
The winners of these matchups will secure their place in the 2026 NCAA tournament and finalize the top of the seed list. All times are Eastern Time (ET).
| Game Time (ET) | Matchup | Network | Significance |
| 11:00 AM | Vermont vs. UMBC | ESPN2 | America East Final: A classic mid-major rivalry. |
| 1:00 PM | NC Central vs. Howard | ESPN2 | MEAC Final: Playing for the automatic bid in Norfolk. |
| 6:00 PM | #5 Houston vs. #2 Arizona | ESPN | Big 12 Final: A battle for a potential #1 overall seed. |
| 6:00 PM | San Diego State vs. Utah State | CBS | Mountain West Final: Direct impact on at-large safety. |
| 6:30 PM | #6 UConn vs. #13 St. John’s | FOX | Big East Final: The spotlight at Madison Square Garden. |
| 8:00 PM | Toledo vs. Akron | ESPN2 | MAC Final: Winner punches their ticket to the dance. |
| 8:30 PM | #10 Virginia vs. #1 Duke | ESPN | ACC Final: The Cavaliers look to upset the top-ranked Blue Devils. |
| 8:30 PM | Kennesaw St. vs. LA Tech | CBSSN | CUSA Final: High-stakes showdown in Huntsville. |
| 10:00 PM | Hawai’i vs. UC Irvine | ESPN2 | Big West Final: The final bid from the West Coast tonight. |
| 7:30 PM | Prairie View vs. Southern | ESPNU | SWAC Final: A championship fight in Georgia. |
| 11:59 PM | Cal Baptist vs. Utah Valley | ESPN2 | WAC Final: The nightcap of Championship Saturday |
The Conference Semifinals (Big Ten & SEC)
While these teams play for titles tomorrow, today’s semifinals serve as the final resume builders for seeding.
- 12:00 PM – Big Ten: #23 Wisconsin vs. #3 Michigan (CBS)
- 1:00 PM – SEC: #22 Vanderbilt vs. #4 Florida (ESPN)
- 3:30 PM – SEC: Ole Miss vs. #17 Arkansas (ESPN)
- 3:30 PM – Big Ten: #18 Purdue vs. UCLA (CBS)
Selection Sunday Preparation
- Print Your Brackets: Avoid the Sunday night rush and download the Complete 2026 Bracket PDF Bundle now to track today’s automatic qualifiers.
- Review the Full Calendar: See the complete list of dates and host cities in our 2026 March Madness Schedule.
- Host a Watch Party: Keep your friends engaged during the championship triple-headers with our March Madness Bingo Cards.
