What channel is the First Four on in 2026?

All eight of the First Four games in 2026 are broadcast exclusively on truTV. If you are looking to stream, you can find them on the March Madness Live app or on streaming services that include truTV like YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV.

What time do the First Four games start?

The First Four tournament action begins on both Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18, with the first game tipping off at 6:40 PM ET. The second game of the doubleheader begins approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first game (around 9:10 PM ET).

Which teams are playing in the 2026 First Four?

The 2026 First Four matchups are: Tuesday: (16) UMBC vs. (16) Howard and (11) Texas vs. (11) NC State. Wednesday: (16) Prairie View A&M vs. (16) Lehigh and (11) Miami (Ohio) vs. (11) SMU.

Does the First Four count towards my bracket pool?

Yes. In almost all official bracket contests (including ESPN, CBS, and your office pool), points are awarded for correctly picking the winners of the First Four games. However, since the primary bracket for the 64-team field locks on Thursday morning, many pools use the First Four as "bonus points" or a tiebreaker.

2026 First Four TV Schedule: Matchups, Times, and Channels

Post author:Will Lewis
Post published:March 16, 2026
Post category:NCAA

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).

Will Lewis Editor, Author

Will Lewis has covered sports for over 18 years, specializing in bracketology, tournament predictions, and in-depth analysis across college hoops, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and more. March Madness is his favorite season, fueling his quest for perfect brackets before diving into pro playoffs. A lifelong Kentucky Wildcats fan, Bengals supporter since the Joe Montana era, and now a Padres devotee, Will delivers reliable, fan-first insights at Sports Brackets. Connect on X or comment. He loves talking brackets and more.

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