The madness officially begins. On Thursday, March 19, the NCAA Tournament moves from the First Four to the Round of 64 with 16 non-stop games. From the opening tip in Greenville to the late-night finale in Portland, here is your complete viewing guide for the biggest day in sports.
Streaming Note: All CBS games stream on Paramount+, while TBS, TNT, and truTV games are available on Max (B/R Sports) and March Madness Live.
2026 March Madness Thursday Schedule
Here you go. The full 2026 March Madness Thursday schedule of games for you. TV assignments, streams and more. It should be a glorious day of men’s college basketball as the 2026 NCAA Tournament schedule gets underway.
Morning Session (The “Work-From-Home” Block)
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Region | Location | TV Channel |
| 12:15 PM | (9) TCU vs. (8) Ohio State | East | Greenville, SC | CBS |
| 12:40 PM | (13) Troy vs. (4) Nebraska | South | Oklahoma City, OK | truTV |
| 1:30 PM | (11) South Florida vs. (6) Louisville | East | Buffalo, NY | TNT |
| 1:50 PM | (12) High Point vs. (5) Wisconsin | West | Portland, OR | TBS |
Afternoon Session (The Upset Watch)
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Region | Location | TV Channel |
| 2:50 PM | (16) Siena vs. (1) Duke | East | Greenville, SC | CBS |
| 3:15 PM | (12) McNeese vs. (5) Vanderbilt | South | Oklahoma City, OK | truTV |
| 4:05 PM | (14) North Dakota State vs. (3) Michigan State | East | Buffalo, NY | TNT |
| 4:25 PM | (9) Hawaii vs. (8) Arkansas | West | Portland, OR | TBS |
Evening Session (Primetime Battles)
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Region | Location | TV Channel |
| 6:50 PM | (11) VCU vs. (6) North Carolina | South | Greenville, SC | TNT |
| 7:10 PM | (16) UMBC/Howard vs. (1) Michigan | Midwest | Buffalo, NY | CBS |
| 7:25 PM | (11) TX/NC St vs. (6) BYU | West | Portland, OR | TBS |
| 7:35 PM | (10) Texas A&M vs. (7) St. Mary’s | South | Oklahoma City, OK | truTV |
Night Session (The West Coast Finish)
| Time (ET) | Matchup | Region | Location | TV Channel |
| 9:25 PM | (14) Penn vs. (3) Illinois | South | Greenville, SC | TNT |
| 9:45 PM | (9) Saint Louis vs. (8) Georgia | Midwest | Buffalo, NY | CBS |
| 10:00 PM | (14) Kennesaw State vs. (3) Gonzaga | West | Portland, OR | TBS |
| 10:10 PM | (15) Idaho vs. (2) Houston | South | Oklahoma City, OK | truTV |
📥 Last Chance: Download Your Thursday Printable Grid
Don’t toggle between tabs all day. Grab the one-page PDF guide that includes all tip times and channels in one clean view.
Download the Official Thursday Master TV Grid (PDF)
Download the Complete 68 Team March Madness Bracket
March Madness 2026 FAQ
Question 1: What time does the first March Madness game start on Thursday? Answer: The first game of the Round of 64 tips off at 12:15 PM ET on Thursday, March 19, featuring (9) TCU vs. (8) Ohio State on CBS.
Question 2: What channel is March Madness on Thursday? Answer: Thursday’s games are split across four networks: CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV. CBS games are also available on Paramount+, while the Turner networks (TBS, TNT, truTV) can be streamed via Max or the March Madness Live app.
Question 3: Where is Duke playing their first-round game in 2026? Answer: The No. 1 overall seed Duke Blue Devils will play (16) Siena at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, at 2:50 PM ET on CBS.
