The Sweet 16 schedule 2026 begins on Thursday, March 26, with four high-stakes matchups across the West and South regions. The action kicks off at 7:10 PM ET as (2) Purdue faces off against (11) Texas on CBS. Thursday’s slate also features a primetime clash between (2) Houston and (3) Illinois. Below is the complete schedule for Thursday and Friday, including tip-off times, TV channels, and streaming links.
Sweet 16 Schedule 2026: Thursday, March 26
Here’s the Sweet 16 schedule 2026 for you. First game is on at 7:10 ET on CBS. Enjoy.
Regional Sites: San Jose, CA (West) & Houston, TX (South)
| Matchup | Region | Time (ET) | TV Channel | Announcers |
| (2) Purdue vs. (11) Texas | West | 7:10 PM | CBS | Anderson / Jackson / LaForce |
| (4) Nebraska vs. (9) Iowa | South | 7:30 PM | TBS / truTV | Harlan / Hummel / Van Gundy |
| (1) Arizona vs. (4) Arkansas | West | 9:45 PM* | CBS | Anderson / Jackson / LaForce |
| (2) Houston vs. (3) Illinois | South | 10:05 PM* | TBS / truTV | Harlan / Hummel / Van Gundy |
*Estimated tip time; game will begin approx. 20 minutes after the conclusion of the previous game at that site.
Sweet 16 Schedule: Friday, March 27
Regional Sites: Washington, D.C. (East) & Chicago, IL (Midwest)
| Matchup | Region | Time (ET) | TV Channel | Announcers |
| (1) Duke vs. (5) St. John’s | East | 7:10 PM | CBS | Eagle / Raftery / Hill |
| (1) Michigan vs. (4) Alabama | Midwest | 7:35 PM | TBS / truTV | Catalon / Lappas / Washburn |
| (2) UConn vs. (3) Michigan State | East | 9:45 PM* | CBS | Eagle / Raftery / Hill |
| (2) Iowa State vs. (6) Tennessee | Midwest | 10:10 PM* | TBS / truTV | Catalon / Lappas / Washburn |
How to Stream the Sweet 16 Online
If you aren’t near a TV tonight, you can stream every second of the action:
- CBS Games: Stream live via Paramount+ or the CBS Sports App.
- TBS/truTV Games: Stream via the Max (formerly HBO Max) app or the NCAA March Madness Live site.
- Mobile: The NCAA March Madness Live app is the best way to track scores and watch multi-game “Fast Break” coverage.
Essential March Madness Resources
- Printable 2026 Sweet 16 March Madness Bracket (PDF) – Update your picks before the Sweet 16 tips off.
- March Madness TV Schedule: Full Guide – A complete breakdown of announcers and broadcast windows.
2026 March Madness Bingo – Fun, free printable bingo game to play with your friends and family this weekend.
