March Madness Sweet 16 Schedule and Scores

The 2026 NCAA Tournament continues with the Sweet 16 round this weekend

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:20am

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The Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is set, with several marquee matchups on tap for Friday night. The action tips off at 7:10 p.m. ET as No. 5 seed St. John's takes on No. 1 seed Duke, followed by No. 3 seed Michigan State against No. 2 seed UConn at 9:45 p.m. ET. Other Sweet 16 games include No. 6 seed Tennessee vs. No. 2 seed Iowa State and No. 4 seed Alabama against No. 1 seed Michigan, both played in Chicago.

Why it matters

The Sweet 16 round is a crucial step on the road to the Final Four, as teams vie for a spot in the Elite Eight. Several high-profile coaches and players will be featured in these matchups, making for must-see TV for college basketball fans.

The details

The Sweet 16 action tips off on Friday, March 25 with a pair of games in Washington, D.C. No. 5 seed St. John's takes on No. 1 seed Duke at 7:10 p.m. ET, followed by No. 3 seed Michigan State against No. 2 seed UConn at 9:45 p.m. ET. The second night of Sweet 16 games on March 27 will be played in Chicago, with No. 6 seed Tennessee facing No. 2 seed Iowa State and No. 4 seed Alabama taking on No. 1 seed Michigan.

  • The Sweet 16 begins on Friday, March 25.
  • The first game tips off at 7:10 p.m. ET on March 25.
  • The second game on March 25 begins at 9:45 p.m. ET.
  • The second night of Sweet 16 games is on Friday, March 27.
  • The first game on March 27 tips off at 7:35 p.m. ET.

The players

Rick Pitino

Head coach of the St. John's Redstorm.

Jon Scheyer

Head coach of the Duke Blue Devils.

Tom Izzo

Head coach of the Michigan State Spartans.

Dan Hurley

Head coach of the UConn Huskies.

Juwan Howard

Head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a legendary coach in Rick Pitino. His teams are always well-prepared and play with toughness.”

— Jon Scheyer, Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils

“This Sweet 16 matchup between Michigan State and UConn is going to be an epic clash of coaching titans. Izzo and Hurley have combined for three national titles, and they'll be going all-out to reach the Elite Eight.”

— Dick Vitale, College Basketball Analyst

What’s next

The winners of the Sweet 16 games on March 25 and March 27 will advance to the Elite Eight, which will be played on March 30 and March 31.

The takeaway

The 2026 NCAA Tournament has reached the Sweet 16, and the matchups promise high-level basketball and intense coaching battles. Fans are in for an exciting weekend of March Madness action as teams fight to keep their championship dreams alive.