Florida Gators face Prairie View Panthers in March Madness Round 1

Here's how to watch the NCAA Tournament matchup between the top-seeded Gators and the 16-seed Panthers

Mar. 20, 2026 at 7:50am

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The first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament continues in Tampa, Florida, as the No. 1 overall seed Florida Gators take on the Prairie View A&M Panthers, who advanced through the First Four. The Gators are the reigning national champions and are under pressure to defend their title, while the Panthers will look to pull off a historic upset as a 16-seed.

Why it matters

This matchup features a stark contrast in tournament experience and pedigree, as the powerhouse Gators program faces off against the upstart Panthers, who are seeking their first-ever NCAA Tournament win. A Florida victory would keep them on track for a potential title defense, while a Prairie View upset would send shockwaves through the tournament.

The details

The Gators enter the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed after a dominant regular season, while Prairie View earned its spot in the field by winning the First Four game against Lehigh. Florida has a significant talent advantage, led by its deep and experienced roster, but the Panthers will look to pull off the unthinkable with an inspired underdog performance.

  • The game is scheduled to tip off at 9:25 p.m. ET on Friday, March 29, 2026.
  • This marks just the second-ever meeting between Florida and Prairie View A&M, with the Gators winning the previous matchup 94-33 in 2006.

The players

Florida Gators

The reigning NCAA champions and the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 tournament, the Gators are led by a deep and experienced roster and are favored to make a deep run in their title defense.

Prairie View A&M Panthers

The Panthers are making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament proper after advancing through the First Four. As a 16-seed, they will be heavy underdogs against the top-seeded Gators but will look to pull off a historic upset.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The winner of the Florida-Prairie View matchup will advance to face the winner of the game between the 8-seed and 9-seed in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This first-round clash between the top-seeded Gators and the underdog Panthers represents the stark contrast in tournament experience and pedigree that is a hallmark of March Madness, as Florida looks to defend its title while Prairie View seeks a historic upset victory.