Texas Tech and Akron to Face Off in March Madness Round 1

Red Raiders look to make another deep tournament run after Elite Eight appearance last year

Mar. 20, 2026 at 6:40am

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The Texas Tech Red Raiders and Akron Zips will square off in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 20. Texas Tech, led by Christian Anderson, Donovan Atwell and LeJaun Watts, finished fourth in the Big 12 and is seeking to make another run to the Final Four after falling just short last year. Akron, the MAC champion, has been on a hot streak and is led by the conference's top scorer, Tavari Johnson.

Why it matters

This 5-12 matchup features two teams with the potential to make a deep tournament run. Texas Tech is looking to build on its Elite Eight appearance last year, while Akron is aiming for its first NCAA Tournament win since 2013. The winner of this game will advance to face the victor of the 4-13 matchup in the second round.

The details

Texas Tech lost star player J.T. Toppin to a torn ACL, but the Red Raiders still have a talented roster led by Christian Anderson, Donovan Atwell and LeJaun Watts. Akron finished the regular season 17-1 in the MAC and won the conference tournament championship. The Zips are led by Tavari Johnson, the MAC's leading scorer, and have three other players averaging double-digit points.

  • The Texas Tech vs. Akron game will tip off at 12:40 p.m. ET on Friday, March 20.
  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament Final Four is scheduled for April 4 and 6 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The players

Texas Tech Red Raiders

The Texas Tech Red Raiders are a Division I college basketball team that competes in the Big 12 Conference. They are led by a talented trio of Christian Anderson, Donovan Atwell and LeJaun Watts.

Akron Zips

The Akron Zips are the athletic teams of the University of Akron, competing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They are led by Tavari Johnson, the MAC's leading scorer, and have three other players averaging double-digit points.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready to face a tough Akron team that has been playing very well. They have some great scorers and we'll need to bring our A-game to advance.”

— Grant McCasland, Head Coach, Texas Tech Red Raiders

“This is our chance to make some noise in the tournament. We've had a great season and we're confident we can pull off the upset against Texas Tech.”

— Tavari Johnson, Guard, Akron Zips

What’s next

The winner of the Texas Tech vs. Akron game will advance to face the winner of the 4-13 matchup in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This first-round clash between Texas Tech and Akron features two teams with the potential to make deep tournament runs. The Red Raiders are looking to build on their Elite Eight appearance last year, while the Zips are aiming for their first NCAA Tournament win since 2013. Whichever team can execute their game plan and get key contributions from their star players will likely advance to the second round.