Iowa Faces Defending Champion Florida in March Madness Showdown

Ninth-seeded Hawkeyes look to upset top-seeded Gators in second-round NCAA Tournament matchup

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:21pm

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The University of Iowa men's basketball team advanced to the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a first-round win over Clemson on Friday. The ninth-seeded Hawkeyes will now face the top-seeded Florida Gators on Sunday at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. The game is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. CT and will be televised on TBS.

Why it matters

A second-round matchup against a number one seed presents a significant challenge for the Hawkeyes. While an upset is possible, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen would require a substantial performance from Iowa against the highly-ranked and defending NCAA champion Florida team.

The details

Iowa's win over Clemson marked the program's first victory against a Power Conference opponent in the NCAA Tournament since 1999. The Hawkeyes will now face a tough test against a Florida squad that entered the tournament with a 27-7 record.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 6:10 p.m. CT.
  • Iowa defeated Clemson in the first round on Friday, March 20, 2026.

The players

Ben McCollum

Head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team.

Florida Gators

The top-seeded Florida Gators men's basketball team, the defending NCAA champions, entered the tournament with a 27-7 record.

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What’s next

The winner of the Iowa versus Florida game will advance to the Sweet Sixteen round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This second-round matchup between the ninth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes and the top-seeded defending champion Florida Gators will be a tough test for the Hawkeyes, but an upset victory would mark a significant achievement for the program and propel them into the Sweet Sixteen.