Alabama, Texas Tech Set for March Madness Showdown

No. 4 Crimson Tide, No. 5 Red Raiders clash in NCAA Tournament second round

Mar. 23, 2026 at 12:03am

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The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 5 Texas Tech Red Raiders will meet in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Sunday night. Alabama advanced with a 90-70 win over Hofstra, while Texas Tech defeated Akron 91-71. This will be the first-ever March Madness matchup between the two programs.

Why it matters

This game features two of the most efficient offenses in the country, as Alabama ranks 3rd in adjusted offensive efficiency and Texas Tech ranks 10th. The winner will advance to the Sweet 16, putting them just two wins away from the Final Four.

The details

Alabama is 24-9 on the season and is led by a balanced scoring attack, with four players projected to reach double figures. Texas Tech is 23-10 and also has a high-powered offense, scoring 90+ points in its first-round win. The Red Raiders are 1.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 164.5 points.

  • The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 23, 2026 at 9:45 p.m. ET.
  • Alabama defeated Hofstra 90-70 in the first round.
  • Texas Tech defeated Akron 91-71 in the first round.

The players

Alabama Crimson Tide

The No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region, Alabama is 24-9 on the season and ranked 3rd in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency.

Texas Tech Red Raiders

The No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region, Texas Tech is 23-10 on the season and ranked 10th in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency.

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What’s next

The winner of this game will advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This second-round matchup between the high-powered offenses of Alabama and Texas Tech promises to be an exciting and high-scoring affair, with the winner moving one step closer to the Final Four.