Clemson and Iowa Set to Face Off in March Madness Round 1

Fans can tune in to watch the No. 9 seed Hawkeyes take on the No. 8 seed Tigers in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 7:35am

In his first season as head coach, Ben McCollum has led the No. 9 seed Iowa Hawkeyes back to the NCAA Tournament, marking a successful start to a new era for the program. The Hawkeyes (21-12) navigated a challenging Big Ten schedule to earn their first tournament appearance since 2023, relying on a revitalized rotation and the high-level play of their key players. They will now face off against the No. 8 seed Clemson Tigers in the first round of March Madness.

Why it matters

This matchup between the Hawkeyes and Tigers represents an exciting opportunity for both teams to advance in the NCAA Tournament and continue their postseason runs. For Iowa, it's a chance to build on their successful regular season and prove they belong on the national stage. For Clemson, it's an opportunity to knock off a higher-seeded opponent and potentially make a deep tournament push.

The details

The Clemson vs. Iowa game will take place on Thursday, March 20th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS, and fans can also stream the action live on the March Madness Live app.

  • The Clemson vs. Iowa game will take place on Thursday, March 20th.
  • Tip-off is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

The players

Ben McCollum

The first-year head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, who has led the team back to the NCAA Tournament.

Clemson Tigers

The No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, who will face off against Iowa in the first round.

Iowa Hawkeyes

The No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, who are making their first tournament appearance since 2023.

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The takeaway

This first-round matchup between Clemson and Iowa promises to be an exciting and closely contested game, as both teams look to advance in the NCAA Tournament and continue their postseason runs.