Friday's Busy Sports Schedule: Sweet 16 Hoops, MLB, and More

From college basketball to auto racing, a full slate of sporting events to watch on Friday.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 2:49am

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Friday's sports calendar is packed with a wide variety of events, including men's and women's NCAA basketball tournament Sweet 16 games, MLB matchups, IndyCar and Formula 1 practice and qualifying, college baseball, softball, hockey, figure skating, golf, NBA, NHL, and even the United Football League.

Why it matters

With March Madness in full swing and the spring sports season ramping up, this Friday offers sports fans a smorgasbord of live action across numerous leagues and competitions to follow throughout the day and into the night.

The details

The day's highlights include Sweet 16 games in the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments, featuring high-profile matchups like Duke vs. St. John's and UConn vs. Michigan State on the men's side, and UConn vs. North Carolina and UCLA vs. Minnesota on the women's side. There's also a full slate of MLB games, including the Angels visiting the Astros and the Dodgers hosting the Diamondbacks. Open-wheel racing fans can catch IndyCar and Formula 1 practice and qualifying, while college baseball, softball, hockey, figure skating, golf, NBA, NHL, and even the upstart United Football League are all in action as well.

  • The men's and women's NCAA basketball tournament Sweet 16 games will be played throughout the evening, starting at 6:10 PM local time.
  • MLB games will be played in the evening, with first pitch times ranging from 6:00 PM to 8:40 PM local time.
  • IndyCar practice is scheduled for 2:30 PM local time, while Formula 1 practice is at 9:30 PM and qualifying is at 1:00 AM.

The players

NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, also known as March Madness, is an annual college basketball competition that determines the national champion at the Division I level.

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament

The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament is an annual college basketball competition that determines the national champion at the Division I level for women's teams.

Major League Baseball (MLB)

Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league, the oldest of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.

IndyCar Series

The IndyCar Series is the premier level of open-wheel racing in the United States and Canada.

Formula 1

Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1, is the highest class of international open-wheel car racing.

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The takeaway

This Friday's jam-packed sports schedule offers something for every fan, from college basketball's March Madness to the start of the spring sports season across baseball, motorsports, and more. It's a great day to settle in and enjoy the full breadth of live sporting events on display.