First Four TV Schedule Revealed for 2026 March Madness

Matchups, times, and channels for the opening round games in Dayton

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:19pm

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The full TV schedule for the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament's First Four games in Dayton, Ohio has been announced. The First Four will take place on March 17 and 18, with four games determining the final 64-team field for the main March Madness tournament.

Why it matters

The First Four games are the official start of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, setting the stage for the thrilling three weeks of March Madness. These play-in games determine the final four teams that will compete in the first round, making them an important part of filling out brackets and getting ready for the tournament's excitement.

The details

On Tuesday, March 17, No. 16 seeds UMBC and Howard will face off at 6:40 PM ET on truTV, followed by an 11-seed matchup between Texas and North Carolina State at 9:15 PM ET. The next night, Wednesday, March 18, No. 16 seeds Prairie View A&M and Lehigh will play at 6:40 PM ET, with No. 11 seeds Miami (Ohio) and SMU closing out the First Four at 9:15 PM ET, also on truTV.

  • The First Four games will take place on March 17 and 18, 2026.
  • The first game tips off at 6:40 PM ET on Tuesday, March 17.
  • The final First Four game is scheduled for 9:15 PM ET on Wednesday, March 18.

The players

UMBC

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County Retrievers are a No. 16 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Howard

The Howard University Bison are also a No. 16 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Texas

The University of Texas Longhorns are an 11-seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

North Carolina State

The North Carolina State University Wolfpack are the other 11-seed in this First Four matchup.

Prairie View A&M

The Prairie View A&M University Panthers are a No. 16 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Lehigh

The Lehigh University Mountain Hawks are also a No. 16 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Miami (Ohio)

The Miami University RedHawks are an 11-seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

SMU

The Southern Methodist University Mustangs are the other 11-seed in this First Four matchup.

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What’s next

The winners of the First Four games will advance to the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, which begins on Thursday, March 19.

The takeaway

The First Four games kick off the excitement of March Madness, setting the stage for the thrilling three-week tournament that will captivate sports fans across the country. These play-in matchups determine the final teams that will compete for the national championship, making them must-see TV for any college basketball enthusiast.