March Madness First Four Games Tip Off Today

Full schedule, TV info, and tipoff times for the NCAA men's basketball tournament's opening round

Mar. 17, 2026 at 2:57am

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The 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament will get underway with the First Four games in Dayton, Ohio. The First Four consists of four games between the last four automatic qualifiers and the last four at-large teams, with the winners advancing to the traditional 64-team bracket that begins on Thursday, March 19.

Why it matters

The First Four has produced some memorable Cinderella stories in recent years, with at least one at-large First Four team winning in 12 of the previous 13 tournaments. Two teams from the First Four have even made the Final Four, adding to the excitement and unpredictability of the opening round of March Madness.

The details

On Tuesday, March 17, Texas will face North Carolina State, and UMBC will play Howard, with the winners advancing to the West and Midwest Regions respectively. On Wednesday, March 18, Miami of Ohio will play SMU, and Prairie View A&M will face Lehigh, with the winners moving on to the Midwest and South Regions.

  • The First Four games will be played on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18.
  • The Final Four semifinal games will be played on Saturday, April 4 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • The national championship game will be held on Monday, April 6 in Indianapolis.

The players

Texas

One of the last four at-large teams to make the NCAA tournament field.

North Carolina State

One of the last four automatic qualifiers to make the NCAA tournament field.

UMBC

One of the last four automatic qualifiers to make the NCAA tournament field.

Howard

One of the last four automatic qualifiers to make the NCAA tournament field.

Miami of Ohio

One of the last four at-large teams to make the NCAA tournament field.

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What’s next

The winners of the First Four games will advance to the traditional 64-team bracket, which begins on Thursday, March 19.

The takeaway

The First Four games kick off the excitement of March Madness, providing an opportunity for underdogs to make a surprise run and advance deep into the tournament. With a history of producing Cinderella stories and even Final Four teams, the First Four is a must-watch start to the NCAA men's basketball tournament.