2026 NCAA Tournament bracket: March Madness first round schedule, scores by region
The Sweet 16 continues Friday night as there are more heavyweight battles with a ticket to the Elite Eight on the line. As Hall of Fame coaches and superstar players take the field in Chicago and Washington DC, we’ll have your scores updated here on CBS Sports.
The evening begins with a matchup between No. 5 seed St. John’s and No. 1 seed Duke at 7:10 p.m. ET. This match features a coaching legend, Rick Pitino, taking on one of the best young coaches in the game – Jon Scheyer. Pitino is looking for his first Elite Eight appearance since the 2014-15 season at Louisville, and Scheyer can move closer to his first national title.
Approximately 150 minutes into this game, college basketball fans will be treated to another marquee practice game. Tom Izzo will lead No. 3 seed Michigan State against Dan Hurley and No. 2 seed UConn at 9:45 p.m. ET. These two have combined for three national championships, and there could very easily be four by the end of March Madness.
The second night of Sweet 16 games will also feature No. 6 seed Tennessee against No. 2 seed Iowa State and No. 4 seed Alabama against No. 1 seed Michigan. These two matches will be played in Chicago.
Stay here for score updates on the results as we finalize the Elite Eight field.
2026 NCAA tournament bracket, scores
All times Eastern
East
FIRST ROUND
Thursday March 19 — Greenville
Thursday — Ox
Friday March 20 – San Diego
Friday – Philadelphia
SECOND ROUND
Saturday March 21 – Greenville
Saturday — Ox
Sunday March 22 – San Diego
Sunday – Philadelphia
SWEET 16
Friday, March 25 – Washington, DC
- (5) St. John’s vs. (1) Duke | 7:10 p.m. | CBS
- (3) Michigan State vs. (2) UConn | 9:45 p.m. | CBS
West
FIRST FOUR
Tuesday March 17 – Dayton
FIRST ROUND
Thursday March 19 – Portland
Friday March 20 – San Diego
Friday – Saint-Louis
SECOND ROUND
Saturday March 20 – Portland
Sunday March 21 – San Diego
Sunday – Saint-Louis
SWEET 16
Thursday March 26 – San José
- (2) Purdue 79, (11) Texas 77
- (4) Arkansas vs. (1) Arizona | 9:45 p.m. | CBS
Midwest
FIRST FOUR
Tuesday March 17 – Dayton
Wednesday March 18 – Dayton
FIRST ROUND
Thursday March 19 — Buffalo
Friday March 20 – Saint-Louis
Friday – Tampa
Friday – Philadelphia
SECOND ROUND
Saturday March 21 — Buffalo
Sunday March 22 – Saint-Louis
Sunday – Tampa
Sunday – Philadelphia
SWEET 16
Friday March 27 – Chicago
- (4) Alabama vs. (1) Michigan | 7:35 p.m. | TBS
- (6) Tennessee vs. (2) Iowa State | 10:10 p.m. | TBS
South
FIRST FOUR
Wednesday March 18 – Dayton
FIRST ROUND
Thursday March 19 – Oklahoma City
Thursday – Greenville
Thursday – Oklahoma City
Friday March 20 – Tampa
SECOND ROUND
Saturday March 21 – Greenville
Saturday – Oklahoma City
Sunday March 22 – Tampa
SWEET 16
Thursday March 26 – Houston
- (9) Iowa 77, (4) Nebraska 71
- (4) Arkansas vs. (1) Arizona | 10:05 p.m. | TBS
Final four
Saturday April 4 — start at 6:09 p.m. (TBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
National Championship
Monday April 6 — 8:50 p.m. (TBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
