Last week 68 teams started the 2026 NCAA Tournament with dreams of winning a national title. Just 11 short days later and only eight squads are left with a shot at accomplishing that goal.
Saturday’s games will whittle that field down even more, as two teams will punch their tickets to the Final Four in Indianapolis.
The day starts with two Big Ten teams facing off in the South Region final. No. 3 seed Illinois takes on No. 9 seed Iowa with the right to cut down the nets in Houston on the line (6:09 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV). The nightcap will see No. 2 seed Purdue — fresh off a thrilling win over No. 11 seed Texas — trying to add to the Big Ten flavor in Indianapolis when the Boilermakers take on No. 1 seed Arizona (8:49 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV).
Here is a full breakdown of the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Be sure to follow the live bracket throughout March Madness.
2026 NCAA Tournament bracket, scores
All times Eastern
East
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, March 19 — Greenville
Thursday — Buffalo
Friday, March 20 — San Diego
Friday — Philadelphia
SECOND ROUND
Saturday, March 21 — Greenville
Saturday — Buffalo
Sunday, March 22 — San Diego
Sunday — Philadelphia
SWEET 16
Friday, March 25 — Washington, D.C.
- (1) Duke 80, (5) St. John’s 75
- (2) UConn 67, (3) Michigan State 63
ELITE EIGHT
Sunday, March 27 — Washington D.C.
- (1) Duke vs. (2) UConn | 5:05 p.m. | CBS
West
FIRST FOUR
Tuesday, March 17 — Dayton
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, March 19 — Portland
Friday, March 20 — San Diego
Friday — St. Louis
SECOND ROUND
Saturday, March 20 — Portland
Sunday, March 21 — San Diego
Sunday — St. Louis
SWEET 16
Thursday, March 26 — San Jose
ELITE EIGHT
Saturday, March 27 — San Jose
- (1) Arizona vs. (2) Purdue | 8:45 p.m. | TBS
Midwest
FIRST FOUR
Tuesday, March 17 — Dayton
Wednesday, March 18 — Dayton
FIRST ROUND
Thursday, March 19 — Buffalo
Friday, March 20– St. Louis
Friday — Tampa
Friday — Philadelphia
SECOND ROUND
Saturday, March 21 — Buffalo
Sunday, March 22 — St. Louis
Sunday — Tampa
Sunday — Philadelphia
SWEET 16
Friday, March 27 — Chicago
- (1) Michigan 90, (4) Alabama 77
- (6) Tennessee 76, (2) Iowa State 62
Sunday, March 28 — Chicago
- (1) Michigan vs. (6) Tennessee | 2:15 p.m. | CBS
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
Saturday, March 28 — Houston
- (3) Illinois vs. (9) Iowa | 6:09 p.m. | CBS
Final Four
Saturday, April 4 — 6:09 p.m. start (TBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
National Championship
Monday, April 6 — 8:50 p.m. (TBS)
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
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