2026 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight schedule: March Madness dates and tip times

The 2026 NCAA Tournament’s Final Four is within reach. No. 9 seed Iowa faces No. 3 seed Illinois (6:09 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV) in an all-Big Ten South Region final Saturday in Houston, with a trip to Indianapolis on the line.

The Fighting Illini defeated the Hawkeyes 75-69 on Jan. 11 and are coming off a defensive-minded win over No. 2 seed Houston. Illinois is seeking its first Final Four appearance since 2005, while Iowa has not advanced that far since 1980.

Thanks to Trey Kaufman-Renn’s last-second tip-in against Texas, No. 2 seed Purdue is one win away from its second Final Four in three seasons. The Boilermakers must get past No. 1 seed Arizona in San Jose in the West Region final (8:49 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV) to advance.

Despite being linked to the North Carolina coaching search, Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has kept his team focused deep into March. He is coaching in his first Elite Eight with the Wildcats. Arizona’s only national championship came in 1997 under Lute Olson, and the program is three wins away from matching that feat.

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 schedule, dates

Elite Eight

Saturday, March 28 Toyota Center (Houston), SAP Center (San Jose)

Sunday, March 29United Center (Chicago), Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)

2:15 p.m.(1) Michigan vs. (6) Tennessee || ChicagoCBS (watch live)5:05 p.m.(1) Duke vs. (2) UConn || Washington DCCBS (watch live)

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)

First round

Thursday, March 19KeyBank Center (Buffalo), Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Greenville), Paycom Center (Oklahoma City), Moda Center (Portland)

Time (ET)GameTV / Stream12:15 p.m.(9) TCU 66, (8) Ohio State 64 Highlights12:40 p.m.(4) Nebraska 76, (13) Troy 47 Highlights1:30 p.m.(6) Louisville 83, (11) South Florida 79 Highlights1:50 p.m.(12) High Point 83, (5) Wisconsin 82 Highlights2:50 p.m.(1) Duke 71, (16) Siena 65 Highlights3:15 p.m.(5) Vanderbilt 78, (12) McNeese 68 Highlights4:05 p.m.(3) Michigan State 92, (14) North Dakota State 67 Highlights4:25 p.m.(4) Arkansas 97, (13) Hawaii 78 Highlights6:50 p.m.(11) VCU 82, (6) North Carolina 78 (OT) Highlights7:10 p.m.(1) Michigan 101, (16) Howard 80 Highlights7:25 p.m.(11) Texas 79, (6) BYU 71 Highlights7:35 p.m.(10) Texas A&M 63, (7) Saint Mary’s 50 Highlights9:25 p.m.(3) Illinois 105, (14) Penn 70 Highlights9:45 p.m.(9) Saint Louis 102, (8) Georgia 77 Highlights10 p.m.(1(3) Gonzaga 73, (14) Kennesaw State 64 Highlights10:10 p.m.(2) Houston 78, (15) Idaho 47 Highlights

Friday, March 20Benchmark International Arena (Tampa), Xfinity Mobile Arena (Philadelphia), Viejas Arena (San Diego), Enterprise Center (St. Louis)

Time (ET)GameTV / Stream12:15 p.m.(7) Kentucky 89, (10) Santa Clara 84 Highlights12:40 p.m.(5) Texas Tech 91, (12) Akron 71 Highlights1:35 p.m.(1) Arizona 92, (16) LIU 58 Highlights1:50 p.m.(3) Virginia 82, (14) Wright State 73 Highlights2:50 p.m.(2) Iowa State 108, (15) Tennessee State 74 Highlights3:15 p.m.(4) Alabama 90, (13) Hofstra 70 Highlights4:10 p.m.(9) Utah State 86, (8) Villanova 76 Highlights4:25 p.m.(6) Tennessee 78, (11) Miami (Ohio) 56 Highlights6:50 p.m.(9) Iowa 67, (8) Clemson 61 Highlights7:10 p.m.(5) St. John’s 79, (12) Northern Iowa 53 Highlights7:25 p.m.(10) UCF vs. (7) UCLA Highlights7:35 p.m.(2) Purdue 104, (15) Queens 71 Highlights9:25 p.m.(1) Florida 114, (16) Prairie View A&M 55 Highlights9:45 p.m.(4) Kansas 68, (13) Cal Baptist 60 Highlights10 p.m.(2) UConn 82, (15) Furman 71 Highlights10:10 p.m.(7) Miami (FL) 80, (10) Missouri 66 Highlights