Is There March Madness Tonight? March 17 Schedule, Games & How to Watch

The 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament officially tips off with the First Four play-in games at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. These are the two games happening tonight to determine the final spots in the 64-team bracket. Furthermore, basketball fans are gearing up for march madness games tonight march 17 as the tournament excitement builds.

Tonight’s March Madness Schedule: Games, Times & TV Channels

6:40 p.m. ET: No. 16 UMBC vs. No. 16 Howard Fans will not want to miss the march madness games tonight, march 17, especially with key matchups on the schedule.

• Midwest Region play-in
• Winner becomes the 16-seed and faces No. 1 Michigan in the first round
• TV/Stream: truTV (also available on March Madness Live app, Paramount+, Sling TV, etc.)

9:15 p.m. ET (approx., follows the first game): No. 11 Texas vs. No. 11 NC State

• West Region play-in
• Winner becomes the 11-seed and faces No. 6 BYU in the first round
• TV/Stream: truTV (also available on March Madness Live app, Paramount+, Sling TV, etc.)

These are the only men’s games tonight — women’s First Four starts tomorrow (March 18). All First Four action is exclusively on truTV this year. In summary, march madness games tonight march 17 will determine which teams fill those pivotal bracket spots.

How to Watch March Madness Tonight (Free Streams, Cable & Apps)

• TV 
  • truTV (check your cable/satellite guide—it’s part of most packages with TBS/TNT)
• Streaming (no cable needed)
  • March Madness Live app/website (free with limited access, or sign in with TV provider for full)
  • Paramount+ (with Showtime plan often carries truTV channels)
  • Sling TV (Orange or Blue packages include truTV—cheap trial available)
  • YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream (all carry truTV)

Key Matchups & Storylines to Watch Tonight

UMBC vs. Howard (6:40 p.m.)

• Classic 16-seed battle — UMBC made history in 2018 as the first 16 to beat a 1-seed (Virginia). Howard brings MEAC toughness. Low odds for a deep run, but these games often deliver drama and bracket-ruining moments if your perfect bracket picks the chalk. Notably, march madness games tonight march 17 are expected to provide plenty of upsets and memorable storylines.

Texas vs. NC State (9:15 p.m.)

• Bigger stakes here — both are power-conference teams (Big 12 & ACC) with talent that could make noise. Texas has athletic wings; NC State brings guard play and recent Sweet 16 experience. This one’s more likely to produce a Cinderella vibe in the main bracket.

What Tonight’s Games Mean for Your Bracket

The winners slot directly into the full 68-team bracket (announced Sunday).

• UMBC/Howard winner → Midwest Region 16-seed vs. Michigan (potential quick upset if you picked chalk everywhere).
• Texas/NC State winner → West Region 11-seed vs. BYU (11-seeds win ~35-40% of first-round games historically—great spot for an upset pick). Fill out your bracket after these results drop (they’ll be quick updates on NCAA.com or the app). Remember: First Four winners can absolutely wreck early-round perfection—only ~1 in billions ever get it right anyway! In conclusion, the march madness games tonight march 17 are particularly influential for bracket strategy.

Full Tournament Schedule: What’s Next After Tonight

Final Four: April 4 & 6 in Indianapolis.

Tomorrow (Wed, March 18): Two more First Four games (Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh at 6:40 p.m., Miami (OH) vs. SMU at 9:15 p.m.—truTV).

Thursday/Friday (March 19-20): First round explodes with 32 games!