Mar 15, 2026
·Max Meyer
Selection Sunday has officially delivered the goods. The bracket is out, the debates are raging, the group chats are melting down, and millions of college basketball fans are suddenly convinced they’ve built the perfect bracket.
March Madness is officially back with all the chaos, heartbreak, Cinderella potential and can't-miss matchups that make this tournament one of the best events in sports. Now that the field is set, here’s every 2026 NCAA Tournament first-round game, location and tip time.
2026 NCAA Tournament matchups
Now that the bracket is set, fans can start mapping out every path to the Final Four. Here’s a full look at the 2026 NCAA Tournament matchups, including the First Four and every first-round game by region.
First Four matchups
The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, where four play-in games will determine the final teams in the 64-team bracket. Below is a look at each First Four matchup.
Matchup | City of game | Venue of game | Day of game | Time of game (EST) |
16 Howard vs. 16 UMBC | Dayton, OH | Tuesday, March 17 | 6:40 p.m. | |
16 Lehigh vs. 16 Prairie View A&M | Dayton, OH | UD Arena | Wednesday, March 18 | 6:40 p.m. |
Dayton, OH | UD Arena | Tuesday, March 17 | 9:15 p.m. | |
11 SMU vs. 11 Miami (OH) | Dayton, OH | UD Arena | Wednesday, March 18 | 9:15 p.m. |
East Region first-round matchups
With the bracket now set, here’s a look at every East Region first-round matchup, along with the site, venue and tip time.
Matchup | City of game | Venue of game | Day of game | Time of game (EST) |
1 Duke vs. 16 Siena | Greenville, SC | Thursday, March 19 | 2:50 p.m. | |
8 Ohio State vs. 9 TCU | Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena | Thursday, March 19 | 12:15 p.m. |
5 St. John's vs. 12 Northern Iowa | San Diego, CA | Friday, March 20 | 7:10 p.m. | |
4 Kansas vs. 13 Cal Baptist | San Diego, CA | Viejas Arena | Friday, March 20 | 9:45 p.m. |
6 Louisville vs. 11 South Florida | Buffalo, NY | Thursday, March 19 | 1:30 p.m. | |
3 Michigan State vs. 14 North Dakota State | Buffalo, NY | KeyBank Center | Thursday, March 19 | 4:05 p.m. |
7 UCLA vs. 10 UCF | Philadelphia, PA | Friday, March 20 | 7:25 p.m. | |
2 UConn vs. 15 Furman | Philadelphia, PA | Xfinity Mobile Arena | Friday, March 20 | 10:00 p.m. |
West Region first-round matchups
Here’s a closer look at the West Region first-round matchups, with each game’s location, venue and tip time.
Matchup | City of game | Venue of game | Day of game | Time of game (EST) |
1 Arizona vs. 16 Long Island | San Diego, CA | Friday, March 20 | 1:35 p.m. | |
8 Villanova vs. 9 Utah State | San Diego, CA | Viejas Arena | Friday, March 20 | 4:10 p.m. |
5 Wisconsin vs. 12 High Point | Portland, OR | Thursday, March 19 | 1:50 p.m. | |
4 Arkansas vs. 13 Hawaii | Portland, OR | Moda Center | Thursday, March 19 | 4:25 p.m. |
6 BYU vs. 11 Texas OR NC State | Portland, OR | Moda Center | Thursday, March 19 | 7:25 p.m. |
3 Gonzaga vs. 14 Kennesaw State | Portland, OR | Moda Center | Thursday, March 19 | 10:00 p.m. |
7 Miami (FL) vs. 10 Missouri | St. Louis, MO | Friday, March 20 | 10:10 p.m. | |
2 Purdue vs. 15 Queens | St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center | Friday, March 20 | 7:35 p.m. |
South Region first-round matchups
Below is a full breakdown of the South Region’s first-round slate, including where each game will be played and tip times.
Matchup | City of game | Venue of game | Day of game | Time of game (EST) |
1 Florida vs. 16 Lehigh OR Prairie View A&M | Tampa, FL | Friday, March 20 | 9:25 p.m. | |
8 Clemson vs. 9 Iowa | Tampa, FL | Benchmark International Arena | Friday, March 20 | 6:50 p.m. |
5 Vanderbilt vs. 12 McNeese | Oklahoma City, OK | Thursday, March 19 | 3:15 p.m. | |
4 Nebraska vs. 13 Troy | Oklahoma City, OK | Paycom Center | Thursday, March 19 | 12:40 p.m. |
6 North Carolina vs. 11 VCU | Greenville, SC | Thursday, March 19 | 6:50 p.m. | |
3 Illinois vs. 14 Penn | Greenville, SC | Bon Secours Wellness Arena | Thursday, March 19 | 9:25 p.m. |
7 Saint Mary's vs. 10 Texas A&M | Oklahoma City, OK | Thursday, March 19 | 7:35 p.m. | |
2 Houston vs. 15 Idaho | Oklahoma City, OK | Paycom Center | Thursday, March 19 | 10:10 p.m. |
Midwest Region first-round matchups
The road through the Midwest Region starts here, with every first-round matchup listed below along with its game site, venue and tip time.
Matchup | City of game | Venue of game | Day of game | Time of game (EST) |
1 Michigan vs. 16 UMBC OR Howard | Buffalo, NY | Thursday, March 19 | 7:10 p.m. | |
8 Georgia vs. 9 Saint Louis | Buffalo, NY | KeyBank Center | Thursday, March 19 | 9:45 p.m. |
5 Texas Tech vs. 12 Akron | Tampa, FL | Friday, March 20 | 12:40 p.m. | |
4 Alabama vs. 13 Hofstra | Tampa, FL | Benchmark International Arena | Friday, March 20 | 3:15 p.m. |
6 Tennessee vs. 11 SMU OR Miami (OH) | Philadelphia, PA | Friday, March 20 | 4:25 p.m. | |
3 Virginia vs. 14 Wright State | Philadelphia, PA | Xfinity Mobile Arena | Friday, March 20 | 1:50 p.m. |
7 Kentucky vs. 10 Santa Clara | St. Louis, MO | Friday, March 20 | 12:15 p.m. | |
2 Iowa State vs. 15 Tennessee State | St. Louis, MO | Enterprise Center | Friday, March 20 | 2:50 p.m. |
How to get March Madness tickets on SeatGeek
March Madness is one of the best events in sports to experience live, but ticket shopping can be a little different than what fans are used to during the regular season. Instead of buying for just one game, NCAA Tournament tickets are often sold by session, which usually includes two games at the same site, or as all-session packages that cover multiple sessions in a round.
That’s where SeatGeek comes in. Fans can browse March Madness tickets by round, city and session type, whether they’re looking for a single opening-round doubleheader or an all-session package to follow the action across an entire site. With interactive seat maps, it’s easy to compare sections and see where your seats are located before checkout, while Deal Score helps highlight listings that stand out for value.
Whether you’re trying to catch the First Four in Dayton, see a first-round upset in person or plan ahead for later rounds of the NCAA Tournament, SeatGeek makes it easier to find the right tickets for your budget and game plan.
📁 Categories: NCAA Tournament
🏷️ Tags: March Madness, First Four, Round of 64