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There are a few Thursday evenings that are usually marked each year in sports fans’ calendars. The first NFL game of the season, Thanksgiving, the NBA trade deadline, and the NFL and NBA drafts are staples of the sports world, but even they can pale from the first day of the NCAA Tournament.
Of course, March Madness is following a different schedule this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first four games, which typically take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, all take place on Thursday of this year, which means the first round of the NCAA tournament will officially begin on Friday of this year. This means that starting at 12:15 p.m. ET and throughout the day, college basketball fans will be treated to 16 games of winning or coming home basketball.
There will surely be upheavals. The brackets will be broken, and fan favorite Cinderellas will emerge. And after the cancellation of March Madness in 2020 due to the pandemic, college basketball fans will only be delighted to see their favorite players and the tournament winner’s picks go head to head in what is arguably the most great playoff game of sport.
Here’s everything you need to know about the first round of the NCAA Tournament, including a full schedule with TV channels and start times.
AFTER: Watch select March Madness games live with fuboTV (7 day free trial)
What channel is March Madness on today?
Friday March 19
| Thu | Time | Channel |
| (7) Florida vs. (10) Virginia Tech | 12:15 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| (3) Arkansas vs. (14) Colgate | 12:45 p.m. | truTV |
| (1) Illinois vs. (16) Drexel | 1:15 p.m. | TBS |
| (6) Texas Tech vs. (11) State of Utah | 1:45 p.m. | TNT |
| (2) State of Ohio vs. (15) Oral Roberts | 3 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| (1) Baylor v (16) Hartford | 3:30 p.m. | truTV |
| (8) Loyola Chicago vs. (9) Georgia Tech | 4 p.m. | TBS |
| (5) Tennessee vs. (12) State of Oregon | 4:30 p.m. | TNT |
| (4) Oklahoma State vs. (13) Liberty | 6:25 p.m. | TBS |
| (8) North Carolina vs. (9) Wisconsin | 7:10 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| (2) Houston v (15) Cleveland State | 7:15 p.m. | truTV |
| (4) Purdue vs. (13) North Texas | 7:25 p.m. | TNT |
| (7) Clemson vs. (10) Rutgers | 9:20 p.m. | TBS |
| (6) San Diego State vs. (11) Syracuse | 9:40 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| (3) West Virginia v (14) Morehead State | 9:50 p.m. | truTV |
| (5) Villanova vs. (12) Winthrop | 21:57 | TNT |
Every hour in the East
LIVE: Follow SN’s March Madness bracket for scores and more
How to Watch NCAA Tournament Games
Friday’s March Madness matches will air nationally on CBS, TBS, TNT and cable truTV.
March Madness Live is the live streaming hub on NCAA.com. All games broadcast on CBS can also be streamed on fubtoTV, which offers a free seven-day trial.
7. Florida vs. 10. Virginia Tech
- Time: 12:15 p.m.
- TV channel: CBS
- Direct: Paramount +, fuboTV
- Broadcast team: Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
3. Arkansas vs. 14. Colgate
- Time: 12:45 p.m.
- TV channel: truTV
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Spero Dedes, Brendan Haywood, Lauren Shehadi
1. Illinois vs. 16. Drexel
- Time: 1:15 p.m.
- TV channel: TBS
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner and Dana Jacobson
6. Texas Tech vs. 11. State of Utah
- Time: 1:45 p.m.
- TV channel: TNT
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Carter Blackburn, Debbie Antonelli, Evan Washburn
2. State of Ohio vs. 15. Oral Roberts
- Time: 3 p.m.
- TV channel: CBS
- Direct: Paramount +, fuboTV
- Broadcast team: Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, Jamie Erdahl
1. Baylor vs. 16. Hartford
- Time: 3:30 p.m.
- TV channel: truTV
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Lisa Byington, Steve Smith, AJ Ross
8. Loyola Chicago vs. 9. Georgia Tech
- Time: 4 p.m.
- TV channel: TBS
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
5. Tennessee vs. 12. State of Oregon
- Time: 4:30 p.m.
- TV channel: TNT
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Spero Dedes, Brendan Haywood, Lauren Shehadi
4. State of Oklahoma vs. 13. Freedom
- Time: 6:25 p.m.
- TV channel: TBS
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner and Dana Jacobson
8. North Carolina vs. 9. Wisconsin
- Time: 7:10 p.m.
- TV channel: CBS
- Direct: Paramount +, fuboTV
- Broadcast team: Ian Eagle, Jim Spanarkel, Jamie Erdahl
2. Houston vs. 15. Cleveland State
- Time: 7:15 p.m.
- TV channel: truTV
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Carter Blackburn, Debbie Antonelli, Evan Washburn
4. Purdue vs. 13. North Texas
- Time: 7:25 p.m.
- TV channel: TNT
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Tom McCarthy, Avery Johnson, AJ Ross
7. Clemson vs. 10. Rutgers
- Time: 9:20 p.m.
- TV channel: TBS
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Spero Dedes, Brendan Haywood, Lauren Shehadi
6. State of San Diego vs. 11 Syracuse
- Time: 9:40 p.m.
- TV channel: CBS
- Direct: Paramount +, fuboTV
- Broadcast team: Jim Nantz, Bill Raftery, Grant Hill, Tracy Wolfson
3. West Virginia vs. 14. Morehead State
- Time: 9:50 p.m.
- TV channel: truTV
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Lisa Byington, Steve Smith, AJ Ross
5. Villanova against 12. Winthrop
- Time: 21:57
- TV channel: TNT
- Direct: March Madness Live
- Broadcast team: Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner and Dana Jacobson
March Madness 2021 Calendar
Round 1
Friday March 19
| Thu | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 5: # 10 Virginia Tech vs # 7 Florida | 12:15 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 6: No.14 Colgate vs. No.3 Arkansas | 12:45 p.m. | truTV |
| Game 7: No.16 Drexel vs. No.1 Illinois | 1:15 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 8: 11th State of Utah vs. 6th Texas Tech | 1:45 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 9: No 15 Oral Roberts vs. No 2 Ohio State | 3 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 10: No.16 Hartford vs. No.1 Baylor | 3:30 p.m. | truTV |
| Game 11: No.9 Georgia Tech vs. No.8 Loyola Chicago | 4 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 12: No.12 Oregon State vs No.5 Tennessee | 4:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 13: No 13 Liberty vs No 4 Oklahoma State | 6:25 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 14: No.9 Wisconsin vs No.8 North Carolina | 7:10 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 15: No.15 Cleveland State vs. No.2 Houston | 7:15 p.m. | truTV |
| Game 16: No 13 North Texas vs. No 4 Purdue | 7:25 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 17: No.10 Rutgers vs. No.7 Clemson | 9:20 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 18: # 11 Syracuse vs # 6 San Diego State | 9:40 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 19: No.14 Morehead State vs No.3 West Virginia | 9:50 p.m. | truTV |
| Game 20: No 12 Winthrop No 5 Villanova | 21:57 | TNT |
Saturday March 20
| Thu | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 21: No 12 Georgetown vs. No 5 Colorado | 12:15 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 22: No 13 UNC Greensboro vs. No 4 Florida State | 12:45 p.m. | truTV |
| Game 23: # 14 East Washington vs # 3 Kansas | 1:15 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 24: N ° 9 Saint-Bonaventure vs N ° 8 LSU | 1:45 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 25: No.16 Texas Southern vs No.1 Michigan | 3 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 26: No.12 UC Santa Barbara vs. No.5 Creighton | 3:30 p.m. | truTV |
| Game 27: No.15 Iona vs. No.2 Alabama | 4 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 28: # 11 Drake vs. # 6 USC | 4:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 29: No.15 Grand Canyon vs. No.2 Iowa | 6:25 p.m. | TBS |
| Thu 30: No.10 Maryland vs. No.7 UConn | 7:10 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 31: # 13 Ohio vs # 4 Virginia | 7:15 p.m. | truTV |
| Game 32: No.9 Missouri vs. No.8 Oklahoma | 7:25 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 33: No.16 Norfolk State vs. No.1 Gonzaga | 9:20 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 34: # 11 UCLA vs # 6 BYU | 9:40 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 35: No.14 Abilene Christian vs. No.3 Texas | 9:50 p.m. | truTV |
| Game 36: # 10 VCU vs # 7 Oregon | 21:57 | TNT |
2nd round
Sunday March 21
Sunday’s second round peak times will be announced after Friday’s games.
| Thu | Time (ET) | TV |
| Thu 37 | Noon | CBS, fuboTV |
| Thu 38 | 2:30 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Thu 39 | 5 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 40 | 6 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 41 | 7 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 42 | 7:30 p.m. | truTV |
| Game 43 | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 44 | 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
Monday March 22
Monday’s second round peak times will be announced after Saturday’s games.
| Thu | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 45 | Noon | CBS, fuboTV |
| Thu 46 | 2:30 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 47 | 5 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 48 | 6 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 49 | 7 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 50 | 7:30 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 51 | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 52 | 9:30 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
Sweet 16
Saturday March 27
| Thu | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 53 | 2:30 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 54 | 5 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 55 | 7:15 p.m. | TBS |
| Thu 56 | 9:45 p.m. | TBS |
Sunday March 28
| Thu | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 57 | 14 hours | CBS, fuboTV |
| Game 58 | 4:45 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Thu 59 | 7 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 60 | 9:45 p.m. | TBS |
Elite Eight
Monday March 29
Tuesday March 30
| Thu | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 63 | 7 p.m. | TBS |
| Game 64 | 9:45 p.m. | TBS |
Final square
Saturday April 3
NCAA Tournament National Championship
Monday April 5
| Thu | Time (ET) | TV |
| Game 67 | 9 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
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