March Madness First Four TV Schedule, Tip off Times of All 4 Games

First Four for Men's March Madness 2026 Schedule: Game times, dates, where to watch, TV channel, live streaming

The First Four has been set.

In the next few hours, eight Division I college basketball teams will hop on a plane and travel to Dayton, Ohio to play in a one-of-a-kind play-in tournament in hopes of living out a childhood dream of dancing in the much larger NCAA Tournament.

Those making the trip to UD Arena this year are: American, Mount St. Mary's, Alabama State, Saint Francis, San Diego State, North Carolina, Texas, and Xavier. Games will start on Tuesday, March 18 and run through Wednesday, March 19 at UD Arena.

Men's March Madness bracket for First Four games

Tuesday, March 17 (all times ET) 

6:40 p.m.: (16) UMBC vs. (16) Howard

Winner advances to face No. 1 Michigan in the First Round  

9:15 p.m.: (11) Texas vs. (11) NC State

Winner advances to face No. 6 BYU in the First Round

Wednesday, March 18 

6:40 p.m.: (16) Prairie View A&M vs. (16) Lehigh

Winner advances to face No. 1 Florida in the First Round  

9:15 p.m.: (11) Miami (OH) vs. (11) SMU

Winner advances to face No. 6 Tennessee in the First Round

Where to Watch March Madness: What channel is the First Four on Today?

TV channel: truTV

Streaming option: March Madness Live | Sling TV

TruTV will broadcast both nights of the First Four of the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament. Streaming options for the First Four games include the March Madness Live app (with a TV login) and Sling TV.

Where is the First Four for men's March Madness?

Location: UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)

The First Four will be once again played on the campus of the University of Dayton at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament is the 13th time that the First Four will take place at UD Arena since the play-in tournament was added to the overall NCAA Tournament in 2011.

When is the First Four? TV Schedule, dates, tip times for March Madness, channels, streaming

Men's NCAA Tournament First Four Dates: Tuesday, March 17 through Wednesday, March 20

The First Four of the 2026 NCAA Tournament will take place across Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 20. There will be two games each day of the First Four at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio.

Here's a breakdown of the First Four schedule for the 2026 NCAA Tournament:

* - All times ET

Tuesday, March 17

6:40 p.m.: (16) UMBC vs. (16) Howard  

9:15 p.m.: (11) Texas vs. (11) NC State

Wednesday, March 18

6:40 p.m.: (16) Prairie View A&M vs. (16) Lehigh  

9:15 p.m.: (11) Miami (OH) vs. (11) SMU

March Madness First Four Scores, Results of All 4 Games

Winners advance to the First Round (March 19–20): 

UMBC / Howard → plays No. 1 Michigan  

Texas / NC State → plays No. 6 BYU  

Prairie View A&M / Lehigh → plays No. 1 Florida  

Miami (OH) / SMU → plays No. 6 Tennessee

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