College campuses across the nation are in the midst of a hoops frenzy. It’s time for March Madness once again, one of the best times of the year to be a basketball fan. It all gets underway with the pre-event Selection Sunday on March 15. We’ll all be busy burning the midnight oil once again, studying hard, all believing we are top of the class Bracketology students. Only time will tell as the weeks and rounds unfold. One thing is guaranteed, though: non-stop excitement until the NCAA Basketball champions are crowned at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on Monday, April 7.
The 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament will again be a single-elimination competition. Out of 355 eligible college outfits, 68 will participate in the tournament. Since 2022, 32 of the 68 qualified by winning their individual conference tournaments. The remaining 36 sides are decided by a selection committee (NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee). So even though some of the bigger/well-known teams may fail to win their conference tournaments, they know they are very likely/guaranteed to receive a wildcard/at-large berth on Selection Sunday. The Selection Committee also seeds the field from 1 to 68.
The Florida Gators pulled off a hard-fought win will live on in the memory of college basketball fans for years after overcoming the Houston Cougars 65-63. Star player Walter Clayton Jr recieved massive praise for coming up huge on the defensive end of the court, while Will Richard carried the way on offense with 18 points.
On the women’s side, the UConn Huskies defeated the defending champion South Carolina Gamecocks to add yet another national title to their historic program. Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong led the way for the Huskies with 24 points each, while future WNBA no. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers contributed 17.
How to watch NCAA March Madness 2026
Getty ImagesCBS and Turner Sports have agreed to an eight-year media rights extension to continue broadcasting the NCAA men’s basketball tournament through 2032. Under the extended deal, CBS and TBS will continue to alternate coverage of the Final Four each year, and for the 2026 edition, it's CBS' turn to screen the curtain-closing match-ups.
All the games airing on CBS will also be available on the streaming service Paramount+. As well as the Final Four and National Championship games, which include numerous match-ups throughout the first round, second round, Sweet 16, and Elite Eight. You can watch all of these from any Paramount+ app on your smart TV, laptop, and mobile device. All the games are available, no matter if you're subscribed to the Paramount+ Essential package at $7.99/month (or $59.99/year) or Paramount+ with SHOWTIME at $12.99/month (or $119.99/year).
Sling TV is the best option for streaming March Madness, offering an affordable way to watch all the action. While Fubo includes CBS, it’s missing TBS, TNT, and truTV—key channels for the tournament. By pairing Sling TV’s budget-friendly plan with Fubo’s free trial, fans can get complete coverage of every game. Without the trial, fuboTV costs $74.99 per month.
The second best streaming service that will let you watch some of the March Madness matches is Fubo. fuboTV is one of the best options for streaming sports, but it does have some gaps in its college basketball coverage, as it’s missing TBS, TNT, and truTV. However, it does include CBS, so fans can combine fuboTV’s free trial with Sling TV’s affordable plan to get full March Madness coverage. Without the trial, fuboTV costs $74.99 per month. For avid sports fans, Fubo is the ultimate choice as it also provides access to other popular sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL & MLS. International soccer fans can also enjoy some of the world’s best leagues, such as the Premier League and La Liga. Most Fubo plans allow you to stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously.
When does NCAA March Madness 2026 take place?
Getty ImagesThe 87th annual edition of the NCAA tournament, or March Madness as it’s fondly known, will begin on Tuesday, March 18, with the ‘First Four’ clashes and conclude with the Championship game on Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on Monday, April 7.
NCAA March Madness Tournament Schedule
The 2026 March Madness tournament starts with Selection Sunday on March 15, when the 68 teams playing in the 2026 NCAA tournament will be confirmed and announced, along with the seedings structure. Check out the round-by-round schedule below:
| Round/Phase | Date | Network | Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Four: | March 18-19 | TruTV | Sling TV |
| First round: | March 20-21 | CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV | Paramount+ / Sling TV / Fubo |
| Second round: | March 22-23 | CBS, TBS, TNT, and TruTV | Paramount+ / Sling TV / Fubo |
| Sweet 16: | March 27-28 | CBS, TBS, and TruTV | Paramount+ / Sling TV / Fubo |
| Elite Eight: | March 29-30 | CBS, TBS, and TruTV | Paramount+ / Sling TV / Fubo |
| Final Four: | April 5 | CBS | Paramount+ / Fubo |
| NCAA championship game: | April 7 | CBS | Paramount+ / Fubo |