Who is involved
The 2026 NCAA Tournament began with selections on Sunday, March 15, setting the stage for an exciting series of games. As anticipation builds, March Madness scores will reflect the outcomes of these crucial matchups. The first game of the day features No. 7 Kentucky facing off against No. 10 Santa Clara at 12:15 p.m. ET on CBS. This matchup is particularly noteworthy as Kentucky aims to assert its dominance early in the tournament.
Shortly after, at 12:40 p.m. ET on truTV, No. 5 Texas Tech will take on No. 12 Akron. Historically, the 5 vs. 12 matchups have been known for their unpredictability, often leading to surprising results that can shake up the tournament bracket.
The excitement continues with No. 1 Arizona squaring off against No. 16 LIU at 1:35 p.m. ET on TNT. As a top seed, Arizona is expected to perform well, but the pressure of being the favorite can sometimes lead to unexpected challenges.
At 1:50 p.m. ET on TBS, No. 3 Virginia will compete against No. 14 Wright State. Virginia’s strong defensive strategy has been a hallmark of their play, and they will need to leverage this to secure a victory against Wright State.
Another critical matchup occurs at 2:50 p.m. ET on CBS, where No. 2 Iowa State faces No. 15 Tennessee State. Iowa State’s higher seed gives them an advantage, but the underdog status of Tennessee State could inspire a spirited performance.
As the day progresses, No. 4 Alabama will meet No. 13 Hofstra at 3:15 p.m. ET on truTV. Alabama’s athleticism and depth will be tested against Hofstra, who will look to capitalize on any mistakes made by their opponents.
The evening games include No. 8 Villanova against No. 9 Utah State at 4:10 p.m. ET on TNT, followed by No. 6 Tennessee playing No. 11 Miami (Ohio) at 4:25 p.m. ET on TBS. These matchups are often closely contested, and March Madness scores from these games could be pivotal in determining which teams advance.
As the final games of the day approach, No. 8 Clemson will play No. 9 Iowa at 6:50 p.m. ET on TNT, and No. 5 St. John’s will face No. 12 Northern Iowa at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS. The day wraps up with No. 7 UCLA against No. 10 UCF at 7:25 p.m. ET on TBS, followed by No. 2 Purdue versus No. 15 Queens at 7:35 p.m. ET on truTV. The last games of the night include No. 1 Florida against No. 16 Prairie View A&M at 9:25 p.m. ET on TNT, No. 4 Kansas versus No. 13 Cal Baptist at 9:45 p.m. ET on CBS, and No. 2 UConn playing No. 15 Furman at 10:00 p.m. ET on TBS. Finally, No. 7 Miami (Fla.) will compete against No. 10 Missouri at 10:10 p.m. ET on truTV. Each of these games will contribute to the evolving March Madness scores, reflecting the intensity and unpredictability of the tournament.
